Royal Patron visits prehabilitation programme to commend positive impact on cancer patients
On 7 December , RCOT Patron , Her Royal Highness The Princess Royal , visited an innovative prehabilitation programme in Greater Manchester , known as Prehab4Cancer , to recognise the positive impact of the service on the lives of people affected by cancer .
Alongside Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham and representatives from the Greater Manchester Cancer Alliance , HRH The Princess Royal was introduced to staff working on the specialist cancer programme , including exercise specialists , people affected by cancer enrolled on the service , and its occupational therapist clinical lead Zoe Merchant .
Developed by an interdisciplinary team , Prehab4Cancer incorporates exercise , nutrition and wellbeing interventions to support people diagnosed with cancer before their treatment and to support enhanced recovery after .
The first prehab programme to be delivered system-wide and at scale nationally , Prehab4Cancer launched in April 2019 , and 2,500 people have benefited from participating in the programme to date .
The programme represents a partnership between the Greater Manchester Cancer Alliance , leading the development and funding of the service , and GM Active , the representative body for the local authority owned leisure and wellness facilities used to deliver the service .
This network of facilities allows participation for patients close to home , for normalisation , improved accessibility and long-term behavioural change .
Exercise specialists delivering the programme receive cancer rehabilitation qualifications and benefit from guidance from the programme ’ s occupational therapy lead , focused on psychosocial , activity analysis , adaptive skills and the overall ethos of occupational therapy .
During the visit , Her Royal Highness acknowledged the key role occupational therapists have to play in the emerging field of prehabilitation , and recognised the valuable contributions occupational therapists can make as transformational healthcare leaders – working alongside medical staff , nursing staff , other allied health professionals , NHS managers and professionals outside of the NHS .
She reflected on the skills , expertise and experience occupational therapists accumulate through their dual-training and their clinical work across acute and community settings , which makes them well suited to lead on system-wide projects , such Prehab4Cancer .
Zoe said : ‘ The Prehab4Cancer programme focuses on utilising participants ’ engagement in positive occupations , primarily exercise , to optimise them for their cancer treatment and supports enhanced recovery following treatment with increased independence and quality of life throughout their cancer pathway .
‘ We ’ re delighted that Her Royal Highness has been able to visit and see the service first-hand today , to celebrate the knowledge and skills brought together by the range of healthcare and exercise professionals involved to deliver an impactful service to patients that enhances their overall outcomes and experiences .’
Professor Diane Cox , RCOT Chair of Council , added : ‘ I am incredibly proud to be an occupational therapist . And never more so than during such challenging and rapidly evolving times , where adaptability has been vital .
I am incredibly proud to be an occupational therapist . And never more so than during such challenging and rapidly evolving times , where adaptability has been vital .”
‘ We ’ re delighted that our Patron has seen here today an exceptional example of how an occupational therapist-led service has adapted to continue to support patients during the pandemic and is making such a positive difference to people .’
12 OTnews January 2022