New look for Better Breathing Pulmonary Rehab

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Integrated Respiratory Services

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Whakakotahitia a Mate Romahā

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The Integrated Respiratory Service transitioned to Pegasus Health in December 2023.

Established in 2008, the Integrated Respiratory Service has been fundamental in helping more people get support for their breathing conditions.

Diagnostic tests like spirometry and sleep studies are now able to be done in the community, closer to people in their homes, not just in the hospital.

Better Breathing Pulmonary Rehabilitation is the only evidence-based intervention available for people with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disorder (COPD) and the community respiratory team deliver nine programmes a year throughout the region.

Community support and exercise groups are there to maintain exercise goals, and to remain connected with other people with similar conditions.

The Better Breathing Consumer Group represent the Better Breathing programmes and support groups and contribute to the development of new services and patient materials.

Specialist respiratory nurses and physicians are available to support general practice teams and community providers to look after their respiratory patients.

The Integrated Respiratory Service is overseen by the Integrated Respiratory Service Development Group (IRSDG), which includes representatives from consumers, Māori, Pasifika, general practice, community pharmacy, hospital and district nursing.

New look for Better Breathing Pulmonary Rehab

03 Aug, 2020 | Return|

The Better Breathing Pulmonary Rehabilitation Programme has had a facelift post-COVID. During the lockdown period the traditional eight-week, sixteen session programme wasn't able to be delivered to the planned groups.

Instead, the Community Respiratory team rang participants to touch base and track progress. After lockdown lifted the timing was right to pilot a different approach to be able to reach more people, and closer to the time they’ve been referred to pulmonary rehabilitation.

Starting this week the team have kicked off a rolling programme, which will eventually be delivered in four locations around urban Christchurch (the rural programmes also continue). Participants are assessed by telephone and then meet face-to-face in the group setting once a week. The participant is encouraged to keep an exercise diary and join in a community exercise group or other activity. The programme will continue for eight week blocks with a different education topic each week.

Participants can join the programme at any time and complete their eight week cycle. If a participant missed out on one of the sessions they can catch up with the next cycle of exercises and education.