ESTABLISHING A COMMUNITY PULMONARY REHABILITATION PROGRAMME
IN CAERPHILLY COUNTY BOROUGH
Aims
Pulmonary rehabilitation has been proven to improve quality of life and exercise
tolerance, whilst reducing dependence on both primary and secondary care.
Pulmonary rehabilitation is an effective element of a comprehensive service for
patients with chronic respiratory disease. Services were previously available to
Caerphilly residents at hospital based programmes outside the borough, therefore a
more local and accessible community programme was required.
Methods
The programme was set up in a local community centre, Bargoed YMCA. Access to
the programme was by referral from the local Respiratory Consultant. There was an
initial pilot scheme of the 8-week programme of 2 sessions per week for a group of
10 (maximum) patients. It was structured on the principles of the validated,
established multidisciplinary programme used at Llandough Hospital. The ethos of
the multidisciplinary team was fully supported with physiotherapy and occupational
therapy involvement.
The pilot scheme has been completed (July 2006); the programme has been rolledout and a second group is ongoing.
Results
There was a baseline assessment carried out on patients before commencing the
programme and repeated after completion. Results from the evaluation are being
analysed, but in the group overall, improvements have occurred in VO 2 peak,
walking distance (shuttle walk test) and quality of life (Guyatt chronic respiratory
questionnaire).
Graduates are continuing to exercise at home and/or at the local leisure centres to
maintain benefits gained. A local Breathe Easy group is being established for
ongoing social support in association with the British Lung Foundation.
Conclusion
A pulmonary rehabilitation programme has been effectively developed in the
community. This is the first community delivered service in Wales, we believe, and
has proved to be a responsive service in meeting the needs of the client. It provides
part of a comprehensive treatment service for patients with respiratory disease in
Caerphilly County Borough.
Contact: Susan Truszkowski, Caerphilly Local Health Board, susantruszkowski@nphs.wales.nhs.uk; Dr Gill Richardson; Linda Rogers; Jane Mutimer.