The Pulmonary Rehabilitation service is an exercise and education programme for people living with a lung condition that makes them breathless. It is particularly beneficial for people who are limited by shortness of breath and those who have noticed coping with everyday activities, for example, going up and downstairs, has become a problem.
This service can benefit people with long-term lung conditions including Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), Bronchiectasis, Pulmonary Fibrosis and Severe asthma.
The Pulmonary Rehabilitation service is made up of physiotherapists, therapy assistants and an exercise physiologist who specialise in respiratory conditions. These professionals are highly trained to deliver the highest standards of care whilst completing evidence based, clinical assessments of a patient’s symptoms and providing the individualised group exercise programme.
It's recommended that patients attend all the sessions and complete the course.
Pulmonary Rehabilitation may not be suitable if:
- Pain limits your walking
- You have uncontrolled heart problems or are awaiting heart investigations
Please note, being on portable oxygen does not stop you from attending the programme.
Pulmonary Rehabilitation is a twice weekly treatment programme over 8 weeks and is made up of:
- Exercise classes designed for people with long-term lung conditions
- Information about looking after your body and lungs
- Advice on managing your lung condition
- Techniques to manage breathlessness
Exercise sessions focus on building your strength and endurance by using arm and leg exercises, walking, weights and an exercise bike
Education session topics include:
- Coping with breathlessness
- Your lung condition explained
- How the lungs work
- Clearing the phlegm off your chest
- Medications and inhalers to help your breathing
- Energy Conservation
- Continuing with exercise
- Healthy eating
Carers and partners are welcome to attend the education sessions with you.
Northwich Victoria Infirmary physiotherapy gym
Mondays 12.30 till 2pm
Thursdays 1 till 2pm
Winsford Brio Leisure Centre
Tuesday 3 till 4.30pm
Thursday 1 till 2 pm
Crewe Lifestyle centre
Monday 2.30 till 4.00pm
Thursday 3.30 till 4.30pm
Sandbach Ashfields Health Centre physiotherapy gym
Tuesday 10 till 11.30pm
Thursday 1 till 2pm
We appreciate that group sessions are not for everyone. For other ways to complete the pulmonary rehabilitation programme please see the Pulmonary Rehabilitation options tab.
Clinic appointment
You will be given an appointment to attend a clinic in your local area. The assessment will last for around 30 minutes and within that time the clinician will ask you questions regarding your symptoms related to your lung condition and you will be required to fill in questionnaires about how your condition affects you on a daily basis. It is helpful if you can bring any reading glasses with you to this appointment.
You will be expected to do a walk test where the team will monitor your oxygen saturations and heart rate.
Please ensure you bring any walking aid with you.
If you have oxygen prescribed for walking around, please also bring this with you.
Follow-up appointments
If you are attending a group setting you will be given a start date for the 7 week programme where you will be expected to commit to attending 2 sessions a week. A home exercise programme will also be supplied.
You are welcome to attend this appointment with a partner or carer.
Virtual Pulmonary Rehabilitation (VPR)
Following your clinic assessment, you may decide that you want to join the virtual programme. You will exercise at home but log in twice a week to join the online exercise session.
You will need a laptop or tablet device with a camera and microphone to be able to access this service and we will show you how to do this when you attend for assessment. It is also possible to use your phone to access this service, although many people find that such a small screen can be a problem. Let us know if this is your only option and you would like to join VPR.
We will review you in person and also by phone over the 7 weeks of the programme.
MyCOPD app
Following your clinic assessment, you may decide that the MyCOPD app would work for you, particularly if you are still working and would struggle to attend sessions twice a week.
The app provides a pulmonary rehabilitation programme on your phone, with an exercise programme and a comprehensive education programme which you will need to complete independently. However, we will keep in contact weekly by phone to discuss progress and answer any questions and can see your progress and participation remotely.
Home appointment
A visit to your home may be offered if you are housebound.
If the clinician attends your home to complete the assessment, which will take 1 hour, they will ask you the same questions as they would if you had attended a clinic regarding symptoms related to your lung condition and you will also be expected to participate in a walk test.
We ask that all pets are secured in the property whilst the staff complete the visit.
Your therapist will visit between the hours of 9am to 4pm. The patient’s family can be present if they have consent from the patient to attend the visit or clinic appointment
If completing at home, you will be contacted via phone or face to face for updates on your progress.
In order to access this service, you must have a referral from a health care professional, this can include your GP, Practice Nurse, hospital consultant teams, Integrated Respiratory Team or COPD nurse. We do not currently accept self-referrals into the service.
Referral form- click here.
Telephone: 01270 826341
Email: ccicp.pulmonaryrehabilitationservice@mcht.nhs.uk
Address: Pulmonary Rehabilitation Service, Alsager Health Centre, 6 Sandbach Road South, Alsager ST7 2LU.
