HOPES are high pulmonary rehabilitation could return to the Wee County for local patients with an even better service.

A lead specialist nurse told an Alloa group of lung disease sufferers that current arrangements which saw telehealth classes scrapped at Clackmannanshire Community Healthcare Centre are just a trial and nothing is set in stone yet.

NHS Forth Valley's Olwyn Lamont sided with locals to fight their cause after the rehabilitation classes, which were in the past cast from Forth Valley Royal Hospital onto screens at the Sauchie centre via a video-link, were moved to Stirling and Grangemouth with specialists delivering exercises live on site.

It is understood the move came as rehab classes could not be held at, and video-conferenced from, the hospital any longer to make way for a new inpatient ward.

As the Advertiser reported earlier this year, members of lung disease support group Breathe Easy Clackmannanshire raised concerns this means patients from the Wee County with illnesses like chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) would have to take two-three buses to access what is regarded the best treatment for them.

At a meeting of the group last week, Olwyn told the crowd what they truly need is a physio and respiratory nurse to hold classes right here in Clackmannanshire, adding that the telehealth option was always only "second best".

She agreed locals should not have to travel to neighbouring areas to access treatment, revealing that there will be a "scoping event" locally to hear views as the trial of current arrangements ends in July.

The classes include exercises that improve patients' quality of life and were previously described as "a lifeline for people with COPD" by Joseph Carter, head of the British Lung Foundation in Scotland.

MSP Alexander Stewart, who has been a supporter of the local Breathe Easy group led by Linda McLeod BEM, is deputy convener of Holyrood's Cross-Party Group on Lung Health.

He also co-convenes the parliament's heart disease and stroke group and recently he got behind Chest Heart & Stroke Scotland's (CHSS) Right to Pulmonary Rehab campaign.

Mr Stewart explained that the campaign is "looking for an end to the inequalities in access to rehab, which vary hugely across health boards and has been described very much as a postcode lottery".

He added: "It has been estimated that around 69,000 people would benefit from rehab; however, current capacity is just 6,000 despite it being proven to be one of the most cost effective and clinically effective treatments.

"This disparity beggars belief and the situation must change.

"I support this campaign and the SNP must address these treatment gaps as a matter of urgency."