West Hertfordshire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust (WHTH) is trialling a technology-enabled pathway to provide digital prehabilitation services for colorectal cancer patients.

During the year-long trial London-based digital health startup QuestPrehab will provide a digitised service to 300 patients which allows them to access their exercise, nutrition, and psychological wellbeing programmes via an app.

Prehabilitation focuses on improving the general health and activity of patients before surgery and treatment as a way of aiding their recovery.

Vanash Patel, consultant colorectal and general surgeon, colorectal lead, and robotic surgery lead at WHTH, said: “Digital prehabilitation is the final piece of the jigsaw in creating a truly technology-enabled pathway for colorectal cancer at West Herts. 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 claims that patients who complete their prehab course are less likely to be readmitted to hospital, have improved health-related quality of life, return to work earlier, and need less involvement with social and primary care providers.

Professor Tara Rampal, founder and chief executive at QuestPrehab, said: “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.”

WHTH has achieved the highest performance in the East of England across all three national colorectal cancer standards. In the past three and a half years, the trust has introduced a colorectal virtual hospital and a total robotic practice for colorectal cancer surgery, with more than 97% of elective resections now performed robotically.

Meanwhile in November 2024, QuestPrehab announced a partnership with NHS Providers to help NHS trusts learn about the benefits of digital prehabilitation by sharing the learning and benefits of the services and support the startup can offer.