Preparing for an operation

Local resources

Support if you live in Bristol:

• Bristol City Council Stop Smoking service

Support if you live in North Somerset:

• Stop smoking with Better Health North Somerset

Support if you live in South Gloucestershire:

• Quit smoking with One You South Gloucestershire

Further resources

• Quit smoking with NHS Better Health

Local resources

Support if you live in South Gloucestershire:

• Eat well with OneYou South Gloucestershire

Further support

General help and support for a healthy, balanced diet:

• NHS Patient Webinars: nutritional information
• The NHS Eatwell Guide
• British Dietetic Association: Food Fact Sheets
• British Heart Foundation Recipe Finder

Healthy eating for lowering your cholesterol:

• Heart UK: Healthy Eating Guide (PDF)

Support if you have diabetes:

• Meal plans by Diabetes UK

Eating a healthy balanced diet if you have cancer:

• Information about diet and cancer from University Hospitals Bristol NHS Foundation Trust
• Macmillan Cancer Support: The benefits of a healthy diet 
• Macmillan Cancer Support: Tips for managing eating problems
• Penny Brohn UK: Eating well with cancer

Eating a healthy balanced diet if you have a brain tumor:

• The Brain Tumor Charity: Diets and brain tumors

Living well with Coeliac disease:

• Coeliac UK

These resources are for those who have been advised to lose weight.

Local resources

Support if you live in North Somerset:

• Lose weight with Better Health North Somerset

Support if you live in South Gloucestershire:

• Get to a healthy weight with One You South Gloucestershire

Further support

General help and support for managing your weight:

• NHS advice on managing your weight
• Lose weight with NHS Better Health
• NHS advice on how to lose weight in a wheelchair

Support if you are living with obesity and also have a diagnosis of diabetes, hypertension or both:

• Access the NHS Digital Weight Management Programme

If you need to or have been advised to gain weight

If you have cancer and need help to gain weight:

• The building up diet with Macmillan Cancer Support

Local resources

Support if you live in Bristol:

• Access training and tools with SMART (Self Management and Recovery Training) programme
• Independence from drugs and alcohol: Bristol Drugs Project
• Get free and confidential help with Bristol ROADS (Recovery Orientated Alcohol and Drugs Service)

Support if you live in North Somerset:

• Drink less with Better Health North Somerset

Support if you live in South Gloucestershire:

• South Gloucestershire Drugs and Alcohol service

Further support

• If you’re drinking too much, get help now with Alcohol Change UK

Local resources

Support if you live in Bristol:

• • Bristol City Council: Physical activity referral programmes for people with health conditions
  • WellAware: Directory of exercise and fitness classes in Bristol and South Gloucestershire

Support if you live in North Somerset:

• North Somerset Council: Healthy Lifestyle Advisors
• Get active with Better Health North Somerset

Support if you live in South Gloucestershire:

• Move more with One You South Gloucestershire
• WellAware: Directory of exercise and fitness classes in Bristol and South Gloucestershire

Further support

Exercise when you have a brain tumor:

• The Brain Tumor Charity: Benefits of exercise when living with a brain tumor

Local resources

Support if you live in Bristol, North Somerset or South Gloucestershire:

• Talking Therapies is a free and confidential NHS service for our local area

Support if you live in North Somerset:

• Take care of your mental wellbeing with Better Health North Somerset

Support if you live in South Gloucestershire:

• Southern Brooks Health and Happiness Hubs

Further support

Support for your mental health if you have a brain tumor:

• The Brain Tumor Charity: Mental health and brain tumors

Local resources

Support if you live in Bristol, North Somerset or South Gloucestershire:

• Preparing for surgery with University Hospitals Bristol and Weston NHS Foundation Trust (UHBW)
• Preparing for surgery with North Bristol NHS Trust (NBT)

Further support

• Fitter Better Sooner – Preparing for surgery by Royal College of Anaesthetists (RCoA)
• Moving Medicine: practical tips and information for if you are having an operation

Local resources

Support if you live in Bristol, North Somerset or South Gloucestershire:

• Visit My Joint Health Hub for information and guidance about conditions affecting your muscles, bones and joints.
• North Bristol Trust Physiotherapy services
• Sirona care & health Musculoskeletal (MSK) Physiotherapy service
• University Hospitals Bristol Physiotherapy services

Further support

• Versus Arthritus are here for you while you’re waiting

What is prehabilitation?

Starting treatment for cancer can be daunting, and you may feel you have little control. But there are things you can do before you start.

These can include making slight changes to your everyday life to help get ready for cancer treatment. This is called prehabilitation, or prehab.

Learn more about preparing for cancer treatment and life after on the Cancer Research UK website.

You can find out more about prehabilitation by watching the Macmillian Cancer Support videos.

Local prehabilitation services

You will have a clinical nurse specialist or/and a cancer support worker who can refer you to prehabilitation services to meet your needs.

• NGS Macmillan Wellbeing Centre at North Bristol Trust
• Cancer Information and Support Centre at University Hospitals Bristol NHS Foundation Trust

These local information and support centres can also provide you with more information and support.

Web resources

Preparing for cancer treatment:

• Prepare physically, mentally and emotionally with Cancer Alliance
• Prehab Nutrition – SWAG Cancer Alliance
• Prehab Exercise – SWAG Cancer Alliance
• Prehab Wellbeing – SWAG Cancer Alliance

Managing your energy levels when you have cancer:

• Manage tiredness and energy levels with Cancer Alliance

Eating a healthy balanced diet if you have cancer:

• Diet and Cancer – University Hospitals Bristol
• Benefits of a healthy diet – Macmillan Cancer Support
• Tips for managing eating problems – Macmillan Cancer Support
• Eating well with cancer – Penny Brohn UK

If you have a brain tumour

Exercise when you have a brain tumor:

• The Brain Tumor Charity: Benefits of exercise when living with a brain tumor

Support for your mental health if you have a brain tumor:

• The Brain Tumor Charity: Mental health and brain tumors

Eating a healthy balanced diet if you have a brain tumour:

• The Brain Tumour Charity: Diets and brain tumours

Local resources

Support if you live in Bristol:

• Bristol City Council: Occupational Therapy

Support if you live in North Somerset:

• North Somerset Council: Occupational Therapy

Support if you live in South Gloucestershire:

• South Gloucestershire Council: Occupational Therapy

• Common frailty signs, symptoms and conditions – Age UK
• Get support for managing frailty symptoms with Pioneer medical group