Patients with lung and respiratory problems are being urged to come forward to take part in an exercise and education course.

The eight-week pulmonary rehabilitation programme is being run by Bradford and Airedale Community Health Services across five venues in the district, but there is a shortage of patients taking up places in Ilkley.

Members of the pulmonary rehabilitation team have contacted GPs, practice nurses and practice managers in the Ilkley area to let them know details of the programme so they can refer eligible patients.

These include people with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), pulmonary fibrosis, bronchiectasis and chronic asthma.

Jude Greaves-Newall, pulmonary rehabilitation clinical lead, said: “This programme has been offered for two years now, however over the past six months we have noticed that referrals of patients who would be most likely to attend our Ilkley venue have been low. We are not sure why. “The British Lung Foundation has acknowledged the enormous health benefits to the quality of life for these patients so it is important that we keep this service up and running.

“Participants learn how to manage their condition much better and feel more in control of their illness.

“There is also a huge social benefit as many of these patients are stuck at home and quite lonely.”

The five venues across Bradford and Airedale where the programmes are held are:

  • Springs medical centre, Springs Lane, Ilkley.
  • Rockwell community centre, Summerfield Road, Thorpe Edge, Bradford.
  • Grange Interlink Community Centre, Summerville Road, Bradford.
  • Westwood Park, Swift Drive/Cooper Lane, Bradford.
  • Aire Valley Centre, Bradford Road, Sandbeds, Keighley.

Eligible patients can choose which venue they want to visit and transport can be provided, although this needs to be to the venue closest to where they live.

The programme includes two sessions a week and the number of participants is normally ten. The next Ilkley programme is planned for February 2011.

Participants need to be referred by a health professional.

Patients interested in joining the next course in Ilkley need to contact their GP to be referred to the service.

For more information, contact (01274) 322161.