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CanRehab Trusts supports the Safefit Trial

Canrehab Trust • January 22, 2021

CanRehab Trust are working with partners to deliver SafeFit, a new online clinical trial offering emotional, physical and healthy eating support to people dealing with cancer. 


National Lottery are providing funding through CanRehab Trust so more people living through the pandemic with a diagnosis or suspicion of cancer can access this ground-breaking trial. 


Early funding and access were provided by Macmillan Cancer Support.

SafeFit is an online clinical trial that is free to join. It offers remote support with exercise, nutritional advice as well as supporting mental wellbeing. After an initial assessment, patients can benefit from one-to-one telephone or video consultations, video exercise sessions and virtual group exercise sessions as well as advice on health eating and emotional support, in line with relevant Government COVID-19 guidelines with CanRehab Trust Instructors.

SafeFit has been developed by internationally renowned cancer research, exercise, and wellbeing specialists in partnership with University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust, Macmillan Cancer Support, CanRehab Trust, Royal College of Anaesthetists, Centre for Perioperative Care (CPOC), National Institute for Health Research Cancer and Nutrition Collaboration, University of Southampton, and Wessex Cancer Alliance

About SafeFit

The SafeFit trial is on the National Institute for Health Research portfolio of COVID-19 priority trials and supported by the NIHR Clinical Research Network. It is hoped that the results of this clinical trial will provide the evidence for SafeFit to become a recognised regular patient service.


The trial builds on pioneering studies indicating that ‘prehabilitation’- getting into the best possible shape before and during cancer treatment – has significant benefits for patients’ wellbeing, quality of life and readiness for major surgery.


SafeFit was a direct response to the devastation of participants on the WesFit-Wessex Fit-4-Cancer Surgery prehabilitation trial, after it was paused in March’s lockdown. In a year of anxiety and uncertainty for them and others awaiting cancer treatment or living with cancer and shielding, the study offers them a chance to take some control and positive steps in dealing with their diagnosis.


And now Southampton’s WesFit Clinical Trial team, who lead its delivery are able to accept more referrals to the study, thanks to a £99,903 award from the Coronavirus Community Support Fund, distributed by The National Lottery Community Fund. The partners thank the Government for making this possible.


SafeFit originates from a well-established partnership between organisations which previously co-produced national guidelines on Prehabilitation for people with cancer. The trial is also an extension of current work lead by CPOC on the perioperative pathway, highlighting the positive effects of active lifestyle choices on recovery and COVID-19 related shielding


If you are interested in taking part in the trial, you can sign up at www.safefit.nhs.uk


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