Prehabilitation

What is prehabilitation ?

Improving your physical, mental and overall well-being prior to surgery is called Prehabilitation.

Just as training is necessary to successfully run a marathon, being in your best shape physically and mentally prior to surgery can be beneficial to your recovery.

What is SurgiFIT?

SurgiFIT is a prehabilitation program at The Prince Charles Hospital (TPCH) consisting of a team of doctors, physiotherapists, dietitians, and social workers. The team will work with you to create a personalised plan, tailored to prepare you for surgery. Personal plans may include:

An exercise program
Nutritional advice
Techniques to manage stress
Strategies to make healthy lifestyle changes such as quitting smoking prior to surgery

What are the benefits of Prehabilitation?

Maintain or improve your physical ability and fitness before surgery
Minimise or prevent complications after surgery
Decrease time spent in hospital
Achieve a faster recovery after surgery

Prehabilitation Program video opening screen

TPCH Prehabilitation Program

Being prepared for surgery is important. Find out how a prehabilitation program can help.

Watch the video

What does SurgiFIT involve?

Patient and physiotherapist

Physiotherapy

The physiotherapist will design an exercise plan with you that suits your preferences and needs.

Fruit and vegetables

Nutrition

Nutrition is important prior to surgery. Our dietitians will work with you to develop an individualised plan.

Social Work

Being emotionally and socially prepared for surgery is essential for your recovery.

Social worker and patient

Smoking cessation

If you smoke, you have a higher risk of serious complications during and after surgery.

How to access this service

Your surgeon will refer you to the SurgiFIT program.

What to Expect

You will be contacted with an appointment where you will have assessments to develop your personal plan with:
- A physiotherapist and/or
- A social worker and/or
- A dietitian
They will each design a treatment plan with you that meets your goals and needs and arrange an appointment schedule.
Assessment and treatment sessions could be face-to-face, over the phone or via tele-health (video over the internet) depending on your needs and your clinician’s recommendations.
Exercise sessions may be provided in a group.

Meet the team

Meet some of the dedicated team who will help you with your prehabilitiation program.

Lisa Woolcock ( Social work Clinical Lead), Dr. Harish Iswariah ( Consultant General Surgeon), Bevan Bird (prehabilitation patient), Mr Peter Hancock (Nurse), Jessica King (Physiotherapist), Dr. Usha Gurunathan (Consultant anaesthetist)

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Patient testimonials

Past SurgiFIT patients have said:

“I was prepared for every eventuality”
“I felt supported and understood”
“Very helpful – so much stronger and fitter”

Patient testimonial video opening screen

Neville’s story

Find out how a prehabilitation program helped Neville prepare for surgery.