Cardiac Rehabilitation

We’re here to help you regain your strength and improve your long-term health following a cardiac event.

Our cardiac rehabilitation programme consists of an eight-week programme of exercise and education to help you reduce the risk of further heart events and manage your heart condition effectively.

When you’re referred to us, we’ll complete an assessment with you. We will discuss your diagnosis, condition, or any procedures, as well as medications and lifestyle changes. We will also talk to you about your goals and what you’d like to achieve through the programme. A date will then be set for you to start the programme.

We run our programme through group sessions at local community centres or at the Royal Berkshire Hospital.

If you have difficulties with accessing group sessions or have problems with your mobility, and you need more one-to-one support, we may be able to provide a home exercise programme for you.

We’ll monitor your condition and your progress during your time with us and give you recommendations on how to continue exercising when you’ve finished.

We may also direct you to local, council run schemes or other services that may be able to help.

Our service is part of our Cardiac And Respiratory Specialist Service (CARSS).

CARSS includes:

• Cardiac Rehabilitation
• Heart Function Service (visit the service page)
• Pulmonary Rehabilitation (visit the service page)
• Respiratory Service (visit the service page)

You can be referred to CARSS while you’re in hospital, or if you’re registered with a GP in Berkshire West and over the age of 18.

Depending on your needs, we may refer you to our other CARSS teams if we feel that you would benefit from their support and advice.

To be referred to us, you must be registered with a GP in West Berkshire, and have experienced a heart event, such as:

• A heart attack, also known as myocardial infarction
• Heart surgery (e.g. valve replacement or repair, coronary artery bypass graft, stent insertion)
• Implantable cardioverter defibrillator, which helps treat abnormal heart rhythms
• A stable heart failure diagnosis

You can also be referred into our service during your stay in hospital.

If you’ve had heart problems while outside of Berkshire, your GP may also refer you.

If you're registered with a GP in East Berkshire, you may be referred to a local hospital, such as the Royal Berkshire Hospital, Wexham Park Hospital, or Frimley Park Hospital. 

Referrals

All referrals should be made directly to our team:

Call 0118 904 6555

Then choose from: 

• Press 1: Respiratory Service
• Press 2: Cardiac Rehabilitation
• Press 3: Heart Function
• Press 4: Pulmonary Rehabilitation 

Email CardiacRehab1@berkshire.nhs.uk

You’ll be able to start the programme after you’re discharged from hospital and are physically well enough.

All visits to our centres are by appointment only. Please do not visit our centres unless you have an appointment.

If you’re unsure who to contact, please speak to your GP

Greenham Community Centre

The Nightingales
Greenham
RG14 7SZ

Tilehurst Community Centre

Tilehurst Triangle
Reading
RG30 4RN

Wokingham Masonic Centre

7 Reading Road
Wokingham
Berkshire
RG41 1EG

Royal Berkshire Hospital (RBH)

London Road
Reading
RG1 5AN

We may also hold clinic appointments in Thatcham, Reading, and Wokingham

West Berkshire Community Hospital

London Road
Benham Hill
Thatcham
RG18 3AS

Coley Clinic

Carsdale Close
Reading
RG1 6DL

Call 0118 904 6555

Wokingham Hospital

41 Barkham Road
Wokingham
RG41 2RE

Myth: Heart disease is caused by poor lifestyle

As well as lifestyle, there are other factors that can influence heart disease, such as genetics (e.g., inherited heart conditions). It’s often unclear what causes heart disease, which means that all people, whatever shape, size, gender, or age, can be affected.

Myth: You can have a 'minor heart attack'

It is true that heart attacks can vary in how much of the heart muscle is damaged, but however much of your heart is affected, a heart attack means you have heart disease. Cardiac Rehabilitation can help recovery and look towards prevention of further events.

Our Neuro-inclusion Passport can help you communicate your needs to our staff. It covers sensory processing, your communication preferences, and topics that might make you feel anxious and overwhelmed, so that we can support you.   

Read about our Neuro-inclusion passport