Cancer patients recover faster with Welsh health board’s surgery prep programme

An evaluation of a Welsh health board’s programme to prepare cancer patients for surgery has found its participants spend an average of three fewer days in hospital.

The programme, Prehab2Rehab, developed by Cardiff and Vale University Health Board, supports people from the moment cancer is suspected. It focuses on improving physical and mental health before treatment, helping patients prepare for surgery, recover quicker and lower the risk of complications or readmission.

Interventions include tailored exercise plans, dietary advice and access to specialist pharmacists, cardiology clinics and preoperative assessment services.

Connections

The evaluation led by Public Health Wales found that:

• Patients who took part in the Prehab2Rehab programme described how it gave them the knowledge, skills and motivation to make lasting healthy lifestyle changes.
• It helped build strong social connections with other patients, drawing strength and encouragement from each other while going through similar experiences.

The success of Prehab2Rehab highlights why care tailored to local needs must be prioritised, giving people timely support to stay well, improving recovery, and helping ease pressure on the wider health and care system.

Dr Rachael Barlow, Clinical Lead for Prehab2Rehab Programme said: “This evaluation shows that Prehab2Rehab is making a real difference for cancer patients. It helps people recover faster, get home from hospital sooner, and supports them to make healthier choices.

“Our Prehab2Rehab team brings together health professionals, leisure centre staff and charities to help patients as early as possible in their cancer journey. By improving fitness before treatment, we can reduce delays to surgery.

“We are also working with neighbouring health boards to make sure more people can benefit, especially those who travel to Cardiff for specialist treatment, as providing equal access must be a priority.”

Heulwen, 60, a nurse for 40 years, began experiencing indigestion and noticed that food was getting stuck in her throat if she ate too quickly. She visited her GP and after an endoscopy, the GP found she had a tumour which was oesophageal cancer. It was a huge shock as she had never smoked and only drank in moderation.

Heulwen participated in Prehab2Rehab, receiving prehabilitation prior to the chemoradiation therapy and then in between the chemoradiation and the surgery.

She attended 22 exercise sessions in total, and received dietary advice and used breathing apparatus to strengthen her lungs. She felt that Prehab2Rehab helped her feel fit for surgery, but also she really benefitted from the social support of other patients who were attending the exercise groups and going through similar experiences.   

Good practice

Public Health Wales Research & Evaluation Division supports the wider health system in Wales to understand what works to prevent illness and improve health, to help scale and spread good practice.

Dr Esther Mugweni, Deputy Head of Evaluation at Public Health Wales, said: “Our evaluation shows that Prehab2Rehab is helping patients to spend less time in hospital after surgery.

“By reducing time spent in hospital, the programme not only supports patients, but also has potential wider benefit to NHS resources. It’s great to see how patients are being supported, both in making positive lifestyle changes and in finding strength from others going through similar experiences.”

Lowri Griffiths, Chair of the Wales Cancer Alliance said: “Keeping active once diagnosed with cancer is beneficial and now, we have even more evidence that taking part in prehabilitation sessions focussed on diet, exercise and improved emotional wellbeing, can help people recover more quickly from their surgery.

“This is incredibly important if people are to also undergo other treatments like chemotherapy or radiotherapy. Going into treatment as healthy as possible means you are likely to have a better outcome – it’s vital that we take this learning and apply it across all health boards in Wales so that patients can benefit wherever they are.”