PATIENTS who feel short of breath are benefiting from a specialist exercise bike at Christchurch Hospital.

The £1,300 bike, which was bought with funds raised by the hospital trust’s League of Friends, operates at a low-intensity, meaning little pressure needs to be applied to get it moving.

It also monitors speed, distance travelled, heart rate and calories burnt.

It will be used in pulmonary rehabilitation classes at the hospital, which combine physical exercise with advice on lung health and coping with breathlessness, benefiting around 40 patients a week.

Hospital physiotherapist Charlotte Church said: “We are extremely grateful to the League of Friends for this bike.

“Cycling and walking are well advocated in pulmonary rehabilitation and as the bike is static, it means our patients don’t need to worry about their balance or any physical limitations that would normally prevent them from using a bicycle.

“One lady was actually brought to tears when she used the bike as she didn’t think she’d ever be able to use a bicycle again.”

Ted Kennett, 74, started attending the pulmonary rehabilitation sessions when he began to feel regularly out of breath. He has since given talks on the service to fellow patients during the sessions and praised the decision and purchase of the bike.

He said: “My GP recommended the sessions to me and I am so glad I came. The staff have taught me what to do if I get short of breath and how to take things easy.

“I can’t thank them enough. It is great to have a service like this on my doorstep and this bike just makes it even better.”