Patients monitor their condition and quality of breathing

The trial, at Bristol Royal Infirmary, allows patients to monitor their conditions at home, with the data sent automatically to the hospital.

It is hoped the scheme will lead to the early diagnosis of chest infections and reduce the need for hospital treatment.

Doctors believe the system could be used to treat other conditions.

CF is the most common genetically inherited life-threatening illness in the UK.

'Quality of life'

Patients taking part in the Bristol pilot scheme use a handheld computer and lung function machine to monitor their conditions daily, recording symptoms and quality of breathing.

The results are send via a mobile phone network to a receiving station in the respiratory department at the BRI.

Doctors can study the data and decide whether a patient needs treatment.

Dr Nail Jared, head of the Bra's CF service, said: "We hope that by detecting infections early, we can use oral antibiotics to treat patients which means they don't have to come into hospital for intravenous antibiotics, giving them a better quality of life."

So far, 23 patients have signed up for the trail and Dr Jared hopes to recruit another 37.

Among those already taking part in the scheme is Peter Hatch, 34, from Bristol.