The Wexford COPD Peer and Exercise Support Group which was set up by a collaboration led by South East Community Healthcare (HSE) was shortlisted for the recently presented 2019 Irish Healthcare Centre Awards.
Presented by broadcaster Marty Whelan at a ceremony in the Ballsbridge Hotel in Dublin, the Awards provide an opportunity for healthcare centres to showcase their good work to a national audience and be recognised for their achievements, staff excellence and patient care.
The event featured HSE CEO Paul Reid as keynote speaker. The Awards’ Healthcare Initiative/Project-Community Care Services category shortlisted seven entries from around the country, including the South East Community Healthcare led “Wexford Gets Moving on COPD: A Collaboration with COPD Support Ireland, Sports Active Wexford, Fit Walk Ireland, Wexford General Hospital and Wexford COPD Peer Support Group.
COPD, which stands for Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease, is a lung disease that makes it difficult to breathe. COPD is not one single disease but an umbrella term used to describe chronic lung diseases which include Chronic Bronchitis and Emphysema. The symptoms of COPD may include: breathlessness, constant cough, coughing up mucus, wheezing, chest tightness, fatigue and exacerbations (episodes where symptoms get worse). Daily activities, such as walking up a short flight of stairs or carrying a suitcase, can become very difficult as the condition gradually worsens.
As part of a COPD peer support and exercise group, Sports Active Wexford co-ordinate weekly exercise classes at the Clonard Community Centre in Wexford every Friday at 2pm. The exercise classes are suitable for people with breathlessness secondary to COPD, asthma or related respiratory condition and are always followed by a cup of tea and a chat. One year on, over 25 people enjoy the fun classes which includes using activator poles, folk dances, and social games designed by Fit Walk Ireland.
Welcoming the national recognition for their work, Kate O’Connor (Self- Management support co-ordinator for chronic disease in South East Community Healthcare) said:
“Our vison for the Wexford COPD peer support and exercise group was to provide an opportunity for people with breathlessness to meet, to give each other encouragement and support whilst also partaking in weekly exercise classes and learning more about how to manage their condition through regular education sessions. The Respiratory team from Wexford General Hospital, who run the Pulmonary Rehabilitation Programme there are highly supportive of the group. The group which is going from strength to strength has received a boost with this shortlisting in such a highly regarded specialist Awards scheme.”