Pulmonary Rehabilitation Service

Contact us

Admin Team
Whitstable and Tankerton Hospital
01227 594657
kcht.pulmonaryrehab@nhs.net

Monday to Friday, 8am to 4pm.

Who we are

We are highly experienced chartered physiotherapists, specialist rehabilitation assistants and respiratory counsellors.

What we do

We cover Ashford, Canterbury, south Kent Coast and Thanet in east Kent and Dartford, Gravesham and Swanley.

Our pulmonary rehabilitation programmes are held at local venues, such as church halls or community centres.

We have close working relationships with respiratory nurses, community-based long-term conditions and intermediate care teams, acute hospital respiratory physicians and physiotherapists, practice nurses and GPs.

To support achieving long-term self-management, we link with agencies in the community, such as singing groups, health trainers and Breathe Easy support groups.

We offer a tailored programme of exercise for people with moderate to severe lung disease, which aims to improve exercise tolerance, reduce symptoms and a patient’s disability. The idea is to improve a person’s quality of life and help them manage their condition.

Pulmonary rehabilitation is an evidence-based treatment for specific chronic respiratory diseases. It includes exercise and extensive education that is open to patients, as well as partners and carers.

Each patient has an assessment with a specialist Respiratory Physiotherapist to make sure they are suitable and willing to attend a pulmonary rehabilitation programme.

Pulmonary rehabilitation consists of two supervised exercise and education sessions each week for six weeks, with a tailored self-management programme.

How do you use this service?

You need to be referred by your GP or a healthcare professional.

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March 2024
Gravesham

Very educational, it taught me how to manage my lung condition each day. They have helped me with a exercise programme, which I will carry on after my course. And given me useful contacts for advice and support.

February 2024
Ashford

Found the counselling very helpful. Staff member was able to help me identify issues and give constructive ideas to deal with them.

May 2023
St Mary's Bay

Very experienced and helpful staff who explained everything well. (Course)

May 2023
Ashford

Gill and Paula were very approachable and encouraging. Helped me to understand and manage my symptoms. Excellent. (Respiratory Physiotherapy)

May 2023
Canterbury

I had great support - Marie and Rebecca were always reassuring me and helped make things easier for me. I was always able to work at my own pace. (Course)

May 2023
Whitstable

Girls very caring and encouraging, makes you push yourself to do more exercise. (Course)

May 2023
Thanet

Knowing how to cope with the different exercises and I could defiantly feel the benefits. Sam and Kelly very cheerful and helpful staff. (Course)

May 2023
Dartford

Better understanding of my condition. Helped my wellbeing, particularly with my confidence. (Course)

April 2023
Gravesham

Staff are appraochable, very reassuring with exercises and breathing technique. Most of all they made me feel valued.

April 2023
Whitstable

Instructors cheerful, helped you understand your condition and what you could do to help yourself.

April 2023
Canterbury

Very helpful staff making you feel relaxed about what you are looking to do to improve your general health.

April 2023
Folkestone

Well organised informative relaxed / friendly, very knowledgeable leader (Raj). Professional in every respect.

March 2023
Gravesham

It gave me the motivation to be more active and meet people.

March 2023
Canterbury

Lots of questions answered by staff. Very helpful and explained everything.

March 2023
Dover

Excellent information and education. Very friendly staff and encouraging. Individual goals, attention where necessary. Group social, dynamic - excellent.

March 2023
Dartford

Staff were very helpful and helped me through the experience.

March 2023
Thanet

The Support from Sam and Kelly has been excellent. The sessions are consitent and educational. I feel a real benefit from attending.

January 2023
Whitstable

Taught me how to control my breathing; made a lot of difference with the way I breathe.

January 2023
Thanet

Both Kelly and Sam are very competent and this comes over in all the sessions. My fitness has noticeably improved.

January 2023
St Marys Bay

Learning different ways to manage COPD . Group participation was helpful.

January 2023
Gravesham

Care of us as individuals was excellent. Encouragement excellent. Achieving goals, never imagined - excellent, thank you.

January 2023
Thanet

How at ease I felt and able to talk open and honestly knowing that it was confidential.

December 2022
Dover

Found exercises quite easy to do. Teachers very pleasant and helpful.

December 2022
Canterbury

Worthwhile, well structured, positive and enjoyable.

December 2022
Thanet

Sam and Kelly very friendly and everything was a good experience.

December 2022
Gravesham

Reassuring at all times made me feel very welcome and praised at each milestone achieved.

December 2022
Folkestone

Professional Service. Gave me confidence that I could manage my COPD.

June 2022
Thanet

Jennifer and Leanne were very welcoming and gave a lot of support and encouragement.

June 2022
Canterbury

Absolutely professional with a relaxed atmosphere and staff very informative.

June 2022
Whitstable

The team were extremely caring and explained all what we needed to do and made me feel at ease.

June 2022
St Marys Bay

I found the staff very friendly, understanding and helpful.

May 2022
Gravesham

I could not have hoped for a more pleasant, caring or efficient running of the course.

May 2022
Thanet

Very understanding, professional, full of information.

May 2022
Ashford

Always met with enthusiasm. Well organised, personalised attention. Hygiene of a high standard.

May 2022
Whitstable

I found the ladies running this service were extremely helpful, kind and considerate.

May 2022
Dover

Informative relevant health talks. Especially about anxiety and airway clearing. Exercises were good and I can continue at home.

April 2022
Thanet

Friendly, found out how to deal with many things, easy to contact if needed.

April 2022
Canterbury

Everything explained so clearly and at the end of a phone if you need more help.

April 2022
Gravesham

The instructors were very helpful and encouraging. Things were explained in a way that was easy to understand.

March 2022
Whitstable

Kind, caring and encouraging physios.

March 2022
Ashford

Made you feel very welcome. Very instructive and very helpful.

March 2022
Dartford

Kate and Paul where excellent and couldn't do enough. Tailored program for my specific nee,d very helpful and friendly.

March 2022
Folkestone

Staff are friendly and welcoming and everything is explained clearly.

February 2022
Thanet

Compassionate staff gave easy to understand instructions and reasoning.

March 2022
St Marys Bay

iIfound the staff very helpful and kind to my needs. Imformation given was very good and made me understand my issues.

February 2022
Canterbury

Only too willing to help and advise, very encouraging team members.

February 2022
Gravesham

Throughout the course everything was explained to us in a very professional way.

January 2022
Thanet

Sam and Kelly have been very supportive and motivational.

January 2022
Canterbury

The course has given me so much confidence in pushing myself and coping with my condition.

January 2022
St Marys Bay

Staff very understanding, caring. It is a very informative course. Leant a lot about my condition.

January 2022
Folkestone

Feel better in myself. Raj and Smig motivated me and were caring. Beneficial programme.

December 2021
Dartford

Friendly and informative.

December 2021
Whitstable

Excellent service, very helpful, positive and encouraging.

November 2021
Thanet

Team, very good; explained everything and gave us time to ask questions.

November 2021
Dartford

Informative and incredibly supportive at every session.

November 2021
Canterbury

I was supported well over the course both in house and over the phone. Treated with kindness and respect.

October 2021
Dover

Everyone had time for you, to what you needed in your own time.

October 2021
Dartford

Health improved. Very friendly people. Lots of exercise and felt good afterwards.

October 2021
Gravesham

Staff here very attentive and helpful at all times.

October 2021
Thanet

The team of Sam and Kelly are wonderful and an asset to the NHS.

November 2022
Folkestone

Excellent. I've had a life changing improvement in my fatigue and post exercise fatigue. Raj and Smig were wonderful professional and patient with me.

November 2022
Dartford

The staff were very supportive the course was very educational. Was good fun and will help me manage my health with confidence.

November 2022
St Mary's Bay

I found the talks particularly useful. Having some reassurances from staff.

November 2022
Whitstable

Professionalism of staff, very knowledgeable and caring.

November 2022
Canterbury

The first lady I saw (Rebecca) was very understanding and listened to my concerns. Marie has continued this and has been very supportive over the weeks.

November 2022
Thanet

Staff very helpful and understanding. Good Knowledge.

November 2022
Gravesham

Very explainitory and the exercises made me feel better. Paul and Kate who took the sessions were very understanding.

October 2022
Canterbury

Excellent, really helpful, lovely and friendly, good tips and advice. Helped my confidence.

October 2022
Dartford

Found the staff so helpful, nothing to much trouble, very hands on.

October 2022
Whitstable

The respiratory physio were very friendly and helpful, also very knowledgeable about this condition.

October 2022
Folkestone

I learnt a lot and my confidence is much improved.

October 2022
Thanet

The service Sam and Kelly provide is outstanding.

September 2022
Gravesham

Staff were attentive and helpful, the sessions were prompt and the environment was spacious and airy. Talks were interesting and useful.

September 2022
Whitstable

I liked the exercises and they were explained to me in good details. The ladies were very kind and very helpful.

September 2022
Canterbury

Taught me how to manage my condition better and gave me motivation to try harder.

August 2022
St Mary's Bay

The course was informative and helped me understand more about my condition. It also helped me to exercise to a level right for me.

July 2022
Gravesham

Kate and Paul were very good at explaining and showing us the different apparatus.

August 2022
Folkestone

The programme has given lots of useful information to manage my condition.

July 2022
Folkestone

I found the specialists to be very good at there jobs. They were very patient with me.