The year-long trial will recruit 100 orthopaedic patients on waiting lists and offer them eight to ten weeks of bespoke online preparation before their operation – organised and run by telehealth company QuestPrehab – focusing on exercise, nutrition, psychological support and sleep optimisation.

"Prehabilitation is not an "add-on" - it's a critical part of improving surgical outcomes and protecting elective capacity,' said Dr Swinda Esprit, clinical director for surgery and anaesthetics at Orpington and Princess Royal University Hospitals, which are part of Kings College NHS Foundation Trust.

‘By trialing a digital prehab model, we can support patients to become physically and mentally ready for surgery in the comfort of their home. This approach aligns clinical quality with operational resilience, which is exactly what elective services need right now.'

In the run up to their surgery, patients will use the QuestPrehab app and web platform to follow personalised exercise plans, receive nutrition and hydration advice, access tools to manage anxiety and prepare mentally for surgery. The programme also tracks patient progress and engagement, helping clinical teams understand who is ready for surgery and who may need extra support.

‘The trial responds directly to the Getting It Right First Time focus on cutting the number of on-the-day cancellations and shortening length of stay in elective orthopaedics,' said QuestPrehab founder and CEO, Professor Tara Rampal.

‘Recent guidance for hip and knee surgery highlights enhanced recovery pathways and perioperative optimisation as key levers to achieve best-practice lengths of stay close to zero or one day for joint replacement patients.'