Cancer Prehabilitation: Staff perspectives on implementation

References

1 Scottish Associate Directors of Allied Health Professionals, the Cancer Managers Forum, and the Scottish Cancer Coalition

2 Resources that can be used as a poster or given as a leaflet, and videos, are available on the resources section of the Prehab and me website

3 Examples include Cancer Card, Scotland’s Service Directory on NHS Inform and NHS Board specific directories. Governance, comprehensiveness and currency of resources should be considered in the use of these resources.

4 Best practice examples of the optimal cancer diagnostic pathway for colorectal cancers are outlined on the Right Decisions website.

1 Scottish Government (2023) Cancer strategy for Scotland 2023–2033. (Accessed: 16 March 2026).

2 Scottish Government (2025) Cancer prehabilitation in Scotland: 2025 survey findings report. (Accessed: 16 March 2026).

3 Macmillan Cancer Support (2025) Prehabilitation for people with cancer: clinical and implementation guidelines. London: Macmillan Cancer Support. (Accessed: 7 May 2026).

4 Mostaqim, K., Lahousse, A., Roose, E., Nijs, J., Beckwée, D., Demunter, S., Ghijselings, H., Barcellos, C., Timmermans, A., Rheel, E., Huysmans, E. and Leysen, L. (2024) The effect of prehabilitation in cancer patients: A systematic review and meta-analysis. European Journal of Cancer. (Accessed: 16 March 2026).

5 Gennuso, D., Baldelli, A., Gigli, L., Ruotolo, I., Galeoto, G., Gaburri, D. and Sellitto, G. (2024) Efficacy of prehabilitation in cancer patients: an RCTs systematic review with meta‑analysis. BMC Cancer, 24, 1302. (Accessed: 16 March 2026)

6 Scottish Government (2023) Cancer prehabilitation survey: findings report. (Accessed: 16 March 2026).

7 Scottish Government (2023) Cancer action plan 2023 to 2026. Available at: (Accessed: 16 March 2026).

8 Macmillan Cancer Support (2020) Principles and guidance for prehabilitation within the management and support of people with cancer. (Accessed: 16 March 2026).

9 Scottish Government (2022) Key principles for prehabilitation. (Accessed: 16 March 2026).

10 NHS Scotland (2026) Prehab and Me – Prehabilitation for Scotland. (Accessed: 25 March 2026).

11 Maggie’s (2023) Maggie’s Prehab Pilot: Final Report to Scottish Government. (Accessed: 24 March 2026).

12 Scottish Government (2023) Cancer strategy 2023 to 2033 and cancer action plan 2023 to 2026: monitoring and evaluation framework - August 2023. (Accessed: 24 March 2026).

13 Scottish Government (2025) Health and Social Care Service Renewal Framework. (Accessed 21 May 2026).

14 Scottish Government (2025) Scotland’s Population Health Framework. (Accessed: 24 March 2026).

15 Scottish Government (2024) Ethics for social research: guidance. (Accessed: 24 March 2026).

16 UK Government (2024) Government Social Research Code: guidance. (Accessed 21 May 2026).

17 NHS South, Central and West (2022) Prehab4Cancer Evaluation: Greater Manchester Cancer. (Accessed: 2 April 2026).

18 Cancer Card (2026) Support Directory. (Accessed 21 May 2026).

19 Badger Notes. Pregnancy and child health records (Accessed 21 May 2026).

20 Public Health Scotland (2024) NHS Physical Activity Pathway (NPAP): overview. (Accessed: 11 May 2026).

21 Macmillan Cancer Support (2017) Prehabilitation evidence and insight review. (Accessed 21 May 2016)

22 The King’s Fund (2025) Keeping the faith in cross-sector partnership working: how to maintain motivation and drive. London: The King’s Fund. (Accessed: 10 April 2026).

23 Rodriguez Santana, I., Mason, A.R., Gutacker, N., Kasteridis, P., Santos, R. and Rice, N. (2023) Need, demand, supply in health care: working definitions, and their implications for defining access. Health Economics, Policy and Law, 18(1), pp. 1–13. (Accessed: 16 April 2026).

24 Rampal, T. and Tribe, S. (2025) Barriers to implementation of prehabilitation. British Journal of Hospital Medicine (London), 86 (11), pp. 1–24. (Accessed: 16 March 2026).

25 Local Government Association (2026) Partnerships, collaboration and integration. (Accessed 21 May 2026).

26 Scottish Government (2025) Ethnic and racialised inequalities in cancer services: evidence review. (Accessed: 20 March 2026).

27 Dunn, P. (2025) A new performance assessment framework for the NHS. (Accessed: 25 March 2026)

28 North Cancer Alliance (NCA) and University of the Highlands and Islands (UHI) (2025) Prehabilitation for cancer patients who live in a remote, rural or island location in the Highlands of Scotland. (Accessed: 12 May 2026).

29 Michie, S., van Stralen, M.M. and West, R. (2011) The behaviour change wheel: A new method for characterising and designing behaviour change interventions. Implementation Science, 6, Article 42. (Accessed: 16 April 2026).

30 NHS Education for Scotland (2026) Behaviour Change for Health. (Accessed 21 May 2026)

31 Sinnott, C., Ansari, A., Price, E., Horder, K., Alboksmaty, A., Willars, J., Beech, J., Alderwick, H. and Dixon-Woods, M. (2026) Experiences of access to general practice in England: qualitative study and implications for the NHS 10 year plan. BMJ, 392, e087367. (Accessed: 23 March 2026)

32 Scottish Government (2026) Cancer patients to benefit from expanded Single Point of Contact support. 11 March. (Accessed: 8 May 2026).

33 South East Scotland Cancer Network (2025) Macmillan SCAN Prehabilitation Project Evaluation (v1.4). (Accessed 21 May 2026).

34 NHS Scotland (2026) Cancer prehabilitation for healthcare professionals. (Accessed: 12 May 2026).

35 NHS Scotland (2026) Cancer prehabilitation for patients. (Accessed: 12 May 2026).

36 Healthcare Improvement Scotland (2025) Improving cancer care with a single point of contact: Scalability Assessment. Edinburgh: Healthcare Improvement Scotland. (Accessed: 10 April 2026).

37 Scottish Government (2025) Cancer Action Plan: annual progress report 2024–2025. Edinburgh: Scottish Government. Accessed: 10 April 2026).