Pulmonary Rehabilitation

Pulmonary Rehabilitation

Pulmonary Rehabilitation (PR) combines supervised exercise and education to help you manage breathlessness and build confidence.

PR is a structured programme designed to help people living with long-term lung conditions improve fitness, reduce breathlessness and maintain independence. PR includes supervised exercise and practical education to support symptom management, confidence and wellbeing.

Following an initial assessment, you’ll join a small group programme led by a specialist respiratory team, with exercises and advice tailored to your needs and goals.

 

We deliver PR at:

  • Leatherhead Hospital
  • Dorking Hospital
  • Rainbow Leisure Centre, Epsom

 

Your initial assessment

Before joining the programme, you’ll be invited to an initial assessment. This helps us:

  • check whether Pulmonary Rehabilitation is appropriate for you
  • understand your symptoms and any other health needs
  • agree your personal goals (for example, walking further, climbing stairs more easily, or feeling less anxious about breathlessness)

 

If PR is suitable, we’ll talk you through next steps and offer you a place on the course.

 

What the programme involves

Pulmonary Rehabilitation is a six-week treatment course, with two sessions per week.

Each session includes:

  • supervised exercise at the right level for you
  • education and self-management support to help you understand your condition and stay active safely

 

Our team will help you build up gradually and exercise with confidence.

 

Breathlessness and exercise

Feeling breathless during exercise can be completely normal. As part of the programme, we’ll support you to exercise safely and help you understand:

  • what “expected” breathlessness feels like
  • how to pace yourself
  • how to recover well between activities

 

Pulmonary Rehabilitation is not a cure, but it can help you manage breathlessness and improve how you feel day-to-day.

 

Getting the best results

PR works best when you can attend regularly. To benefit fully, we encourage you to:

  • attend all sessions where possible 
  • complete your home exercise programme between sessions 
  • work towards the goals you set at your assessment

 

Pulmonary Rehabilitation is a positive lifestyle change, and progress comes from completing the course and putting the learning into practice.

 

After the course

At the end of the programme, we’ll support you to plan how to stay active long-term. Continuing regular exercise is one of the best ways to maintain your progress.

Evidence shows Pulmonary Rehabilitation can help people to:

  • improve quality of life and confidence
  • reduce the impact of breathlessness on daily life
  • reduce the likelihood of chest infections and hospital admissions for some people

 

If you’re not sure you can commit

If you’re unable to commit to the full six-week course, you are still very welcome to attend an initial assessment. We can discuss your situation, offer advice, and explore what support may be most helpful for you.