Positive First ILD Pulmonary Rehabilitation programme for patients in the Omagh, Strabane and Fermanagh area

The Western Trust Interstitial Lung Disease (ILD) service has just delivered an ILD Pulmonary Rehabilitation programme for a patient group within the Omagh, Strabane and Fermanagh areas in addition to a similar programme in Altnagelvin.

Siobhan Donnelly, Interstitial Lung Disease, Respiratory Nurse Specialist at the Western Trust, explained: “This programme ran over six weeks, involving two sessions weekly. The programme was delivered within the Omagh Leisure Complex, involving both exercise and education components delivered by Siobhan Donnelly, ILD Nurse Specialist and Sorcha Johnston Pulmonary Rehab Physiotherapist. The programme was complemented by representatives fromthe Multi-disciplinary Team and also from Pulmonary Fibrosis NI and Chest Heart & Stroke.”

Siobhan added: “Patients with ILD suffer from symptoms such as dyspnoea, cough, fatigue, anxiety and depression. Individuals with ILD can have reduced health related quality of life, that can worsen with disease progression.

“Pulmonary rehabilitation is an effective intervention to improve symptoms, health-related quality of life, and functional status in people with all respiratory conditions including ILD. And we would anticipate that this tailored ILD programme will be available to patients across the Western Trust on an ongoing basis.”

Patient Feedback has been very positive, with one patient saying: “The programme was delivered by a highly professional, very patient-focused team. Making sure every patient’s needs and abilities were respected.”