This week Nottingham University Hospital has launched its new Prehab Service, with new gym facilities based at City Hospital to help patients prepare physically and mentally for cancer surgery.
Prehabilitation or “Prehab” involves building physical and emotional resilience to help patients cope with their diagnosis and prepare for their upcoming treatment.
The new NUH Prehab Service will help people with cancer get ready for their surgery by promoting exercise and physical activity, nutrition and psychological interventions.
The Prehab Team at NUH will work alongside community exercise provider, ABL (A Better Life) and Self Help UK to help patients access support in their local communities, ensuring a holistic and personalised Prehab Programme is provided.
It is hoped that the outcomes for patients undergoing prehab will include:
- Fewer post treatment complications
- Enhanced recovery following treatment
- Reduced length of stays
- Improved cardiorespiratory fitness
- Better neuro-cognitive functions
- Enriched quality of life.
Commenting on the launch, Prehab Team Lead Ayleen Haywood said “We are very excited to be able to offer this new prehab service for cancer patients.
“It is amazing how providing exercise and support before treatment can really help cancer patients to feel more resilient and prepared, and can ultimately improve their quality of life.
“This is our goal and our new gym facilities at City Hospital will help deliver this.”
“I am proud Nottingham University Hospitals will now be offering this innovative service to enable our patients to receive the very best preparation for their cancer surgery. Prehab is an area which is gaining momentum in cancer care and I am delighted to be part of the new service here at NUH ”
Patients due to undergo certain cancer surgeries will start to be referred by their cancer nurse specialist (CNS) this week and it is expected the service will support 10-12 new patients a week.
The NUH Prehab Gym is based at the St Francis Unit, Nottingham City Hospital, NG5 1PB and people can get updated from the team by following them on twitter (@NUHPrehab).
There will be a formal opening ceremony later this month when the whole facility has been completed.
