West Hertfordshire Teaching Hospital (WHTH) says it has become the first NHS Trust to deliver a complete, technology-enabled pathway by providing digital prehabilitation (‘prehab’) services to colorectal cancer patients.
The year-long trial will see London-based digital health SME QuestPrehab work with 300 patients both before and after their surgery. The digitised service will see patients able to access their individualised exercise, nutrition and psychological wellbeing programmes via QuestPrehab’s app.
Prehab is an area of healthcare that focuses on improving the general health and activity of patients before surgery or treatment as a way of aiding their recovery. Patients who complete their prehab course are less likely to be readmitted to hospital, enjoy improved health-related quality of life, return to work earlier and need less involvement with social and primary care providers.
WHTH is already a regional leader in oncology, achieving the highest performance in the East of England across all three national colorectal cancer standards. It has an established history of embracing and leveraging technology to improve patient outcomes and boost efficiency.
In the past three and a half years the Trust has introduced a total robotic practice for colorectal cancer surgery, with more than 97% of elective resections are now performed robotically, as well as a colorectal virtual hospital, proven to be safe, feasible, and popular with patients according to the Trust.
“Digital prehabilitation is the final piece of the jigsaw in creating a truly technology-enabled pathway for colorectal cancer at West Herts,” said Vanash Patel, Consultant Colorectal and General Surgeon, Colorectal Lead and Robotic Surgery Lead, at the WHTH. “By adding QuestPrehab, we are completing the circle.”
“This represents a step change in cancer care delivery. Our patients will be supported from the moment of diagnosis, optimising their fitness, nutrition and wellbeing before surgery, then benefiting from advanced robotic techniques and early discharge supported by virtual monitoring.
“This pathway is about empowering patients, reducing complications, and helping people recover faster, while at the same time making the best use of NHS resources. What makes it especially powerful is that it is being delivered not at a major academic centre, but at a district general hospital. That shows what is possible when we embrace innovation.
“Our goal is simple: to give every patient the best chance of an excellent outcome, and to demonstrate that innovation in the NHS can translate directly into achieving, and even surpassing, national cancer targets.”
QuestPrehab founder and CEO, Professor Tara Rampal added: “We’re delighted to help the WHTH complete its end-to-end technology-enabled pathway. QuestPrehab offers a scalable, digital, patient-friendly solution that fits seamlessly into cancer pathways and supports the NHS ambitions around digital innovation, prevention, and sustainability.
“There’s substantial evidence that prehab improves surgical outcomes, but traditional face-to-face models are resource-intensive and inequitable. However, delivering services digitally syncs with the Government’s 10-year NHS ‘Fit For The Future’ plan, especially through the plan’s focus on personalised care, prevention, and integrated community services.”
