Tunes help Peter breathe more easily

Reporter: Lucy Kenderdine
Date published: 28 November 2014


A GRANDFATHER is singing the praises of an Oldham choir after it dramatically improved his health and reduced his hospital visits.

Peter Kershaw, from Shaw, suffers with a lifelong bronchial condition which involves draining fluid from his lungs twice a day and leaves him at risk of pneumonia.

Rather than complain about his condition, the 64 year old got involved with the Jolly Wheezers, a choir run by the Pennine Lung Service which combines breathing exercises, singing and posture tips to improve health.

“If you’d told me a few years ago I’d be singing in a choir, I would have laughed at you” admits Peter, whose first bout of pneumonia at 14 was so serious he couldn’t even be moved into hospital.

“But I’m not in it to win prizes — I just enjoy it and it helps.

“Some weeks I come to practice and am so breathless I can’t finish the first line of the song but the tips and hints on singing really help me.”

Peter is one of around 30 people suffering with chest complaints who make up the Jolly Wheezers choir.

Peter also undertakes a regime of exercise and healthy eating to keep his condition in check - so much so that his story came to the attention of Oldham Clinical Commissioning Group.

They believe he is the perfect example of how someone with a long-term condition can take care of himself, saving the NHS resources into the bargain.

Dr Ian Wilkinson, chief clinical officer at Oldham CCG, said: “Peter has taken the initiative and made the kind of good daily choices that will improve his health and we should all follow his example.

“He has got to know his condition, what medication he needs and crucially who to turn to for help.”

To find out more about the Jolly Wheezers, email Nicola Howarth on nicola.howarth2@pat.nhs.uk