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BBC Devon

Man’s mission after COPD lung operation’s ‘unbelievable’ change

4 November 2025

BBC Jim Shaylor, who has brown hair, sideburns, and moustache, is wearing a blue sweatshirt. He is sitting at a table with a purple table cloth on it. On the table is a pale blue nebuliser and many leaflets about COPD and other breathing issues. — Jim Shaylor said he would recommend the procedure “100%”

A Devon man who was one of the first in the country to have an operation to improve his breathing is now helping almost 50 people a week with theirs.

Jim Shaylor, 74, has COPD [chronic obstructive pulmonary disease] – an incurable chronic lung condition affecting more than 1.2 million people in the UK.

In 2022, he had an operation to collapse part of his lung to reduce his breathlessness, his health improved so drastically that, with the help of his consultant, his has set up Devon Breathers, a group to support other COPD patients.

Mr Shaylor said he had been housebound but, thanks to the procedure, “the change in my quality of life is unbelievable”.

The support group has 46 members and meets every week in Yealmpton

Five people sit in chairs against a wall with two windows in it. They are all sitting upright with their hands on their knees. They are being led in breathing exercises by Jim who has his back to camera in the corner of the frame. — The support group has 46 members and meets every week in Yealmpton

The procedure works by inserting one-way valves into damaged parts of the lungs through the mouth.

The valves mean the damaged areas deflate, creating more space for the healthy tissue to expand.

His consultant at Plymouth’s Derriford Hospital, Mr Philip Hughes, said about 50 of the hospital’s patients had had the procedure at hospitals outside of the county but the aim was to make the procedure available at Derriford, which could help roughly 50 patients a year locally.

Retired thoracic surgeon Dr David Waller who performed Jim’s procedure said it should be available in every NHS trust.

He also said he believed it would also save the NHS money as “it will reduce the need for people to come back into hospital and the patients will not need to have such intensive social services because of their improved quality of life”.

Devon Breathers also visit gyms in the county to encourage their members to stay fit and active.

Six people walk around a room practicing breathing exercises. The walls are magnolia and the carpet is deep purple. — Devon Breathers also visit gyms in the county to encourage their members to stay fit and active.

As part of Jim’s recovery, he was sent on a pulmonary rehabilitation course, where he learnt intensive breathing exercises.

He said: “The course started on the Thursday.

“On the Friday, I felt like I had been in a boxing ring.

“On the Saturday, I felt like I could do the marathon.”

He now teaches the techniques to members of the Devon Breathers group, which meets every Tuesday afternoon in the Yealmpton Community and Resource Centre.

Jim said: “If I could improve one person’s quality of life, I’d achieve my aim. But, through what we do, we’ve improved many, many lives”.

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