History of Cardiac Rehab

The Basingstoke & Alton Rehabilitation Unit opened in 1976 with just a few cardiac patients, utilising facilities in Alton Sports Centre.  A team led by local GP Dr Hugh Bethell and physiotherapist Sally Turner supervised and monitored the performance of patients on a course of graduated exercise.  Early  results were encouraging and medical practices in surrounding areas started to refer patients to "Rehab".

Rehab's reputation soon spread and within two years the major hospital in the area (Basingstoke) began regularly to refer cardiac patients.  As the team learned from studying results, adjustments were made to the course of tailored exercise and it was combined with education about heart disease, diet, stress management and relaxation.

Ever since its opening, Rehab has been a leader in its field.  It was the first community-based cardiac rehabilitation unit in the UK and its example has been followed widely.  Members of the Rehab team helped to increase the provision of units across the country, and with the setting up of the British Association of cardiac Rehabilitation.

In 1992 the Basingstoke & Alton Cardiac Rehabilitation Charity was formed, with the express intention to build a facility that would be an improvement on that which was available at the Sports Centre.  Following several years of local fundraising the current Centre was built in 1997.  The move to its own building enabled Rehab to expand its operations, including starting its own Phase IV cardiac rehabilitation exercise programme for those who "graduate" from the NHS-run Phase III programme.  The charity now runs over 40 hours per week of Phase IV exercise, making it one of the largest providers of its kind in the South of England.

The charity was re-branded as Cardiac Rehab in 2003 to avoid confusion with other forms of rehabilitation work, such as for stroke or drug abuse.