Supporting Hearts and Minds programme

What is the Supporting Hearts and Minds programme?

This is a free programme designed to support people in their recovery from a cardiac diagnosis, event or procedure.  

The programme is delivered with the expert guidance of a Rehabilitation Specialist, using a combination of education and physical activity, as well as emotional wellbeing support. This will equip you with the knowledge and practical experiences to better manage your condition long term and achieve your goals.

As the UK’s largest healthcare charity, we are driven by our purpose to build a healthier nation. We recognise there’s an unmet need to support and help rehabilitate people with cardiac conditions, so we’re offering this programme for free. 

Our range of experts means we can offer personalised and tailored advice to help with rehabilitation, while supporting you on your journey back to good health and wellbeing. The programme includes educational topics such as heart and circulatory disease, emotional wellbeing, goal setting, improving sleep, healthy eating and how to improve your heart health.

Please note that you can only be referred to this programme by your clinician.

What does the programme involve?

Triage call

Once referred onto the programme by your clinician, you’ll be sent a pre-assessment questionnaire by email, before having a triage call with a Nuffield Health Chartered Physiotherapist to better understand your current heart health, medical history and physical activity levels.

This triage call is to ensure the programme is appropriate for your needs. If we don’t think the programme is suitable for your needs, your clinician will be notified of the reasons why. If suitable, the physiotherapist will set your goals and tailored programme, which will be delivered by a Rehabilitation Specialist.

Core phase: Weeks 1–8

• Twice weekly group sessions: supervised activity in a gym or studio setting and group health education
• 1-2-1 call with the rehabilitation specialist at weeks 2, 4 and 6
• Group emotional wellbeing virtual sessions at weeks 1, 3, 5 and 7
• Access to educational resources and a journal to track your activity.

Supported phase: Weeks 9–13

• Once weekly group sessions: supervised activity in a gym or studio setting
• Access to educational resources and a journal to track your activity
• Complimentary membership to encourage independent exercise (unless you're already a gym member).

Maintenance phase: Weeks 14–20