Southside Physio are proud to be delivering ABIS in partnership with the Canberra Health Nerwork (CHN). Read below for information on the program. 

The ACT Breathlessness Intervention Service (ABIS) is a 12-month pilot project, directly translated from the Breathlessness Intervention Services developed and trialled in the UK. The model utilises a multidisciplinary team to address the Breathing – Thinking – Functioning domains of breathlessness.  CHN has commissioned Southside Physio to deliver the service and the University of Technology Sydney (UTS) to evaluate the pilot. The ABIS pilot project has been co-designed for the Canberra context. It is for patients suffering persistent breathlessness due to chronic disease and a GP referral is required. It involves an initial home visit by a Physiotherapist, with two to four follow ups at home or by phone, by a Nurse or Physiotherapist. Interventions are non-pharmacological and aimed at both patient and their carer. Click here for a GP referral form. Case study Tony* (not their real name) was referred to the ACT Breathlessness Intervention Service (ABIS) program with a history of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, severe osteoarthritis and hypertension. Tony loved his garden and produced almost all of his food himself. He also had a great love and passion for producing several products from his olive trees. Due to being anxious about feeling breathless, Tony reduced his activity level severely. This led to an increase in pain due to his osteoarthritis, which then further reduced his activity level. Through the ABIS program, we increased Tony’s activity level using a slow introduction to some functional activities, around and inside his house. Due to the education given, Tony was not scared or anxious to go into a state of being breathless and could manage it with breathing techniques. Slowly his osteoarthritis pain improved, and he managed a higher level of activity. Initially he seriously considered knee replacements, but after completing the program his pain reduced enough to go without surgery. In our last session, Tony managed to have a full olive production going. Tony was loving every moment of it and was so appreciative of what the program meant to him.