Hounds to help hearts

Tuesday November 8th, 2011

A major initiative to use dogs to help heart patients recover fitness is launched today at a British hospital.

Dubbed "Hounds Help Hearts", the scheme will place dogs at Harefield Hospital Middlesex.

The Dogs Trust charity says this is the launchpad for a project known as "The Dog Prescription". The aim is to encourage GPs to talk to their patients about the benefits of owning a dog.

Some studies have shown that pets can help calm stressed patients and reduce loneliness - and dog-owners have to walk their pets daily. The Dogs Trust says there are other benefits.

Patients at Harefield will be introduced to their local dogs trust and encouraged to try a dog by walking the animals.

Lynda Evans, a modern matron at the hospital, said: "We have been running the Care For Your Heart Rehabilitation Programme for more than 20 years and as a leading specialist heart and lung hospital we are always looking for new ways to help patients to enjoy the best possible quality of life when they return home.

"We are delighted to be working with Dogs Trust on this initiative and partnering patients with dogs to help them reach their full potential through interaction and physical exercise."

The Dogs Trust said dog ownership also offers benefits to families - helping children with learning and reducing allergy risk.

Harefield heart patient Michael Knepper, aged 64, a dog-owner, said: "Walking outside is good and walking in the countryside is even better and I like the idea that you can complete a course and use the markers to see how far you have gone. Rather than walking for hours, you can stop and then judge how far you have gone."

Tags: Fitness | Heart Health | NHS | Nursing & Midwifery | UK News

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