BreathingSpace health facility improves quality of life for people with severe respiratory disease

A unique national health pilot supported by the Coalfields Regeneration Trust, has provided a radical step change in improving the quality of life for people in Rotherham with severe respiratory disease, with reported deaths from bronchiectasis and Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) now 30% lower than the national average just 6 years after its opening.

The revolutionary facility, BreathingSpace, created as the result of an ambitious partnership between Coalfields Regeneration Trust and Rotherham PCT, with the support of Rotherham Metropolitan Borough Council and the Foundation Trust Hospital, was developed following a £7.24m investment by Coalfields Regeneration Trust and delivers a dedicated service for people with COPD and other respiratory conditions.

A recent report commissioned by the Coalfields Regeneration Trust found that 11.7% of people living in the coalfields communities report long-term health problems, compared to 8.6% nationally, and 8.4% of adults of working age in former mining towns and villages claim incapacity benefit, which is 2.2% higher than the national average and almost double that of South East England.

In addition 7.9% - some 440,000 people – claim Disability Living Allowance (DLA), which is a staggering 50% higher than the GB average and twice as high as the South East of England. It is believed that many of these ailments are caused as a direct result of the poor conditions that many people experienced when working in the mines, along with the ongoing depravation faced by those living in these areas.

Jon Miles, Consultant Physician and Clinical Director of Medicine at the Rotherham Foundation Trust comments:

When we launched the two-year pilot for BreathingSpace in 2008 we had no idea of the impact it would have on the health and wellbeing of those living in the area. Obviously we set out with ambitious targets, but to know that we are now reporting figures that not only match but beat national averages is fantastic and testament to those who work for and continue to fund the project.

As primary funder of the capital build and two-year pilot for the project, Peter McNestry MBE, Chair of Coalfields Regeneration Trust said:

These figures are very encouraging. We know that BreathingSpace is the first facility of its kind in the UK and that it has proven to be a resource that can literally mean life or death to many of the people living within the coalfield communities.

He adds: “BreathingSpace is a great example of the projects that we support. The results speak for themselves and we should now be looking at ways in which other areas can use this model as an example of best practice. We don’t have a bottomless pit of money but we do have the experience to work with partners to make this happen.”

As part of the Rotherham Foundation NHS Trust, members of the public can access BreathingSpace, based in the town, at no charge, which in turn encourages attendance and contributes to the ongoing improvement of people’s health and wellbeing within the coalfield community.

The Coalfields Regeneration Trust has been supporting the 5.5m people living within coalfield communities for 15 years. Providing practical help to organisations and social enterprises plus funding that supports varied activities with a focus on health, jobs creation, community and well-being, the organisation continues to have a positive impact on coalfield areas throughout England, Scotland and Wales.