A singing group to help people suffering from lung conditions has hit the right note with patients at Wye Valley NHS Trust.

The “Singing for Lung Health” group meets on Wednesdays under the expert tuition of professional singer Annie Summers.

It was a special day on Wednesday, November 20th, when the weekly session coincided with World Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) day. COPD is an umbrella term which describes progressive lung diseases including emphysema, chronic bronchitis and chronic asthma – which are characterised by increasing breathlessness.

“Singing requires effort for muscle contraction and co-ordination which benefits patients with COPD and other chronic lung diseases causing breathlessness,” said Ingrid Du Rand, consultant in respiratory at Wye Valley NHS Trust.

“The weekly sessions are helping patients to breathe better, reduce stress and have fun and meet new friends.”

Annie Summers, who leads the sessions, is a professional singer who has completed a British Lung Foundation endorsed training course to provide safe and relevant singing instruction to people with lung conditions.

The group meets on Wednesdays at the Salvation Army hall on Canonmoor Street, Hereford.