An innovative partnership between Good Hope Hospital and Birmingham City Council is giving patients with a wide range of lung conditions the opportunity to take part in a choice of free activities to help ease and manage their condition once they leave Hospital.

A weekly exercise session is now offered to patients at Wyndley Leisure Centre in Sutton Coldfield, after their hospital rehabilitation programme has been completed.

Physical inactivity is common amongst patients with chronic lung diseases, which can often lead to muscle de-conditioning and an increased risk of developing chest infections.  The new sessions will offer patients help and support to exercise and improve their quality of life.

Stuart Lightfoot, respiratory physiotherapy outpatient lead, said: “Having a chronic respiratory illness can be very isolating, with symptoms varying day to day affected by a multitude of factors.

“Working together with the professional fitness instructors based at the leisure centre, the classes are helping to make people feel healthier and manage their conditions more effectively.

“Besides its therapeutic benefits, the course also allows patients to socialise, share experiences and make new friends.”

Living with a lung condition, Alan Cuzick, aged 53 from Redditch said: “Going to the class is an incentive to make the effort to get out and meet people.  A bit of exercise also helps me to get out and keep moving.  I enjoy it.”

The sessions at Wyndley Leisure Centre are currently free to participants under Birmingham City Council’s ‘Be-Active’ scheme.

If you have a respiratory problem and feel you would benefit from the pulmonary rehabilitation programme, please discuss a referral to the respiratory physiotherapy outpatient team with your GP.