Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask His Majesty's Government whether they have made an assessment of the potential benefits of offering prehabilitation to all patients on surgical waiting lists.

The Elective Reform Plan set out the reform and productivity efforts needed to reach the 92% referral to treatment standard by March 2029. As part of that, we will ensure that patients are seen on time and have the best possible experience during their care. Improving perioperative care can increase productivity by reducing cancellations, reducing length of stay, and minimising postoperative complications.

Prehabilitation services will be offered to patients on admitted pathways who have been screened for modifiable risk factors which could be improved by prehabilitation services. In particular, NHS England will work through Cancer Alliances to support improvements in prehabilitation for people about to undergo cancer treatment. The level of prehabilitation offered will be dependent on both patient risk factors and surgical complexity, and is guided by the clinical evidence base on these factors on the application of appropriate universal or targeted interventions

There are no current plans to assess the potential merits of extending these services to all patients referred for surgery.