Liver Transplant Patients at University Hospital Plymouth To Receive Digital Prehabilitation in UK First

Written by: QuestPreHab

The year-long trial with the South West Liver Unit at University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trust will 
see patients undergoing assessment and listing for liver transplant. If successful, the service may be 
expanded to patients living with other liver diseases and who currently are not on the list. The 
project is a collaboration with the digital health company QuestPrehab.

Prehab is a relatively new area of healthcare that focuses on improving the general health and 
activity of patients before surgery and treatment as a way of aiding their recovery.

Each patient will be able to access their individualised programmes via an app. Exercise classes and 
support sessions will be delivered by a combination of phone, Zoom or Skype calls. The unique 
hybrid provisioning of the prehabilitation service removes the need for digital literacy or equipment, 
making the service equitable and accessible for all patients. 

Patients who complete a prehab course prior to planned surgery are less likely to be readmitted to 
hospital, enjoy improved health-related quality of life, return to work earlier and need less 
involvement with social and primary care providers.

The aim of the trial is to demonstrate two pivotal elements:

1. The feasibility of digital prehab and the benefits in health-related quality of life for patients 
awaiting liver transplant
2. How the time spent waiting for surgery can be utilised in a positive and clinically effective 
manner, as 50% of patients listed for transplant typically have a wait of six months or more

“We’re very excited to have the opportunity to expand much-needed support to our patients here in 
the south west,” said Professor Matthew Cramp, Consultant Hepatologist at the South West Liver 
Unit, UHP. 

“Liver transplant patients face many challenges and to be able to provide a personalised prehab 
service while they wait for their surgery is something we’ve been keen to offer for some time. 
Having the consistency of supervision by a prehab specialist we hope will lead to a lower risk of 
complications post-transplant and improve quality of life both pre and post-operatively.”

The digital programmes and resources run will be specially developed to cater for the clinical and 
holistic needs of liver patients in collaboration with the hospital team.

The year long trial will be evaluated through standardised patient reported outcome measures and 
physical assessment scores.

QuestPrehab founder Professor Tara Rampal said: “Waiting for a liver transplant is an extremely 
anxious time for all patients. They face the uncertainty of when they will be called up for the 
transplant whilst also dealing with the consequences of advanced liver disease and the worry that 
their condition may deteriorate during this time.”

“Patients will receive a highly personalised programme based on four key areas – physical activity, 
anxiety management, diet advice and lifestyle modifications – with a goal of alleviating their level of 
anxiety and improving their liver frailty score.”

QuestPrehab will be present at HETT 2024 show on the 24th and 25th September in London. We’ll be 
demonstrating our powerful digital prehab platform and explaining how it can help care providers, 
NHS trusts and insurers to improve quality of care and save costs.

If you’d like to find out more, have a chat or arrange a meeting we’ll be at stand F50 at London’s 
Excel Centre.