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Educational draft · awaiting clinical reviewUse Rapid for revision, not patient-care decisions. Check current national and local guidance and the BNF or BNFC before acting.
Rapidcardiac rehabilitationsecondary preventionexercisepsychosocial careNHS pathway

Cardiac rehabilitation

Essential points for quick revision.

Synopsis

Identify eligible patients, make a timely referral and understand the personalised assessment, delivery and outcome measures of UK cardiovascular rehabilitation.

  • Offer cardiac rehabilitation with an exercise component to all people after MI irrespective of age; ACS, PCI/CABG and chronic heart failure are NHS England priority cohorts when capacity is constrained.
  • Begin the rehabilitation conversation during admission and invite the person to a session that starts within 10 days after discharge following MI.
  • NHS England expects provider contact within five working days of referral and a holistic initial assessment within 10 days of receipt of referral.

Investigation priorities

01
Holistic baseline assessmentFirst step

Define goals, comorbidity, function, preferences, social context and readiness for change.

Management branches

First-lineIdentify and refer

Eligible cardiovascular event, procedure or diagnosis

  1. Introduce rehabilitation before discharge or at diagnosis and explain exercise, education, medical and psychological components.
  2. Send a direct referral with diagnosis, procedure, ventricular function, medicines, complications, mobility/communication needs and contact details.
Third-lineDeliver and review

Medically stable participant

Open full textbook Answer 2 questionsCardiology check
Sources and review status4 sources · checked 27 Aug 2026 · clinical review pending
Sources

Sources and review status

National guidance is shown before implementation-dependent detail. Typical adult dose examples remain subject to patient factors, contraindications and the live BNF or specialist protocol. Source check completed 27 Aug 2026; clinical approval remains outstanding.

Authoring stateRapid draftClinical stateAwaiting reviewJurisdictionUnited Kingdom