Cancer prehabilitation in Scotland: 2025 survey findings report

Glossary

Acute Care: Care for medical, surgical, and mental health that require hospital facilities.

AHP: Allied Health Professional. AHPs encompass 14 health professions: Art Therapists, Diagnostic Radiographers, Dietitians, Drama Therapists, Music Therapists, Occupational Therapists, Orthoptists, Paramedics, Physiotherapists, Podiatrists, Prosthetists, Orthotists, Speech and Language Therapists and Therapeutic Radiographers.

Assessment: A detailed evaluation of (prehabilitation) need using validated tools to inform the prescription of targeted or specialist interventions.

Community Care: Clinical care delivered close to home and supports individuals to remain in their homes and communities.

CNS: Clinical Nurse Specialist.

CPOG: Cancer Prehabilitation Oversight Group. Convened to further develop a ‘Once for Scotland’ approach to multi-modal prehabilitation.

HNA: Holistic Needs Assessment. A process to identify the needs and concerns of an individual and develop a Personalised Care and Support Plan.

HSCP: Health and Social Care Partnership which brings together Local Authorities and local NHS Boards to plan and deliver integrated adult community health.

ICJ: Improving the Cancer Journey. These services are part of a partnership programme between Macmillan Cancer Support and Scottish Government As part of this programme, community based ‘Improving the Cancer Journey’ (ICJ) services provide people recently diagnosed with cancer with access to a key support worker. The support worker will support individualised Holistic Needs Assessment and care planning.

MDT: Multidisciplinary Team. A team of different health professionals who work together to plan and deliver an individual’s (cancer) treatment.

Multi-modal (prehab): More than one mode of (pre-treatment) intervention to help improve a patient’s physical, nutritional, and mental status.

NCA: North Cancer Alliance. Covers the following NHS Boards: Grampian, Highland, Orkney, Shetland, Tayside, Western Isles.

NIHR: National Institute of Health and Care Research.

NHS Boards: NHS Scotland has 14 territorial NHS Boards, which cover specific geographical areas. They are responsible for the protection and improvement of their population’s health, and for the delivery of frontline healthcare services.

Primary Care: Primary health care is the first point of contact with the NHS. It includes community-based services provided by, for example, GPs, community Nurses, Pharmacists; and by AHPs such as Physiotherapists and Speech and Language Therapists.

RCoA: Royal College of Anaesthetists.

SCAN: South East Scotland Cancer Network. Covers the following NHS Boards: Borders, Dumfries & Galloway, Fife, Lothian.

Secondary Care: Mainly hospital-based health care provision, including emergency care (via Accident & Emergency), outpatient departments and elective treatments.

SG: Scottish Government.

Tertiary Care: Specialist health services for people with a condition requiring high levels of expertise and support services.

Third Sector: The Third Sector includes charities, social enterprises and community groups which deliver essential services.

Triage / screening: Process of identifying (prehabilitation) need.

WoSCAN: West of Scotland Cancer Network. Covers the following NHS Boards: Ayrshire & Arran, Forth Valley, Greater Glasgow & Clyde, Lanarkshire.