Who we are
Improving heart health, fitness and wellbeing since 1976.
people are at risk of heart disease
The Basingstoke and Alton Cardiac Rehabilitation Charity (Cardiac Rehab) is a vibrant exercise centre in East Hampshire which provides specialist exercise programmes to residents of Hampshire and Surrey.
Our primary focus is helping people who have, or are at risk of developing, heart disease but we also support those with other long term conditions such as frailty and balance problems, pulmonary rehabilitation for COPD and long-COVID, cancer pre-habilitation prior to operations and cancer rehabilitation.
Our services
More than just a gym….
- Cardiac assessment
- Functional capacity testing
- Cardiac risk health screening
- Cardiac rehabilitation and prevention of heart disease
- Steady & Strong balance and frailty prevention
- Pulmonary rehabilitation
- Long-COVID reconditioning
- Cancer ‘pre-habilitation’
- Cancer Rehabilitation
- Social events for Exercisers and families
- Health education
- First aid training course and certification
- Volunteer programme
- Student placements & work experience
What we do
“We help people rebuild their confidence to do normal physical activity, lengthen their lives and improve wellbeing through a mix of exercise, education and peer support.”
More about us
When we first opened in 1976, we were the first dedicated community based cardiac rehabilitation unit in the UK, moving into our own purpose-built building in 1997, and our example has been followed widely across the country.
More than 25% of deaths in the UK population each year are due to heart and circulatory issues (Source: BHF July 2020). Attending Cardiac Rehab hastens recovery from cardiac illnesses and operations. We care for patients after NHS treatment is completed, when GPs refer patients to us as part of disease prevention, or people refer themselves. Our programmes complement clinical care and help set the path for a healthier future for those who exercise with us.
Our classes and circuit-based sessions cater for all physical abilities and are tailored to meet the individual needs of our exercisers. Whether you are recovering after a cardiac event or are at risk and working to prevent a possible future one, Cardiac Rehab can help. Over 900 people a year make use of our specialist exercise sessions at the Centre and we offer over 50 hours of exercise sessions each week. After an initial assessment, our certified instructors create a bespoke plan for each exerciser to improve their fitness levels, while ensuring that the activities remain safe, effective and fun.
We also support patients needing pulmonary or cancer rehabilitation, cancer ‘prehabilitation’ as preparation for surgery and frailer people to stay healthy and prevent falls by building core strength through the ‘Steady & Strong’ falls-prevention programme.
Our vision is to be part of a community which works to enhance cardiovascular health, improve quality of life and prevent premature death.
Our goals
- Staying well: We help people who are at risk of, and those with heart disease, to stay well.
- Improving health, wellbeing and lifestyle: We empower people who are at risk of, or experiencing, cardiac health problems, to make informed choices about how they live their lives.
- Providing a safe environment for exercise: We ensure everyone has access to safe exercise, supervised by highly qualified instructors, who give personal advice and assistance.
- Enabling social interaction: We provide an environment where people exercise alongside others who have been referred by health professionals, creating a community with a shared experience.
- Organisational excellence: We aim to make the most of our assets by building a culture of excellence – within our environment, our team and the services we offer.
- Clear communication: We endeavour to make all our communications clear, easy to understand and accessible.
Our values
Cardiac Rehab’s values are at the heart of everything we do.
- Open: We are here for anyone with, or at risk of heart disease who needs our help.
- Together: We work with our centre users, local health professionals and supporters to give the best service we can.
- Responsive: We listen and are open to change when change is needed.
- Fun: We believe that the best results happen when you have fun along the way.
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