Exercise via video wins team award

A team of health workers has won an award for its use of technology to help people with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease.

The East and Midlothian Pulmonary Rehabilitation Team uses video conferencing to broadcast exercise classes so that one teacher can hold two classes simultaneously, in different locations. The scheme won the Improving Quality prize at the Advancing Healthcare Awards.

Amanda Stears, specialist physiotherapist, said: “We have been delivering our pulmonary rehabilitation solely through digital means for the past two years and the results have been great.

“We are now moving to phase two of our project where we are trialing the delivery of pulmonary rehabilitation directly into patients’ homes. Patients are equipped with a specially-designed phone with a screen and matched up with a physiotherapist who supports them as they exercise.”