The Cardiac Rehab Enhancement Fund was introduced in 2024 to offer quick and accessible funding for smaller cardiac rehabilitation projects. Our local cardiac rehab teams provide an exceptional service for cardiac patients, and we are proud that this fund can support them and enhance the rehab experience for patients.
Introduction
Why is Cardiac Rehabilitation so important?
Cardiac rehabilitation is a vital part of a patients’ cardiac recovery journey and is essential for improving heart health and wellbeing post a cardiac event.
The cardiac rehab nurse specialist teams across the Sussex NHS sites provide excellent support and care for cardiac patients, the service includes:
- Assessment
- Help with recovery while in hospital and as an outpatient
- Progress checks
- Advice on understanding your heart condition, so you can manage lifestyle changes
- The opportunity to attend exercise classes at a hospital or in the community – to gain knowledge and motivation to keep exercising
- Information on health promotion and how to keep healthy
Once a patient has completed their cardiac rehab programme, patients are encouraged to get involved in their local community phase 4 classes. They will also have the confidence and knowledge to lead a heart healthy life.
Praise and thanks from patients:
“The team provides confidence and support. Helped me see that life can be normal again after a cardiac event. Physically due to exercise classes and mentally through various topics at lecture”
“The team are amazing! Always available and very supportive and they treat you like an individual. Key words to describe them: compassionate, caring, proactive, reassuring, kind and patient”
“You have a sense of belonging to a group, people from all walks of life with a common factor. Without the discipline of the physio sessions, I would have found it difficult to get back into exercise”
“This is a priceless service. I have benefited a great deal from your top of the range care. You have made it so enjoyable and beneficial that I will continue with my rehab in the community.”
“Lovely caring people who have given me my confidence back… the rehab team have been amazing.”
Why is the Cardiac Rehabilitation enhancement fund necessary?
We want the cardiac rehab teams to have all the resources they need, so they can keep providing an amazing service and have the capability to improve and develop the rehab patient experience. We are therefore delighted to provide funding for additional or innovative projects that cannot be supplied or funded by the NHS.
The fund is a powerful way for the SHC to liaise directly with staff on projects. As the fund is for smaller items, this means requests can be processed quickly and equipment can have an immediate impact on patients and their recovery.
The Sussex Heart Charity has a legacy of funding cutting-edge, life-saving hospital equipment, however; smaller less high-profile equipment can have just as profound an impact on enhancing patient care and outcomes. For example, by supplying gym equipment for the patient exercise classes, we hope that this will not only make the classes more accessible but will also mean patients will then have the confidence use similar equipment at home. This helps them self-manage their fitness within the targets set by the rehab staff.
What have we funded?
Since the fund launched in 2024, we have supplied a range of resources and equipment for the rehab teams, including:
- Hand weights
- Weighted gloves
- Polar watches (for heart monitoring)
- Heart rate monitors
- Exercise steps
- Rebounders (Trampolines)
- Resistance bands
- SHC and Cardiac Rehabilitation branded uniforms
We are delighted the fund has been so successful in helping the rehab teams provide the best possible service and we look forward to offering continued support to all the teams in any way we can.
Testimonials from the cardiac rehab teams:
“The Cardiac Rehabilitation Enhancement Fund has been a vital asset to our service. It’s incredibly refreshing to be able to request funding for equipment and have it approved and ordered on the same day. The Sussex Heart Charity is an outstanding local organisation, ensuring that our patients benefit almost immediately. As the lead of the cardiac rehabilitation team, I am deeply appreciative of the SHC’s ongoing support”
Martina – Lead Cardiac Rehabilitation Nurse Specialist (RSCH/PRH)