Cardiac Rehabilitation

Cardiac rehabilitation (cardiac rehab for short) is an individualised programme usually made up of a mix of exercise and education sessions that helps you get back to as full a life as possible after a cardiac event such as a heart attack, heart surgery or stent procedure.

You may also be able to attend a cardiac rehab programme if you have been diagnosed with heart failure or if you have a device such as an implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD).

Cardiac rehabilitation is designed to help you get back to leading as full a life as possible after your cardiac event or diagnosis. Patients are carefully assessed, and a management plan put in place to help them with their condition and to optimise their quality of life, through medication and changes in lifestyle.

Accessing services

Local cardiac rehabilitation services vary across Devon and Cornwall. They are multidisciplinary teams made up of senior cardiac nurses and physiotherapists or fitness instructors, who work closely with consultant cardiologists. They also have access to psychology services, dietitians and smoking cessation services.

If you have heart surgery or are admitted to hospital following a heart attack, then a member of the local cardiac rehabilitation team may visit you in hospital to give you information about your condition and any procedure you’re having. This care will usually continue after you’ve left hospital.

Alternatively, your cardiologist or GP may refer you to the local cardiac rehabilitation team who will contact you at home.

For details of your local cardiac rehabilitation team click on one of the links below:

Self-care and more information

Self-care is an integral part of daily life and is all about you taking responsibility for your own health and wellbeing with the support of those involved in your care.

People are often nervous about starting cardiac rehab as they worry about not being able to do as much as other people or being the odd one out, but everyone has ‘first day nerves’ and you will quickly find yourself put at ease.

Self-care includes actions you take for yourself every day, so you stay fit and maintain good physical and mental health. It also helps you to prevent illness or accidents and care more effectively for minor ailments and long-term conditions.

People living with long-term conditions can benefit enormously from being supported so they can achieve self-care. They can live longer, have less pain, anxiety, depression and fatigue, have a better quality of life, and be more active and independent.

The following resources are available from the British Heart Foundation:

Financial support

If you’re unable to work after having heart surgery, you may be entitled to financial support, such as:

If you’re caring for someone who has heart disease, you may also be entitled to financial support.

To find out if you’re entitled to financial support, you can contact your local Social Security department. To request a claim form, contact the Disability Service Centre.

Further information

Waiting for a specialist opinion

If you have been referred for a specialist opinion your details will be reviewed, and it may be recommended that you are seen by a hospital clinician. Information to support you in choosing your preferred hospital, including waiting times can be found using the links below.

How long will I wait?

If a hospital assessment and/or treatment is clinically recommended your information will be sent to a specialist. Click below to find out more about waiting times for routine hospital assessment and/or treatment.