Pre assessment information for patients

You have been referred to the Cardiac Rehabilitation team.

This may be because you were recently in hospital with a heart problem, or your clinician feels we can support you with your recovery.

This may be because you were recently in hospital with a heart problem, or your clinician feels we can support you with your recovery. Cardiac rehabilitation is an important part of your recovery. It is as important as taking your medication. It can help to:

• reduce your risk of another heart problem
• reduce your chances of going back into hospital
• improve your wellbeing and quality of life

Your first appointment

We have booked you for an initial telephone assessment.

• The call will take about 30 minutes
• We will talk about your needs and how we can support you

We offer different types of support, including:

• face-to-face sessions
• online sessions
• telephone support
• group or one-to-one support

What to have ready

If possible, please have the following information ready:

• a list of your current medications
• a recent blood pressure and heart rate (if you can measure these)
• your recent height and weight (if you can measure these)

If you cannot take the call

If you cannot attend your appointment, please contact us to arrange another time. If you have any questions, call us on 01223 216985.

How cardiac rehabilitation can help

Cardiac rehabilitation can help you:

• recover from surgery, a heart procedure or a heart attack
• understand what is normal during recovery and what to expect
• manage symptoms and reduce the risk of hospital readmission
• feel more confident managing your condition
• make lifestyle changes to improve your heart health
• look after your mental health and wellbeing
• improve your fitness and daily activities
• improve your overall quality of life

The cardiac rehabilitation team offers face-to-face education sessions. These take place at:

• Addenbrooke’s Hospital (Cambridge University Hospitals)
• Ely Paradise Centre

Check your booking for your session location.

What you need to know

• Sessions last 45 to 60 minutes
• You will attend sessions with other patients
• You can choose which topics to attend
• If you do not want to attend a session, tell the team

You can contact us by:

• replying to your text message
• email or MyChart
• phone: 01223 216985

Cambridge (Addenbrooke’s) sessions

Tuesdays (June to July)
2:00pm to 3:00pm

• 23 June 2026 - Cardiac medications (Room 16, Clinical School)
• 30 June 2026 - Dietary advice (Room 15, Clinical School)
• 7 July 2026 - Activity advice (Room 16, Clinical School)
• 14 July 2026 - Heart failure, valves and arrhythmia (Room 16, Clinical School)
• 21 July 2026 - Managing stress (Room 1, Clinical School)
• 28 July 2026 - Understanding heart disease (Room 1, Clinical School)

Tuesdays (August)
10:15am

• 4 August 2026 - Cardiac medications (Outpatient Physiotherapy, Amputee Gym)
• 11 August 2026 - Dietary advice (Outpatient Physiotherapy, Amputee Gym)
• 18 August 2026 - Activity advice (Outpatient Physiotherapy, Amputee Gym)
• 25 August 2026 - Heart failure, valves and arrhythmia (Outpatient Physiotherapy, Amputee Gym)

Ely Paradise Centre sessions

Mondays
1:00pm to 2:00pm

June to August

• 29 June 2026 - Managing stress
• 6 July 2026 - Dietary advice
• 13 July 2026 - Activity advice
• 20 July 2026 - Heart failure
• 27 July 2026 - Cardiac medications
• 3 August 2026 - Understanding heart disease
• 10 August 2026 - Managing stress
• 17 August 2026 - Dietary advice
• 24 August 2026 - Activity advice
• 31 August 2026 - Heart failure

September to October

• 7 September 2026 - Cardiac medications
• 14 September 2026 - Understanding heart disease
• 21 September 2026 - Managing stress
• 28 September 2026 - Dietary advice
• 5 October 2026 - Activity advice
• 12 October 2026 - Heart failure
• 19 October 2026 - Cardiac medications
• 26 October 2026 - Understanding heart disease

November to December

• 2 November 2026 - Managing stress
• 9 November 2026 - Dietary advice
• 16 November 2026 - Activity advice
• 23 November 2026 - Heart failure
• 30 November 2026 - Cardiac medications
• 7 December 2026 - Understanding heart disease
• 14 December 2026 - Managing stress

The Cardiac Rehabilitation (CR) team has invited you to join online education sessions. Please check your booking for your session dates and times. These sessions are for patients on the CR programme.
Please do not share the link with others. If a family member would like to join from another location, we can send them a link directly.
Please contact the team and provide their email address.

What you need to know

• Each session lasts 45 to 60 minutes
• Topics are listed in the schedule below
• Sessions take place using Microsoft Teams
• You can join through MyChart or your email

By joining a session, you agree to take part in a group session.
You will be able to see and speak to other patients. Not every session will suit everyone.
If you do not want to attend a session, please tell us:

• Reply to your text message
• Send an email or MyChart message
• Call 01223 216985

Joining your video appointment

• You will receive a link 15 minutes before your session
• This will be sent to your email and MyChart
• Select the link or the ‘Join video appointment’ button

This will open Microsoft Teams in your web browser. You will need to:

• Enter your name
• Allow access to your microphone and camera

You will then wait in a virtual waiting area until the session starts.

Check your email details

We must have your correct email address to run your video appointment. You can:

• Update your details in MyChart (Personal Information section), or
• Contact the Accessibility Team:
  • Email: cuh.accessibility@nhs.net
  • Phone: 01223 256998 (option 3)

More help

For more support, visit:
Video consultation appointments – CUH

2026 online session schedule

Thursdays, 9:15am to 10:15am

• 02 July – Cardiac medications
• 09 July – Dietary advice
• 16 July – Activity advice
• 23 July – Heart failure, valves and arrhythmia
• 30 July – Managing stress
• 06 August – Understanding heart disease
• 13 August – Cardiac medications
• 20 August – Dietary advice
• 27 August – Activity advice
• 03 September – Heart failure, valves and arrhythmia
• 10 September – Managing stress
• 17 September – Understanding heart disease

The Cardiac Rehabilitation team has invited you to attend an exercise assessment. This assessment usually takes place at the start or end of your programme. It helps us:

• tailor your programme to your current fitness level
• review your progress during rehabilitation

Your appointment will take around 45 to 60 minutes.

What will happen

During your appointment, you will complete an exercise test. This may include:

• a fixed step test
• an exercise bike test
• a walking test

We will discuss these options with you and choose the most suitable test. If you do not feel able to complete this type of test, please let us know before your appointment.

Before your assessment

On the day of your appointment, please:

• take your morning medications as prescribed
• wear loose, comfortable clothing and suitable footwear
• bring a water bottle (refill facilities are available)
• bring reading glasses if you use them
• bring your GTN spray, if prescribed
• bring a list of your current medications
• ensure you have eaten

Please avoid a heavy meal within 2 hours of your assessment.
A light snack 1½ to 2 hours beforehand is recommended. Also:

• avoid strenuous activity on the day
• if you have diabetes, bring your blood glucose monitoring kit, snacks and drinks
• inform us if you have any orthopaedic problems that may be aggravated by exercise

Please contact us before your appointment if:

• you have a sore throat, cold, or other temporary illness or infection
• you are taking antibiotics
• you have experienced angina in the week before your assessment
• you have been admitted to hospital within the past four weeks
• you have diabetes and have had hypoglycaemic episodes in the week before your assessment

We may need to rearrange your appointment to ensure your safety.

Please complete the following form

This questionnaire is designed to assess your mental health using standardised tools: PHQ-9 (depression), GAD-7 (anxiety), and the Work and Social Adjustment Scale.

• Mental Health Assessment Questionnaire

If you cannot attend

Please contact the Cardiac Rehabilitation exercise specialist on 01223 216985. If your call is not answered, please leave a message.

Following your exercise assessment, you have been booked onto face-to-face cardiac rehabilitation exercise classes. We run these classes at:

• Addenbrooke’s Hospital
• Ely Paradise Centre
• Meadows Community Centre
• Royston Leisure Centre

Please check your booking for your location and session time. Classes run weekly. Most people attend a block of up to 8 sessions, depending on clinical need. Each session lasts 90 to 105 minutes.

Please contact us before your session if:

• you have a sore throat, cold, or any infection
• you are taking antibiotics
• you have experienced angina in the past week
• you have been admitted to hospital in the past 4 weeks
• you have diabetes and have had a hypoglycaemic episode in the past week

How to prepare

Before your session:

• take your morning medications as prescribed
• wear comfortable clothing and suitable footwear for exercise
• bring a water bottle (refill facilities are available)
• bring your reading glasses if needed
• bring your GTN spray if prescribed
• eat a normal breakfast about 2 hours before arrival
• do not undertake strenuous activity beforehand

If you have diabetes:

• bring your blood glucose monitoring kit
• bring appropriate snacks and drinks

When you arrive

When you arrive, you will complete pre-exercise screening. We will:

• ask about your general health
• measure your blood pressure, heart rate and weight
• check for any changes to your medications or health

If you are clinically stable, you will move to the exercise area.

During the exercise session

• You will begin with a group warm-up
• You will follow your individual exercise circuit card with support from the cardiac rehabilitation team
• You may be asked to wear a heart rate monitor
• The session will finish with a group cool-down

After the cool-down, please stay for 10 minutes so we can monitor your recovery.

The Cardiac Rehabilitation team will phone you for an assessment. This usually happens at the start or end of your programme. It helps us:

• give you personalised advice
• review your progress

The call will take about 45 to 60 minutes.

Before your appointment

Please have the following ready:

• a list of your current medicines

Please also complete the questionnaires before your appointment. This helps us give you a more complete assessment. Complete the psychological questionnaire as well.

If you use MyChart, we will send this to you there before your appointment.

Need to contact us?

You can call the Cardiac Rehabilitation Advice Line:

• 01223 216985

Please complete the following forms

This pre-assessment questionnaire is for the Cardiac Rehabilitation telephone assessment. If you are able, please take some observations and answer questions about your lifestyle to help us understand your health status.

• Cardiac Rehabilitation Telephone Exercise Pre-Assessment Questionnaire.

This questionnaire is designed to assess your mental health using standardised tools: PHQ-9 (depression), GAD-7 (anxiety), and the Work and Social Adjustment Scale.

• Mental Health Assessment Questionnaire

The Cardiac Rehabilitation team has invited you to attend a virtual group exercise session.

• The session lasts about 90 minutes
• You can join using MyChart

Please read this information before your first session.

Consent

By joining the session, you are consenting to:

• take part in a group exercise session
• be seen by other patients
• interact with other patients and staff

Joining your session

• Check your email or MyChart before your appointment
• You will receive a link 15 minutes before the start time
• Click the link or select ‘Join video appointment’ in MyChart

The link will open Microsoft Teams in your web browser. You will be asked to:

• enter your name
• allow access to your microphone and camera

You will then wait in a virtual waiting room. Make sure your email address is up to date in MyChart. Video appointments cannot take place without it.

For help, visit: Video consultation appointments

Before your session

Health checks

• Take your resting blood pressure and heart rate before joining
• Keep your blood pressure monitor nearby

If you have:

• new or worsening symptoms
• a recent hospital admission
• or you feel unwell

contact the team before the session.

Preparation

• Have a light meal a couple of hours before the session
• Take all prescribed medications
• Wear suitable clothes for exercise
• Have a drink available and stay hydrated

Exercise space

• Make sure you have enough floor space
• Remove clutter from the area
• Ensure the space is easy to access in an emergency
• Use a well‑ventilated room
• Position your camera so your whole body is visible

Keep nearby

• A chair (for exercises and balance)
• A telephone (switched on)
• GTN spray (if prescribed)
• Inhalers (if prescribed)
• Resistance band or light weights (if advised)
• Rating of perceived exertion scale
• Blood glucose monitoring kit and carbohydrate snack if diabetic

Safety support

• Tell family, friends or carers when you are exercising
• Ask them to stay nearby if possible
• Keep pets away from the exercise area

During the session

• You may be asked to mute your microphone
• Practise muting and unmuting before the session
• You can unmute to ask questions

When not to exercise

Do not exercise if you:

• have eaten a large meal within the last 60 minutes
• have consumed alcohol in the last 24 hours
• have an infection or raised temperature
• are taking antibiotics

Contact the team before exercise if you have:

• chest pain (new or worsening)
• palpitations
• increased shortness of breath
• dizziness
• ankle swelling
• high or low blood glucose
• sudden weight gain
• reduced energy
• fever, sore throat or cough

If you feel unwell during exercise

• Stop exercising
• Sit down and keep your feet moving if possible
• Alert the team immediately

GTN technique and 10 minute rule

If you have chest pain similar to your angina:

• Stop what you are doing
• Stay calm
• Sit down

Using GTN spray

• Spray once under your tongue
• Wait 5 minutes
• If pain continues, spray again
• Wait another 5 minutes

If pain is still present after 10 minutes:

• Call 999 immediately

Without GTN

• Sit down and rest
• If pain continues or worsens
• Call 999

Do not wait longer than 10 minutes to get help.

Contact the cardiac rehabilitation team

For support or advice:

• Call 01223 216985

As part of your care with the Cardiac Rehabilitation Service, you have been offered an appointment with a specialist dietitian. This is to give you advice about your diet and your heart condition.

• The appointment will be a phone call lasting about 30 minutes
• Please make sure you are available for up to 30 minutes after your appointment time in case the clinic is delayed

If you cannot take the call, want to cancel, or have questions, please contact the service:
01223 216985

Before your appointment

1. Cardioprotective diet quiz

Please complete this dietary review as part of your cardiac rehabilitation. Your answers will help us assess your eating habits and provide tailored advice.

• Cardiac Rehabilitation Dietary Review

2. Optional: 3-day food diary

You can complete a 3-day food diary to help your assessment. This is optional but helpful. If you complete it:

• Email a photo or written summary to cuh.crdietitians@nhs.net
• Try to follow the same format shown
• Download the Food diary template

Learn more

You can read more about a heart-healthy (cardioprotective) diet: Eat better | British Heart Foundation (opens in a new tab).