The Community Respiratory (CORE) Team offers specialist multi-disciplinary support, education, optimisation of care and treatment to patients with long-term respiratory conditions. This can be through support at home, a clinic or via Pulmonary Rehabilitation (PR) classes at four venues across Haringey and Islington.

At the heart of the practice is commitment to optimising patients' own knowledge of their illness and self-management skills.

PR is an education and exercise programme for people with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) that have a breathlessness score of three, four or five on the Medical Research Council (MRC) scale. The PR programme aims for the patient to feel better, breathe better and do more.

Eligibility Criteria

Inclusions

The patient must meet all of the following criteria:

• chronic respiratory disease (E.g. COPD, bronchiectasis and Pulmonary fibrosis) with breathlessness that limits functional ability (usually MRC 3 or more)
• optimal medical management
• able to walk 5m independently (with or without walking aids)
• able to follow simple commands (in a group environment)
• agrees to referral after full explanation
• can commit to attending twice a week for eight weeks (if not, once a week will be offered)
• able to make their own way to the venue (advice on taxi card / dial a ride / disabled freedom pass etc will be provided by the team if appropriate)
• if a non English speaker, a regular carer can attend to help interpret or interpreting services can be arranged 

Exclusions

• severe/uncontrolled heart failure
• uncontrolled cardiac arrhythmias or hypertension
• myocardial infarct in last six weeks
• unstable angina
• any other unstable cardiac disease
• untreated/uncontrolled diabetes or epilepsy
• infection control risk (e.g. untreated pulmonary TB)
• significant co-morbidities (e.g. stroke, dementia, severe arthritis) that render them unsafe/unable to exercise in a group setting.

How to Refer

Locations

Hornsey Central Neighbourhood Health Centre

Whittington Hospital (Physiotherapy Department)