Members' Business: Cheyne Gang Singing Group

That the Parliament commends the Cheyne Gang, a community singing group and Scottish Charitable Incorporated Organisation (SCIO), for its work with people living with long-term respiratory conditions such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), asthma, and bronchiectasis; understands that the Cheyne Gang, so named because its first meeting venue was in Cheyne Street, Edinburgh, was started by three general practice nurses in 2013 as a research project, and now comprises over 100 members in groups in the Oxgangs, Stockbridge, Pleasance and Leith areas of Edinburgh, Innerleithen, Helensburgh and Forfar, as well as in the Dennistoun and Bridgeton areas of Glasgow, with a new group due to be established in Coldstream; appreciates that the singing sessions are facilitated by trained song group leaders and that 11 singing teachers completed a training course in 2017 developed by the Cheyne Gang; recognises that singing is an inexpensive form of pulmonary rehabilitation and is a considered a logical approach to managing breathlessness; notes that the Cheyne Gang has the support of the respiratory physiotherapy and pulmonary rehabilitation leads in NHS Lothian and NHS Borders and that the group actively tries to inform as many GPs as possible, and believes that the associated breathing techniques help improve the quality of life of the participants and is a living example of how singing can positively affect health outcomes.