Brian Whittle MSP lifted heavy weights this week as he took part in an exercise class designed to help sufferers of chest conditions to breathe better.

Mr Whittle joined a Pulmonary Rehabilitation session in the Scottish Parliament’s gym to support Chest Heart and Stroke Scotland’s Right to Pulmonary Rehab campaign to improve access to the life-changing exercise programme.

All parties in the Scottish Parliament voted in April to address the gaps in community-based exercise initiatives like pulmonary rehab. The charity is now calling for a clear plan and a budget commitment to be included in the Scottish Government’s upcoming Respiratory Care Action Plan.

Chest Heart and Stroke Scotland estimates that 70,000 people in Scotland would benefit from Pulmonary Rehab, but there’s currently only capacity for less than 6,000 people – yet 10,719 people have been diagnosed with COPD in Ayrshire and Arran.

The MSP said: “Pulmonary rehabilitation is life-changing for people with lung conditions like COPD. Everyone who needs it deserves access to this.

“Pulmonary rehabilitation prolongs lives and saves the NHS money by reducing hospital admissions.

“I am fully behind the campaign to make pulmonary rehab available to all who need it. There should be a universal and equal right to pulmonary rehab across the country.

“I will be writing to the health secretary to make sure that the Scottish Government makes such a commitment.”