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Cardiology · UK

Cardiac rehabilitation - the recovery that halves your risk.

A 6–12 week consultant-led programme after a heart attack, PCI, bypass, valve surgery or for heart failure. BACPR standards, a named cardiologist writing the prescription, and a specialist physio delivering it.

A radiographer guides a patient onto the bed of an advanced 3 Tesla MRI scanner in a London imaging suite

Indicative pricing

What a private cardiac rehab programme costs in the UK.

Indicative ranges across our BACPR-certified partner units.

In short

£1,600–£2,200, starting by week 2 post-discharge.

Programme Indicative range
6-week cardiac rehabilitation programme £1,200–£1,800
8-week standard programme £1,600–£2,200
12-week extended programme (HF, complex) £2,000–£2,500
Baseline cardiology assessment + CPET £450–£800
Echocardiogram (if needed) £280–£450
Home-based virtual programme £900–£1,500
Cardiology consultation only £250–£450

Prices vary by unit, by programme length, and by whether a full baseline CPET is included. Home-based virtual programmes are the lower end; complex 12-week heart-failure programmes are the top.

The problem

The treatment that halves your risk - and most patients never finish.

Cardiac rehab lowers mortality, re-admission and further events more than most drugs. Yet fewer than half of eligible UK patients ever start, and fewer than a third complete a full programme.

  • Time matters - start by week 4

    Every week of delay after a cardiac event costs you fitness and lowers eventual uptake. We start rehab as soon as the discharge summary allows.

  • Rehab is a prescription, not a gym

    Intensity comes from your CPET, not the treadmill instructor’s judgement. Medication is titrated alongside the exercise, not months later.

  • Finish the whole programme

    Half the mortality benefit is in weeks 6–12. A four-session taster does not count as cardiac rehab.

When it helps

When cardiac rehab is the right step.

The situations that need it most, plus the one red flag that means urgent cardiology rather than the next session.

  • After a heart attack (MI, STEMI, NSTEMI)

    Rehab begins 1–2 weeks after discharge. Cuts mortality, re-admission and further events. The single most under-used cardiac treatment in the UK.

  • After coronary artery bypass (CABG)

    Wound-safe exercise from week 2, upper-body work delayed to week 6–8. Physio manages sternal precautions, wound and mood.

  • After PCI or stent

    Exercise from day 3–7 depending on access site. Dual antiplatelet management, ischaemic testing if symptoms return.

  • Heart failure (HFrEF, HFpEF)

    A 12-week supervised programme improves symptoms, quality of life and hospital admissions. Intensity set by CPET, not guesswork.

  • After valve surgery or TAVI

    Sternal-precaution work after surgical valve, faster progression after TAVI. Anticoagulation and arrhythmia surveillance built in.

  • Stable angina and revascularised ischaemic heart disease

    Symptom-limited exercise, medication titration, secondary prevention. GTN use taught and practised.

  • After ICD or CRT implant

    Left-arm mobility, device thresholds respected, exercise progression around the device programming.

  • Red flag: new chest pain, breathlessness, syncope during rehab

    Any new chest pain, unusual breathlessness, syncope or ICD shock during a session is urgent - same-day cardiology, not the next weekly slot.

Programme options

Length and intensity depend on the event and your risk profile.

What each option involves - from a lean 6-week core programme to a 12-week heart-failure build, home-based virtual delivery, and long-term phase IV community exercise.

  • Standard 6–8 week supervised programme

    The BACPR core: twice-weekly supervised exercise plus weekly education, for most post-MI, post-PCI and post-CABG patients at low or moderate risk.

  • 12-week heart failure programme

    Longer, gentler build for HFrEF and HFpEF. CPET-guided intensity, closer physio supervision, tighter diuretic and weight monitoring.

  • High-intensity programme for lower-risk patients

    Interval-based work for well-selected low-risk patients - bigger fitness gains, same safety profile in supervised settings.

  • Home-based / virtual rehab

    For patients who cannot attend in person. Wearable heart-rate monitoring, weekly video contact with a physio, telephone check-ins with a cardiologist.

  • Menu-based hybrid

    A mix of in-person and home sessions - the pattern most patients actually complete, especially those returning to work.

  • Phase IV community exercise

    After discharge from rehab: BACPR phase IV instructor-led classes in your area, or a home plan we write for you.

  • Psychology and mood support

    Depression and anxiety after a cardiac event are common and lower rehab uptake. Screening and short-course CBT built in where needed.

  • Return-to-work and driving assessment

    DVLA rules on driving after MI, PCI, CABG and ICD. Occupational health input for physical or safety-critical jobs.

Safety and recovery

What to expect during the programme - honestly.

Supervised cardiac rehab has an outstanding safety record. The things worth planning are intensity, medication and the return to driving, work and sex.

  • Serious event rates are very low

    Cardiac arrest during supervised rehab is roughly 1 in 60,000 exercise-hours. Programmes are staffed to recognise and respond within seconds.

  • Exercise is titrated, not guessed

    Intensity is set from your CPET or 6-minute walk, then adjusted session by session using heart rate, symptoms and - where indicated - telemetry.

  • Medication is reviewed continuously

    Beta-blockers, ACE-inhibitors, statins, antiplatelets and diuretics are titrated alongside the exercise plan, not left to your GP alone.

  • Red-flag symptoms during a session

    New chest pain, unusual breathlessness, dizziness, syncope, palpitations or ICD shock stop the session and trigger same-day cardiology review.

  • Wound and sternal precautions after surgery

    After CABG or valve, upper-body loading is restricted for 6–8 weeks. Wound infection is uncommon but time-critical if it happens.

  • Mood, sleep and sex are on the checklist

    Depression and anxiety after a cardiac event are common. Sexual activity is safe for most patients from week 2–4 - we cover it before you ask.

  • Driving after MI, PCI, CABG and ICD

    DVLA rules are specific - 1 week off after uncomplicated PCI, 4 weeks after MI or CABG, longer after ICD. We tell you exactly what applies.

  • Return to work is a graded conversation

    Desk work often at 4–6 weeks, heavier work later, safety-critical roles need occupational-health sign-off. Rehab includes the paperwork.

  • What warrants the same-day team or A&E

    Central chest pain unrelieved by GTN, syncope, ICD shock, sudden severe breathlessness or leg swelling with breathlessness need urgent assessment.

Reading your rehab notes

Your rehab report in four parts. Read the last one first.

Whether your programme is 6 or 12 weeks, in-person or virtual, the discharge letter keeps to the same shape.

A UK cardiologist reviewing a patient’s rehabilitation discharge letter

A quiet reminder

Rehab language is prescription-shaped - we translate it for you.

If you would like us to talk you through the discharge letter and your CPET numbers before your review, just ask.

  1. 01 Baseline

    Diagnosis, medication and functional capacity

    The event, current cardiac medication and doses, ejection fraction, and your baseline CPET or 6-minute walk numbers.

  2. 02 Programme

    Prescription and progression

    Session-by-session intensity, duration and progression, with the physio’s notes on tolerance and any adjustments.

  3. 03 Outcomes

    Repeat testing and secondary prevention

    End-of-programme CPET or walk test, blood pressure, cholesterol, HbA1c, weight and mood scores compared to baseline.

  4. 04 Impression

    Maintenance plan and follow-up

    Read this first: the phase IV plan, driving and work status, medication changes to expect, and when cardiology reviews you next.

Recognised by major UK insurers

BupaAXA HealthVitalityAvivaWPACignaHealixBupaAXA HealthVitalityAvivaWPACignaHealixBupaAXA HealthVitalityAvivaWPACignaHealix

Cardiac rehab is usually covered after a qualifying cardiac event or intervention.

Frequently asked

Everything we get asked about cardiac rehab.

Quick answers on timing, NHS availability, cost and recovery.

  • What actually happens in cardiac rehab?

    A supervised exercise programme (usually twice a week for 6–12 weeks) alongside weekly education on medication, diet, mood, smoking, sex and return to work. A cardiologist writes the prescription and a BACPR-trained physio delivers it. You finish with a repeat fitness test, a written maintenance plan and a plan for phase IV community exercise.

  • How soon after my heart attack or surgery can I start?

    For an uncomplicated MI or PCI, most patients start supervised exercise 1–2 weeks after discharge. After CABG or valve surgery, gentler work from week 2, with upper-body progression from week 6–8 once the sternum has healed. Heart-failure patients usually start once diuretics and dry weight are stable.

  • Is cardiac rehab available on the NHS?

    Yes, NHS BACPR-certified programmes exist across the UK - but capacity is limited, waiting lists are often 4–12 weeks, and only about half of eligible patients ever attend. If your local unit can see you within the safe window (ideally by week 4), we will tell you and point you there. If not, private rehab starts sooner and runs longer.

  • How much does a private cardiac rehab programme cost in the UK?

    Roughly £1,200–£1,800 for a 6-week programme, £1,600–£2,200 for 8 weeks, and £2,000–£2,500 for a 12-week programme (typical for heart failure or complex cases). Baseline cardiology assessment with CPET is usually £450–£800.

  • How long is recovery - when will I feel normal?

    Most patients feel meaningfully better by week 4–6 of a supervised programme, and reach a stable new baseline by the end of week 12. Return to desk work is often 4–6 weeks post-event, heavier work later. Fitness gains continue for 6–12 months after rehab if you keep exercising three times a week.

  • Is home-based rehab as good as attending in person?

    For lower-risk patients, well-supervised home programmes with wearable heart-rate monitoring and weekly physio contact deliver similar outcomes to in-person rehab, and completion rates are higher.

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