Community Respiratory Services - Isle of Wight

These are exercise and education groups for people that experience breathlessness and usually have a diagnosis of a chronic lung condition. Research has proven that Pulmonary Rehabilitation can help people have a better quality of life by managing breathlessness, feeling more in control of experiences, and having confidence in being more active in day-to-day activities.

We understand that breathlessness can stop patients from doing the things they both need and want to do. Pulmonary Rehabilitation is not a cure for breathlessness, but it is designed to increase their confidence and help them to regain their physical strength and fitness, resulting in you being able to live well, feel happier and do more of the things you would like to do.

Our programme runs twice a week for 6 weeks. It involves 1 hour of exercise and one hour of education talks from various health care professionals.

For more information please look at the video from AHSN NENC and BLF. Pulmonary Rehabilitation: Changing Lives – Breathing Better - https://youtu.be/0QejWV5r67E

As part of a Pulmonary Rehabilitation programme, we will:

• Provide an introduction to exercise in a safe and fun environment
• Provide education about the lungs and different conditions
• Teach effective self-management practices
• Ensure confidence in self-managing breathlessness and lung conditions
• Enable engagement in onward lifestyle change
• Promote peer support

Who is Pulmonary Rehabilitation for?  

Patients on the Isle of Wight who:

• Have a confirmed respiratory diagnosis
• Are functionally limited by their breathlessness
• Will commit to the 6-week duration of the course
• Have your own transport to your agreed venue. Transport can only be provided in exceptional circumstances

What we will do:

• See you for a pre-course assessment within 10 weeks of referral (unless you choose a later appointment);
• Provide an individualised pre and post course assessment;
• Provide a 2-hour session, twice a week for 6 weeks;
• Provide a structured and individualised exercise programme;
• Provide a structured education programme;
• Liaise the referrer and GP once you have commenced and completed a programme.

Referral:

You should be referred to this pathway of the service by your healthcare professional.

The aim of this service is to ensure the safe provision and effective use of ambulatory and long term oxygen therapy. The service is for patients on the Isle of Wight who require long term or ambulatory oxygen therapy

What we will do:

• Assess your oxygen requirement when you are at least 6 weeks free of an exacerbation
• Complete a home risk assessment
• Review your care after 6 weeks following a change in your oxygen prescription
• Review your care at least annually once you are established and stable on your oxygen therapy
• Offer home visits if you are housebound
• Communicate to the GP following each assessment

Referral:

You should be referred to this pathway of the service by your healthcare professional, usually if your resting oxygen levels are constantly below 92% or if your oxygen levels drop when you are active.

We cannot offer oxygen if you are smoking or someone smokes in your home.

Please note: this is a not an urgent or rapid response service

Patient referrals are accepted from GP, practice nurses, community teams and secondary care services for patients with complex respiratory needs, frequent exacerbations and/or hospital admissions, poor self-management or housebound patients.

We liaise closely with secondary care respiratory services and specialist respiratory centres in optimising treatment and management at home.

We will support you in the respiratory clinic, your own home or via telephone contact as clinically indicated to:

• Identify deterioration in your condition through respiratory assessment
• Provide respiratory education
• Check Inhaler technique and compliance
• Optimising treatment, self- management and lifestyle
• Offer shared palliative support with Community Teams and Hospice services
• Communicate to your GP at the beginning and end of the pathway
• Communicate and discuss any significant changes to your condition at any point during the pathway.

Referral is made by GPs please contact your GP surgery or from the Hospital consultants.

We take referrals from acute ward areas for patients with long term respiratory conditions or new diagnosis.

• Provide respiratory education
• Check Inhaler technique and compliance
• Optimising treatment, self- management and encourage engagement in onward lifestyle changes, i.e pulmonary rehabilitation and smoking cessation
• Assess for ongoing oxygen requirement including risk assessment
• Participate in the national respiratory audit programme for all patients admitted with COPD or asthma.

What we will do:

• airway clearance advice
• assessment and treatment of breathing pattern disorders
• holistic respiratory assessment, medication management and creation of self-management plans
• Inhaler guidance and support
• Breathlessness management
• anxiety related breathlessness management
• energy conservations advice

Referral is made by GPs please contact your GP surgery or from the Hospital consultants.

We take referrals from GPs, Occupational Health, Respiratory Consultants, Respiratory Specialist Nurses, and Physiotherapist.

Who for:

• People who have experienced Long Covid symptoms for more than 12 weeks.  There are more than 200 symptoms associated with Long Covid which may include:
  • Respiratory, cardiovascular, musculoskeletal, neurological, and dermatological issues
  • Mental health issues, predominately depression and anxiety
  • Fatigue, breathlessness and problems with memory, concentration and other mental functions

We offer:

• A holistic needs assessment for people who have had covid and continue to experience a variety of symptoms which affect their daily lives
• Rehabilitation service
• Breathing Workshops
• Fatigue Workshops

The Hampshire and Isle of Wight Long Covid Service has produced a series of 26 short videos to help those with breathing difficulties and fatigue following a COVID infection to better understand and manage their symptoms. These can be found at www.hiowlongcovid.org.uk and on YouTube.

For further information on the Isle of Wight Long Covid Clinic please contact iownt.longcovidiow@nhs.net or our direct line 01983 534719.