A pulmonary rehabilitation programme is being successfully run in the community for the first time in Southland.
For the past five weeks, two days a week, patients with long-term respiratory illnesses have been working with Te Whatu Ora Southern Allied Health Physiotherapist Aleck Qui and Pulmonary Rehabilitation Coordinator Krystall Cumming at the YMCA in Invercargill.
Pulmonary rehab aims to improve breathlessness and quality of life for outpatients with chronic respiratory conditions. It consists of eight weeks of group exercise classes, which are also tailored to individuals’ needs.
They also complete a multi-disciplinary patient education programme to aid independent management of their own lung conditions.
Krystall, together with the respiratory team at Southland Hospital, has been the driving force to have the programme delivered in the community.
Covid-19 impacted on the programme at Southland Hospital because group sizes needed to be restricted in the gymnasium and outpatients were required to wear masks.
“Exercising and wearing a mask is difficult for people with compromised lungs,” Krystall says. “Because these people are very vulnerable, they often worry about coming into hospital environments.”
Taking the course out of the hospital and into the community has always been one of her goals for the rehab team, because it makes patients feel more comfortable to attend and the course can run with fewer interruptions.
Krystall is looking to find a psychologist who can support the rehab team to help talk with and educate patients about dealing with anxiety which can come with respiratory illnesses. “Fighting for your breath is a frightening experience for people.”
Krystall says it’s been a team effort to get the classes going in the community. “I spent a lot of time talking with people, sharing ideas, and reaching out to the respiratory team in Dunedin to share resources as well.
“I want to thank Lisa Respiratory CNS, Brent and Mohammad (Invercargill Respiratory Physicians) and the Physiotherapy Department, specifically Aleck for being supportive of the programme in Southland.”
Physiotherapist Aleck Qui, sitting, with Pulmonary Rehabilitation coordinator Krystall Cumming, centre, and Long Term Condition Clinical Nurse Specialist (Respiratory) Lisa Mason at the YMCA in Invercargill where a rehabilitation programme is now operating.
Pulmonary Rehabilitation coordinator Krystall Cumming, left, together with Physiotherapist Aleck Qui, centre, and Long Term Condition Clinical Nurse Specialist (Respiratory) Lisa Mason at the YMCA where a rehabilitation programme is now operating.
