Cardiac Rehabilitation (CR) is a personally tailored programme of exercise and/or education sessions offered to patients after they have had a cardiac event or procedure. It is designed to help patients get back on their feet – both physically and mentally – and support their recovery. It can involve gym sessions or other tailored exercise, dietary advice, smoking cessation, lifestyle education, and/or emotional support.
Benefits of CR
CR can help patients and their family/carers understand how a cardiac event or procedure might affect them and how best to make lifestyle changes to improve their health and help keep their heart healthy. It gives patients a chance to talk to specialised nurses, and to other patients who have had events to share experiences and learn from each other. CR is also an ongoing lifestyle choice that patients are encouraged to continue once the CR programme is completed. It is important to include family/carers to support patients at every stage in their recovery, enabling inclusive and ongoing beneficial changes that they too can enjoy.
How to find and access a programme.
Someone from the rehabilitation team will usually come and speak to a patient while they are in hospital, to tell them what CR is available after discharge. There is also an online Cardiac Rehab Register that can be found here which finds patients’ local programmes using a postcode search function. Patients or family/carers can also ask their GP for a referral.
What conditions are treated?
Patients who have had a heart attack (MI / Myocardial Infarction), a coronary angioplasty (PCI / Stent), or heart surgery should be offered cardiac rehabilitation. Many angina, heart failure and ICD (implantable cardioverter defibrillator) patients are also eligible.
Is there disabled access / provision
Ideally programmes should offer tailored rehabilitation for different patients, including those who are unable to attend a standard gym programme. What is offered may depend on the facilities and staffing the programme has available.
Programme entries
Each cardiac rehabilitation programme listed on the register has its own ‘page’ where they can outline details of the CR they offer. When you search using the register, and click on the programme nearest to you, it will bring up a box that looks like this:
If you click on ‘Website’ this will bring up a page that can include details such as:
• About the Programme – eg. days, times, venues
• What to expect when you come
• How long it takes
• Other General Information eg. What to wear, and what to bring with you.
It will also tell you if the programme is ‘Certified’ via the National Certification Programme for CR run jointly by NACR and the British Association of Cardiovascular Prevention and Rehabilitation (BACPR)
BHF Cardiac Rehab Resources
Information on Patient and Public Participation in Commissioning Health and Care