Our Pulmonary Rehabilitation Service delivers exercise and education programmes designed for people with lung disease who experience symptoms of breathlessness.

What is Pulmonary Rehabilitation?

Pulmonary Rehabilitation (PR) is a physical exercise programme, designed for people with lung conditions and tailored for you. Information on looking after your body and your lungs, and advice on managing your condition and your symptoms, including feeling short of breath. It's designed for people diagnosed with a lung condition who suffer from breathlessness affecting their daily activities. The PR team is made up of physiotherapists, and specialist physiotherapy assistants. The course lasts for 6 weeks and there are 2 group sessions per week which last for 60-90 minutes. You will be in a group of approximately 6-10 people all of whom suffer from breathlessness related to their lung condition.

We run our PR programmes at the following locations:

  • University Hospital of North Durham
  • Chester-le-Street hospital
  • Shotley Bridge Hospital
  • Peterlee Community Hospital
  • Seaham Primary Care Centre
  • Sedgefield Community Hospital
  • Bishop Auckland Hospital
  • Darlington Memorial Hospital

Before being enrolled onto the programme you will attend an initial assessment lasting up to one hour, involving:

  • A discussion about your lung condition, general health and how your condition affects your daily activities
  • Measurements of your heart rate, blood pressure, peripheral oxygen levels, height and weight
  • Measures of your ability and safety to exercise including a walk test and strength testing
  • Questionnaires about your regular symptoms relating to your lung condition

Please wear loose comfortable clothing that you are able to exercise in. Trousers and shorts are best and allow for easy movement on/off the equipment. Comfortable, flat and soft sole shoes such as trainers are most suitable.

Please bring you current prescription list and your inhalers (if prescribed). If you have home oxygen therapy (ambulatory or long term) please bring this along to your appointment. Please also bring along a bottle of water as you will be exercising.

If you have angina/chest pain and are prescribed Glyceryl Trinitrate (GTN) spray it is essential that you bring this along to your initial assessment and all PR sessions, otherwise you will be unable to complete your walk test or any exercises.

Pulmonary Rehabilitation is most effective when completed in the group sessions however if these do not suit you, you can alternatively complete a home based programme if your therapist agrees that this is suitable for you. This would involve attending clinic for your initial and finishing assessments and being taught a home exercise programme to complete 3-4x weekly. You will have a weekly telephone call to review your progress over the duration of your course.

Please do not attend your assessment or PR session if you are feeling unwell

  • If you have symptoms of an exacerbation (worsening of your lung condition) and you are taking a short course of antibiotics and/or steroids. We recommend waiting until you have finished your course of treatment to return to the classes
  • If you have any symptoms of COVID-19 or Flu, and have a high temperature or do not feel well enough to do your normal activities please do not attend PR until you are feeling well enough to exercise 2
  • If you have symptoms of diarrhoea and/or vomiting please wait until 48hrs after your last episode before returning to PR

If you need to cancel a session, please call the Central Admin Team: 01388 455200 (option 4).

If you do not attend 2 consecutive sessions without contacting us then we will assume you no longer require our services and you will be discharged from PR. If you are unable to attend a session and let us know then you will be able to continue with your programme.