New cancer prehabilitation service launches

Healthworks, with funding and support from the Northern Cancer Alliance, has launched a new evidence-based cancer prehabilitation service, designed to support patients from diagnosis through treatment across the North East and North Cumbria.

This represents the first service of its kind to be delivered by a not-for-profit organisation across a region of this size, helping to remove geographical barriers to access and reduce health inequalities.

Building on a successful pilot with Newcastle Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, this programme provides targeted exercise and wellbeing support across all types of cancers, with the ambition of establishing a universal and targeted NHS prehabilitation offer for the region.

The programme aims to:

• Improve patients’ physical readiness and confidence ahead of treatment

• Enhance treatment outcomes

• Reduce hospital cancellations and delays

• Widen equitable access to prehabilitation support

The service is closely aligned with the National Cancer Plan, which sets out the ambition to roll out a national digital-first prehabilitation offer from 2028 and contributes to delivering treatment quicker and cutting waiting times. By embedding virtual delivery at scale from launch, this programme supports early system readiness and provides a scalable model that can inform future national implementation.

Service delivery will include:

• Virtual delivery across the North East and North Cumbria. Structured online exercise classes, personalised guidance, and signposting to wider health and wellbeing support, improving access for patients in rural and underserved communities.
• Face-to-face delivery in Newcastle, Gateshead, and Sunderland. Local in-person support to complement the virtual offer where appropriate.

Evidence-based approach

Paul Court, CEO of Healthworks said: ”This is a significant and exciting opportunity to support patients right across the North East and North Cumbria at a crucial point in their cancer journey. By providing accessible, evidence-based prehabilitation, we can help people feel stronger, more confident, and better prepared for treatment, wherever they live.

“At Healthworks, we are committed to reducing health inequalities and ensuring that high-quality support is available to all. This programme represents an important step forward in delivering more inclusive, preventative care at scale, and we are proud to be working with partners to make this a reality for patients across the region.”

Clare Doney, Clinical Lead for Living with and Beyond Cancer at Northern Cancer Alliance, said: “Research tells us there are many benefits of prehabilitation to patients. It helps them to be better prepared for cancer treatment, and they are more likely to spend less time in hospital and make a quicker recovery.

“This virtual service will broaden access to prehabilitation, ensuring that cancer patients across the North East and North Cumbria are able to benefit.

“We are delighted to be supporting Healthworks in this initiative and delivering on the aims of the National Cancer Plan to help break down barriers to support and reduce health inequalities.”

For further information on how you can access this service, please contact your specialist cancer team at the hospital.