Do you, or have you ever, attended a ... - Lung Conditions C...
Do you, or have you ever, attended a British Lung Foundation (BLF) Breathe Easy group in your area?
465 VotersPlease select one:
If you would some further information on local Breathe Easy groups in your area, please call the helpline on 03000 030 555.
We get to know just about anything on breathing on the internet
Breathe Easy Groups are run for patients by patients, if you don't like how they operate then get involved and make a difference. If you live near Bromley in Kent, come along to our next meeting on the 21 February. Further down this page are full details.
I went with my hubby who has COPD but the lady that runs the group is so controlling, rude, and arrogant and to make it worse she moved the group to another venue that wasn't very easy for people to attend.
More info please
Hi,
If you pop your post code into this section about half way down this page of our website: blf.org.uk/support-for-you/... , it will bring up details of local groups in your area.
If you need any information on a group that you find, just give the helpline a ring on 03000 030 555.
Best wishes,
Ben
Yes I attended the one in Edinburgh. But it was closed down and the others are to far for me to travel to
I live in Poole Dorset and they don't have a breatheasey group down here
Yes but wasn't my cup of tea
i'd like to
I have been going to breathe easy on Canvey Island for 5 years one of the best
It is fantastic. I learnt everything I know about COPD through going to Breathe Easy.
I used to go to one every month but then I had lots of chest infections so didn't go but will start again its really informative
attended one in Aberdeen, but not easy to get to if you do not drive as are their exercise classes, not any young members either
Kindly let me know if you organise any such program anywhere in India
The nearest one is too difficult to get to and so there a lot of us in Long Eaton and area, that have done PR and heard about Breath Easy groups. Any chance we can start our own group? What do we need?
Hi CornishBrian could you PM me an email address for you that our Breathe Easy manager can contact you back on with more information?
I used to go to on at Hillingdon Hospital when i lived that way but moved away to the country for fresher air for my lungs so not been while here as hard for me to get around
Yes - attended a couple of times but wouldn't bother again. The group was basically a 'tea & biscuits' group for the elderly. The members had little understanding of, or interest in, lung disease. I concluded that for an isolated elderly person it did offer a couple of hours out of the house but little more. Depressing and disappointing. I imagine that any need for this type of group will die out over the next decade or so as patients can gain more information and learn more from the experiences of other patients/healthcare professionals online. The one exception I would make is for where disease specific support groups have been started up - eg. the IPF groups.
Or even in Central London UK 🇬🇧
Been attending a local one nearby for about 3 years 2.5 hrs per session 1 day per month. Usually have guest speakers with specialist information on various lung conditions.
Would be interested
Hi,
If you pop your post code into this section about half way down this page of our website: blf.org.uk/support-for-you/... , it will bring up details of local groups in your area.
If you need any information on any specific group that you find, just give the helpline a ring on 03000 030 555.
Best wishes,
Ben
More info please
Hi,
If you pop your post code into this section about half way down this page of our website: blf.org.uk/support-for-you/... , it will bring up details of local groups in your area.
If you need any information on any specific group that you find, just give the helpline a ring on 03000 030 555.
Best wishes,
Ben
Actually, I have just looked up any groups in my area and it seems there is one at Bexleyheath, so my initial response to the poll is incorrect.
Where in Bexleyheath? The only one I could find is too far from me, it is in Orpington I think, I actually live in Bexleyheath!
Hi Katy, I haven't been there but I did a search on the BLF page for this poll and put my postcode in and Bexleyheath came up showing the address: Roberts Hall, Christchurch, The Broadway, Bexleyheath DA6
Depends how up-to-date BLF's information is, though.
Xx
Thank you! That is not far from where I live!
I'm pleased to hear that! But please check that it is up to date information if you can. Some of these groups only run for a short time then break up. I am not too far from there myself ... A few miles...but have been immobile for two months due to severe foot injury and may be so for a few more months to come as not allowed to put weight on my foot. However, let me know how you get on if you do join the group. Xx
I enjoyed going but after 4 times I had to stop due to my daughter becoming very sick and had to look after my granddaughter I would love to go back as it got me out and helped me understand the illness
I have just started a 6 weeks Pulmonary Rehabilitation Program through our local NHS Serice. After catching a bacterial infection just before Christmas it has affected my breathing very badly, something that I have never experienced so badly before, so I am hoping that this program will achieve some positive results.
I've been on the pulomonary rehab courses twice now and I found them really informative and a great way of getting you into a regular exercise routine.
Hope you find your course just as helpful as I did.
I am the founder member of Telford group the best thing I have ever done I have learnt so much made many friends over the 17 years we gave been going we have monthly pub lunches trips quizzes days out afternoon teas etc if there is one near you please join and start living again with like minded people
I don't know what this information is supposed to be valuable for. The group that I attended were people who didn't want to interact or take part in any discussion and so I felt it was a waste of time. This was not the Rehabilitation Group which I attended and was worth everything I could have hoped for.
I find the group very helpful and informative. It's in Worthing West Sussex
I am attending a Pulminary Rehab course st present for 12 sessions at my hospital Royal Surrey Guildford
I've been invited to a group near me but is in the week during the day. So as I work full time not an option
Same here.
Thanks for all your votes & replies so far folks, these are all really useful, Please keep them coming - apologies I may not be able to reply to everyone but I am reading and passing on all comments, so thank you very much! 
Hi It would be nice to know something is being done about the negativity at the groups mentioned above as my hubby is missing out, he was going to attend another group but the Very rude, ignorant and arrogant lady that runs the group near us attends that as well and unfortunately its not only my hubby that dos'nt attend I understand a lot of others have stopped attending for the same reason. One particular member of the group is having their good nature abused.
I don't have one in my area East Ham.
I haven't been to a breathe easy class but I'm going along on February 16th for the first time. Loughborough.
Linda
The only reason I have not attended is because I am a Personal Trainer of many years experience with extensive knowledge in Cardiac Rehab and GP Referral. I therefore have taken charge of my own therapy programme. I would like to add however that I give my full support to ANY activity to encourage improvement of the circulation system and breathing.
To be honest Ben I really struggle with the Breathe Easy groups I have attended in the past! They seem to be full of people who have no intention of dealing with Lung Disease in a positive way. That drives me nuts! I have COPD/ACOS and I need to be with positive people who want to manage their conditions.
Online I use the COPD UK Facebook group which is great for supporting each other and here in a Gloucester we have a Resp Exercise group for which funding has to be sought to keep it going.
Hope this is helpful feedback Ben?
Best wishes,
Pauline Masters
Ditto Hanne. cx
I used to go to a Breathe Easy group but it moved a little further away, so stopped.
If you are the contact for all groups, may I suggest that the leader (who is a volunteer of course) keep people's email addresses and sends an email a couple of days before each monthly meeting to remind members and perhaps lapsed members of the meeting and if there will be a speaker on a particular subject.
Breathe Easy Groups are run for patients by patients, if you don't like how they operate then get involved and make a difference.
Three years ago our King's Lynn group nearly closed, we now have over one hundred members with forty or so at most meetings. We have relevant speakers and loads of information along with COPD nurse attendance and occasional trips out
One thing that is very obvious is that not everyone has or wants access to the internet, so all the online help is not available to them, hence support groups are so important to them
What professionals run these groups?
Physiotherapist , occupation therapist, resp. nurse practitioners, Physicists, etc. specialist in lung related diseases i.e. With knowledge of how many major organs are affected by lung disease
Folk attending these groups go for many different reasons and many not for the group intention as there is no obligation
Most groups focus on COPD sufferers, & sad as it seems, do not have enough info to answer your questions that are not COPD
Many lung related diseases are treatment trial & error.
Sadly, I am given to understand that they have become a social outing, , & not used to enthuse self help. We live in a world where responsibility for ones illness belongs to anyone,i.e. Nhs, social services, other than folk to take stock and help them selves.
Sorry Ben, fact of life. I feel money is best spent on other projects
You seem to have got this slightly crossed, PP.
Breathe Easy groups are not run by 'professionals'. They are run by volunteers who have lung diseases themselves for the benefit of others with a lung disease, meeting together each month to share experiences and tips, much as we do on here. They also have a social side and many organise activities whilst others invite speakers to give talks and share knowledge. Each group will have similar aims but each is run independently so will differ slightly from others. And far from taking valuable funds from the BLF the groups raise money for them through subscriptions and other fund-raising activities and are highly valued by them.
Toci, No crossed lines here, you have confirmed my thoughts. Social groups run by volunteers to engage with people who enjoy discussions about their illnesses with people with similar lung diseases. This is fine for those who need this facility.
Many answers to Ben have already expressed that it was not for them.
I am not sure but think that Ben is retained by this site, I could be wrong & without knowing where the info he is collecting is taking him, & the little info given, I thought his time( time is money if retained) might be spent elsewhere
My opinion is as relevant as yours even if it differs from yours.
How groups raise their monies etc has nothing to do with the content of my initial response to Ben.
So I do not have my understanding crossed at all.
You did ask what professionals ran the groups and then spoke of them as social outings before suggesting to Ben that money was best spent on other projects. That must be what threw me. 
Moi aussi
Ich Auch! 😂
I thought that's what you were saying as well. It is run by volunteers but at my one a trained respiratory nurse attended in her own time to chat to us about it and deal with any questions. The hall was given free and we all brought at least 1 thing in with us ie a packet of biscuits etc. and we had a raffle which cost us £1 each. We all did it and gave the raised funds to BLF.
I didn't attend my group more than 3/4 times as I found it unfriendly and clique and there was 1 woman who drove me mad with her incessant whinging. x
Can I just remind everyone that Breathe Easy Bromley is your local support group for anyone with a lung condition, i.e. asthma, Fibrosis Bronchiectasi, Emplysema, Pulmonary fibrosis, etc. Carers. friends and family are also welcome. We meet every third Tuesday of the month from 2.00 - 4.00pm at Victor Childs Room at St Paul's Church, Crofton Road, Orpington BR6 8JE. Buses 61, 353, R2 and R3 stop right outside, and both bus stops (each side of the road) are marked "Oakwood Road, St Paul's Church", plus there is plenty of parking space in the church grounds. You are very welcome to join us at meetings, featuring guest speakers and refreshments. Our next meeting is on Tuesday 21st February, so do come along. Yvonne
Nearest one to me is 11 miles away, as I don't drive it's a no no for me...that's the trouble with moving away from traffic clogged towns, the air might be slightly better but there's no classes of benefit for me 😢
Exactly, I've just checked and mines 6miles towards town, I don't drive and have to rely on unreliable public transport, so saving up for taxi fare when referral comes through, maybe in time more local groups will pop up as COPD isn't the only illness I have, and I'm sure a lot of us are the same
I live in and Wolverhampton which is supposed to be a City and yet the nearest (breathe easy) is 6 miles away in a small village pub, (Shame on you Wolverhampton )!
I go to one in Heywood, Rochdale. Its social and informative. Have trips out and mixed ages. 😊
Not been to a group but my nurse is doing a referral as breathing has just got worse and trying a new inhaler
That's an interesting result, sounds like there are not as many groups as we would like or maybe public awareness in individual areas is not so good. However all the info is on line.Personally I don't think the groups meet often enough to meet public need, accepting of course that groups are run by volunteers monthly meetings are better than none and help to circulate info to the wider public in a more informal way. Also some who suffer lung conditions attemd other groups for individual illnesses., i.e asthma for instance.
Hi, I belong to Breathe Easy Bury-St.-Edmunds. We meet on the last Thursday in the month at Southgate Community Centre, Bury-St.-Edmunds, use post code IP33 2QA to bring you to the adjacent car park, starting at 1.30 p.m. until 3.30 p.m. We have a programme of interesting speakers, not all health related, an annual outing and a seasonal celebration in December.
If you would like any further information please PM me and I will get back to you. All family members are welcome, we are an open group. You pay £1.00 which includes a cup of tea or coffee and biscuits. I would love to meet you at our next meeting on 23rd February when we have a a physiotherapist who helps run a Pulmonary Rehab. course coming to speak to us and show us a few exercises. Do come along and enjoy a friendly couple of hours. Take care, Lizzy.
And I can confirm that they're a great, friendly and interesting group in Bury St Edmunds. They were very welcoming to me when I was staying in the area.
Hiya Liz, greetings to you and your group. Hoping you're all doing well. XXX Penelope
Hi Pen, how are you? If you've been able to follow my posts you'll know that I haven't been too well since October and spent 5 days in the WSH end of December but, thankfully, I seem to be on the mend now, I go to Papworth next Thursday so that should be the final hurdle.
From your earlier post I gather you are still in Cheltenham, are you able to get away for the winter months now?
I've not seen or heard from Jenny for a long time now. Anyway, I hope you are keeping well and it's great to hear from you. Take care. Love Liz xx
Oh no Liz, I'm so sorry, I hadn't seen your news. Will PM you xxx
Sorry Ben to highjack your post . P
In my area not many people attended did not find it very informative at the time
No group in my area
I attended the BOC pulmonary rehab class it's 12 sessions twice a week an hour's exercise tailored to your illness then an hour's classroom /discussion where they speak about different topics every session from managing your illness to traveling with your illness I have found it extremely helpful And I welcome the social side of the group I am disappointed that I have to be put forward by my doctor to be put forward however when I finish I just go back to doctors and go through the process again
Hi Angie. The pulmonary rehab sessions you describe are different to the Breathe Easy groups. They meet once a month on an ongoing basis.
I am in Tamworth is there one near there thankyou in advance
I don't know, but if you use the link Ben gave above you can enter your postcode and check.
our be group is a smashing we love it thanks to our wonderful commitee.
Thanks for all your comments and feedback on this poll everyone. I'm sorry I haven't been able to respond personally to everyone but please be assured, everyone's comments will be looked at and taken into consideration
I belong to the Breath Easy Bromley Group that meets on the third Tuesday of each month at Victor Childs Room at St Paul's Church, Crofton Road, Orpington, BR6 8JE from 2.00 - 4.00pm. Everyone is made to feel so welcome. As well as those with a lung condition it include carers, friends and family. We all look forward to meeting up each month to listen to interesting talks by speakers, followed by tea or coffee together - and its a really pleasant time. There is parking in the car park of the church right by the Victor Childs Room and the buses that stop there right outside are 61, 353, R2 and R3. I can't praise it enough, so if you live in the area, come along and see for yourself.
Still awaiting pulmonary rehab. I have been told that my local breath easy groups will only take you on if you have finished pr. Is this a local policy?
Hi Badbessie
No this isn't right - Breathe Easy groups are open and welcoming to all - you don't need a referral and you don't necessarily need to have been on a PR course to be able to attend.
If you need any help finding your local group, just let me know - or check here on our website: blf.org.uk/support-for-you
Best wishes,
Ben
BLF Admin
I have been going to breathe easy on canvey island for 5 years all I can say can not meet better people
Best thing I've done since being diagnosed with COPD. It has taught me the benefits of fitness and it has spurred me on to continuing with the treadmill and bicycle and carrying weights while climbing stairs. Once you start after a couple of weeks you will feel the benefits. The team in Edinburgh were the best, great bunch and a good laugh, and also taught us all a lot about handling the disease. I recommend the course to all sufferers and don't be afraid it will make you feel better internally and externally. We all suffer at different times, whether it be when walking up a slight uphill or on level ground. It especially gets to most when climbing stairs or carrying heavy shopping bags. The course will help you attain a far better grip on things and get your mobility up a notch or two. I can't say enough about the NHS Rehab Team, they're No 1 in my book.
The one I go fantastic yoevil
