The respiratory team at the Mayo General Hospital has recommenced the delivery of pulmonary rehabilitation programmes for patients with chronic respiratory disease.
The programme aims to limit the disease progression, reduce exacerbations, reduce frequency and length of hospitalisations, optimise functional status, and improve patients’ self-management. A programme consists of two classes weekly for eight consecutive weeks. Patients participate in a graded and progressive exercise programme, followed by an educational topic.
The project, led by respiratory consultant Dr Cyril Rooney, is organised and managed by Ursula Clarke, respiratory clinical nurse specialist, and Erica Bajar, senior respiratory physiotherapist.
In addition to the respiratory team, there has been educational input from occupational therapy, the Citizens’ Information Centre, and the HSE Health Promotion Unit. A large advancement is that MGH now has a pulmonary function laboratory. Senior respiratory scientist Claudia Oliveira can now perform assessments locally, instead of patients having to travel to Galway for their pulmonary function tests. With these projects under way, services are continuing to improve for Mayo patients with chronic respiratory disease.
