Wait times for pulmonary rehabilitation in Canberra are expected to fall from as long as two years to about two months under an expansion of services across the ACT.

A partnership between Canberra Health Services and the University of Canberra will double the capacity of the existing pulmonary rehabilitation program at Canberra Hospital and establish a new northside service at the University of Canberra Health Clinics.

The expanded services are expected to provide rehabilitation to 375 people with chronic lung disease, primarily chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, each year.

The government estimates the additional capacity will reduce hospital admissions by about 480 bed days a year, equivalent to an annual saving of $1.4 million.

University of Canberra physiotherapy students will also work at the UC Health Clinics as part of their placements, supervised by experienced Canberra Health Services clinical staff.

Health Minister Marisa Paterson says the expansion will give people with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease faster access to rehabilitation at either a northside or southside location.

“This arrangement is also helping to build our allied professional workforce of the future through high-quality, supervised training for University of Canberra students in a clinical setting,” Dr Paterson says.

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