Adult Community Respiratory Service

We offer home and community treatment of respiratory conditions across Central Lancashire.

The Cardio Respiratory Service is a team of specialist nurses and physiotherapists. We offer services for patients with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD). We support people living in the Preston, Longridge, Chorley and South Ribble areas.

We aim to support people with COPD to stay healthy at home.

Some of the services we offer are:

Spirometry diagnostic clinic for COPD
Hospital admission avoidance
Supported hospital discharge
Specialist COPD review (nurse or physiotherapist)
Breathlessness management
Pulmonary rehabilitation
Palliative care

How do I access the service?

Referrals are accepted from GPs, medical and nursing staff from both Chorley and Preston hospitals, community matrons, district nurses and self-referrals from patients already known to us.

Pulmonary Rehabilitation is a gold standard structured programme for people who have a respiratory condition. Our aim is to empower people through supported physical activity, the provision of information and resources so that they may live well and self-manage their respiratory condition. We create a holistic environment so individuals can learn together to achieve their own goals and gain a sense of well-being and confidence to manage their condition.

We encourage and enable the person to be involved with other health, social and voluntary services to improve their quality of life.

The team is made of:

Special Respiratory Physiotherapists
Specialist Assistants

Contact details: Monday to Friday 8.30 - 4.00, 01772 777 042

What is pulmonary rehabilitation or PR?

Pulmonary rehabilitation (PR) is made up of:

A physical exercise programme, designed for people with lung conditions and tailored for you.
Information on looking after your body and your lungs and advice on managing your condition and symptoms, including feeling short of breath.

How will PR help me?

Increase your muscle strength so you can use the oxygen you breathe more efficiently

Help you cope better with feeling out of breath

Improve your fitness so you feel more confident to do things

Improve your mental well being

Opportunity to meet and share experiences with other people with lung conditions.

We also advise that you complete your exercises at home at least once a week. You will receive an exercise pack after your first session to support this.

Class information

The programme will consist of exercise and education classes held twice a week for six weeks.

The classes are held at either Minerva Health Centre (Monday morning and Wednesday afternoon) or Buckshaw Community Centre (Tuesday afternoons and Friday morning).

We also offer a home exercise programme for those unable to access the classes.

Accessing the service for service users

You are eligible for referral to our service if you have a Central Lancashire GP.

With your consent, referrals can be made via any healthcare professional (e.g. Consultants, GP, Practice Nurse and other Allied Health Professionals).

You will receive an appointment letter with a date for assessment, which are held at St Aidan’s Church Hall in Bamber Bridge on a Thursday or via telephone if unable to attend the venue. Further information is included in our service information leaflet.

For Healthcare professionals:

Referral forms to be sent to COPD@lscft.nhs.uk

What our patients say about us:

"Regular sessions improved my motivation. Pushes you beyond what you would do at home. Lovely people to support and encourage. Has given me a basis for continuing at home. Good leaflets and illustrations."

"Well thoughtout course, well delivered, organised and efficiently run. Very supportive physiotherapists to help and advise. Very helpful talks and group discussions also."

"I feel that daily household jobs are made easier with breathing, even hanging washing out was better."

"I have only been twice and I feel the course will make me feel much improved."

"My whole body is more relaxed and I don't get backache as much."

“A benefit I realised from taking this course was a raising of self-confidence and an awareness of improving my physical situation.”

“My confidence in myself increased, I feel able to cope with my condition and that the outlook is not as bad as I had feared. Life is quite good again.”

“I was definitely fitter at the end. I found muscles which I had not used for ages, making many everyday tasks easier to cope with.”

“The course has helped me gain control of my breathing and to become more relaxed and confident.”

This service is available for patients with an infective or non-infective exacerbation of COPD to either avoid a hospital admission or support you after a hospital admission.

We aim to support people with COPD to stay well and remain in their own home where possible.

Referral Method

In the first instance, a referral would need to come from a health care professional.

Once known to the service, you are welcome to contact us using the contact details below.

Once referred, the service will endeavour to contact you as soon as possible.

Adult Community Respiratory Service

8am to 8pm every day of the week, including bank holidays.

Telephone: 01772 777042

Diagnostic spirometry clinic is a specialist review by a respiratory specialist nurse or a respiratory physiotherapist. You can be referred to the outpatient clinics by a health care professional involved in your care. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact the service.