Wessex Cancer Alliance’s PREHAB Cancer exercise programme is coming to BH Live Active leisure centres across the city to help cancer patients prepare for surgery.

First introduced at Bournemouth’s Littledown Centre in 2018 under the name of ‘WesFit’, this pioneering prehabilitation exercise programme has already improved the post-surgery experience for hundreds of patients across Bournemouth and Portsmouth.

Thanks to a powerful partnership with leading clinical researchers and healthcare specialists at University Hospital Southampton (UHS) and Wessex Cancer Alliance, BH Live is now expanding this innovative exercise and wellbeing programme to support even more people in the city preparing for cancer treatment.

The programme is aimed at individuals aged 18 and over with stage 3 and 4 cancer and who are preparing for surgery. If they are successfully referred onto the scheme via their NHS health practitioner, they will receive a personalised exercise plan to improve their cardiovascular fitness ahead of their surgery.

The benefits of this prehabilitation exercise programme are said to include improved confidence, better fitness levels, reduced length of stay in hospital, enhanced quality of life, reduced post-treatment complications, and much more*.

Activities include one-to-one personal training and group exercise classes such as cycling, yoga, Pilates and swimming. The scheme is available at BH Live Active, Bitterne; BH Live Active, Chamberlayne; and BH Live Active, The Quays. These centres are owned by Southampton City Council and are operated in partnership with BH Live.

On behalf of BH Live, Karen Tillyer, Southampton Health and Wellbeing Manager, shared;

“Expanding the PREHAB Cancer programme across our BH Live Active centres is an important step in supporting people through a challenging stage of their cancer journey. We’ve already seen how personalised prehabilitation can boost patients’ confidence, fitness and overall recovery. Working with University Hospital Southampton and Wessex Cancer Alliance, we’re proud to bring this life‑changing support to even more people in our community.”

On behalf of Wessex Cancer Alliance, Sally Rickard, Managing Director, added;

"We are really pleased that this partnership is continuing to support people with cancer across Wessex."

On behalf of University Hospital Southampton (UHS), Professor Sandy Jack, co-lead of the prehabilitation service at University Hospital Southampton, added;

"Expanding the offering of prehabilitation in our city is a really positive step in helping people prepare both physically and mentally for cancer treatment, improving recovery and long-term health outcomes."

BH Live is committed to inspiring more people to improve their health and wellbeing by moving more regularly and reducing barriers to physical activity. Following its success in Bournemouth and Portsmouth, the charity launched its Exercise Referral Scheme at BH Live Active leisure centres in Southampton earlier this year to help people with long-term health conditions and injuries stay active.

Other health and wellbeing initiatives in the city include Swim Free in Pregnancy, aqua natal classes, guided health walks, and much more. For more information about BH Live’s health and wellbeing programmes, visit bhliveactive.org.uk/health-and-wellbeing-activities, or get in touch at southamptonexercisereferral@bhlive.org.uk.

For more information about BH Live Active, visit bhliveactive.org.uk.

*Prehabilitation and Rehabilitation, Wessex Cancer Alliance, NHS, https://wessexcanceralliance.nhs.uk/our-work/personalised-care/prehabilitation-and-rehabilitation, accessed 23 March 2026.