PATIENTS with heart conditions are exercising their way back to health with a new support scheme aimed at improving their quality of life.

The Heart Failure Physical Activity and Support Programme is an initiative by Sedgefield Primary Care Trust (PCT) to help patients cope with progressive heart failure.

The scheme involves exercise, relaxation, education and advice on living with the condition.

Patients who suffer heart conditions are encouraged to enrol on an eight-week programme that will help them to adopt a healthy lifestyle by stopping smoking, eating a well-balanced diet, increasing their physical activity and controlling their alcohol intake. It also offers the chance for patients to talk about any worries they may have, find out more information about their heart condition and meet other people who are living with similar problems.

Relatives are also invited to join the programme so they too can gain support in caring for their loved ones.

It is led by Andrea Williams, a heart failure nurse specialist who has been recruited by Sedgefield PCT and sponsored by the British Heart Foundation for three years to develop the service.

She said: "Physical activity has been shown to improve health and, with support programmes such as this, patients can gain confidence in their ability to exercise under supervision by healthcare professionals, and in turn, this will lead to a more active lifestyle after the programme has finished.

"If heart failure is not properly managed in the community, it can place very heavy demands on hospital beds.

"We have been working closely with all the staff in the primary healthcare team, the heart failure teams at hospitals in the area, health promotion staff and community services.

"We believe that by everybody working together and involving the patient and their family, we can provide services that people want and improve the quality of life for patients and carers affected by heart failure.''

For more details about the programme, contact the trust on 0191-301 3820.