What is prehab?

Getting ready for surgery

Everyone begins their surgery journey from a different starting point. Because of this, people may need different kinds of help to get ready – both physically and mentally. This preparation is sometimes called prehabilitation or prehab.

Prehabilitation (prehab) means getting yourself as healthy and strong as possible before your treatment or surgery.

 

Strong

The principles of prehab:

  • Moving your body more
  • Eating well
  • Looking after your feelings
  • Making healthy choices

Small steps can make a big difference.

 

Why prehab matters

Prehab helps you:

  • Be ready for treatment
  • Cope better during and after surgery
  • Feel more in control
  • Get back to daily life sooner

 

Support for everyone

We offer information and resources for all patients.
This includes everything on this website, such as:

  • simple guidance
  • helpful documents
  • easy-to-follow videos

These resources are here to help you take small, practical steps to improve your health before surgery.

 

Extra support for some patients

Some people may need more support. 

This could include:

  • digital programmes you can follow online
  • in‑person sessions run with local services and community teams

 

Support in the future

We are working towards offering more specialist, face‑to‑face prehab support in our hospitals for patients with more complex health or social needs.

These services are still being developed, so they may not be available everywhere yet.

Tiered Approach

Our partner organisations

Cancer Alliance

The Cheshire and Merseyside Cancer Alliance helps improve cancer care in the region. It works with hospitals and local services to make sure people get good support before, during and after treatment.

It also helps bring prehabilitation (prehab) services to Cheshire and Merseyside so patients can get ready for cancer treatment and feel stronger going into it.

Working With Football Clubs

Football clubs in the North West are now helping support cancer prehab through a partnership between the Cancer Alliance and English Football League (EFL) football clubs.

Local club charities offer free exercise and wellbeing sessions for adults preparing for cancer treatment. These sessions help people:

  • Get fitter before treatment
  • Feel more confident
  • Meet and talk with others going through cancer

This partnership helps bring prehab into the community in a friendly, familiar place.

Hospital Prehab at University Hospitals Liverpool Group (UHLG)

UHLG runs one of the largest prehab services in the UK, based mainly at Aintree Hospital.

Their service has supported over 1,000 cancer patients each year and covers multiple hospital sites.

It includes help with:

  • Exercise and strength-building
  • Nutrition and eating well
  • Psychological and emotional wellbeing
  • Group classes and individual plans

The UHLG prehab programme is achieving great results. A 2023 review showed that people who took part:

  • Spent 24% less time in hospital after their surgery
  • Needed up to 50% less inpatient therapy
  • 92% improved or maintained their fitness levels

Community prehab with One Wirral

One Wirral runs a community-based cancer prehab service for people living in the Wirral area.

This service helps people get physically and mentally ready for treatment by offering:

  • Over 15 exercise classes in local community centres

  • Online and home-based exercise sessions

  • Tailored healthy living plans

  • Support from Level 4 cancer rehabilitation exercise specialists

  • Extra help with lifestyle changes (like stopping smoking or building activity into daily life)

The programme works closely with Wirral University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and local community organisations.

It has supported over 3,800 people, helping them improve strength, fitness, and confidence before treatment.

Visit the One Wirral CIC YouTube channel and website for more information.

Digital prehab support

Surgery Hero is a digital prehabilitation (prehab) service used in the NHS. 

With Surgery Hero, you can get support on your phone, tablet, or computer.

You may be offered this service if your medical team thinks it will help you get ready for your surgery.

Surgery Hero offers:

  • Your own health coach
  • A personalised plan for exercise, eating well, sleep, and wellbeing
  • Videos and lessons you can follow anytime
  • Tools to track your progress

This digital support is especially helpful if you find it hard to travel or prefer completing activities at home.

Visit the Surgery Hero website.

 

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