INTERVENTION: Patients allocated to the EPR group will attend a pulmonary rehabilitation programme within 7 days of hospital discharge. This will consist of two sessions a week for 8 weeks, and will be supervised by a multi−disciplinary team consisting of physiotherapists, occupational therapists, nurses and dieticians as well as the clinical research fellow funded by the proposed grant. Each session consists of 60 minutes exercise, made up of aerobic walking and cycling exercise plus lower and upper limb strength and endurance exercise, and 1 hour of discussion focusing on psychosocial and lifestyle issues, with a particular emphasis on nutrition and domestic activity. The EPR group will be also be given an individualised home exercise programme, encouraging daily exercise. The UC group will receive usual outpatient and primary care follow−up.