Scottish Government funding for charity to help lung patients in Lothian

Digital support to expand

Jeane Freeman says she expects health boards to make the most of partnerships

The Scottish Government has announced funding of £330,000 for Chest Heart & Stroke Scotland (CHSS) to expand its hospital discharge and community services for people with lung conditions, including those affected by coronavirus.   

The charity said the money would ensure its nurses and rehabilitation teams can expand digitally to meet the need for help and also equip 400 of its volunteers to provide vital one-to-one support to people to stay well at home.  

The innovative digital support is available in NHS Lothian and NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde.

Health Secretary Jeane Freeman said: “With this investment we are harnessing the power of our NHS, charities and our amazing volunteers to fight Covid-19.

“Chest Heart and Stroke Scotland’s work in helping people get back home from hospital and live well is so important and we need their vital work more than ever.

“I want to make sure that the whole of Scotland can benefit from this approach and I expect health boards to make the most of the opportunities a partnership like this offers.”

CHSS chief executive Jane-Claire Judson had previously warned Covid-19 could see many survivors living with poor lung health, perhaps for the rest of

their lives.

Welcoming the funding announcement, she said: “We are proud to stand shoulder to shoulder with our NHS heroes in Scotland’s fight against coronavirus. 

“This is the biggest challenge our society has faced in a generation. This service will help people with serious lung conditions like COPD or Covid-19 get the support they need with the longer-term effects on their physical and mental health – and help reduce pressures on the NHS by helping them live well at home.   

“With a strong partnership approach, we believe we could help 48,000 people this year through services like this one. “

Gourab Choudhury, a respiratory specialist with NHS Lothian, said at a time of unparalleled challenge, he was delighted that CHSS was joining hands with the NHS community respiratory team in Edinburgh to help manage patients with chronic respiratory conditions in the community setting.