Prehabilitation represents a real opportunity for practitioners to exploit a ‘teachable moment’ and realise long term positive behavioural changes. Making patients ‘partners in their own care’ is an essential part of this, with prehabilitation they have a chance to work with practitioners to increase their functional reserve, increase their rate of recovery and avoid difficult long term outcomes. The longer this partnership lasts the more effective it is. In this respect, how do we manage to emphasise the importance of early access to patients? The evidence of the benefits of exercise is overwhelming, even just two weeks of activity can make a huge difference, how do we articulate this to patients? How much focus should there be on nutrition?

Presented by Denny Levett, Professor in Perioperative Medicine and Critical Care, Consultant in Perioperative Medicine, Southampton University Hospital NHS Foundation trust (UHS), President of the Perioperative Exercise Testing and Training Society (POETTS).