Singing their way to better health

Three practice nurses with a passion for singing started a group for people with COPD – with astonishing results

There’s a good reason why I Can Breathe Clearly Now is the signature tune of Edinburgh-based singing group The Cheyne Gang.

The group adapted the 1972 Johnny Nash classic I Can See Clearly Now to reflect the fact that its members have breathing problems – and that taking part is proving beneficial for their breathing and overall health.

The Cheyne Gang was the brainchild of three practice nurses – Pauline Waugh, Sarah Marshall and Anne Ritchie – who decided to set up a small trial to see if singing in a group would benefit their patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

Having won funding from the Queen’s Nursing Institute in Scotland, the nurses recruited eight patients