Publish date: 26 February 2025
Mid Cheshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust is offering a free digital health coaching programme to eligible patients to help them prepare for surgery.
The Surgery Hero project uses AI technology to identify patients who may be at greater risk before and after their operation.
It saves hospitals time and resources, allowing them to quickly and accurately select patients who may need the additional support.
Surgery Hero aims to reduce the risk of complications before a procedure and accelerate a patient’s recovery.
Selected patients will receive information about the offer, in a text message or email from Surgery Hero, inviting them to download the app and complete a sign-up process.
Participating in the programme is completely optional, but Mid Cheshire Hospitals recommends that patients take part.
Funded by Cheshire & Merseyside ICB, Surgery Hero then provides 12 weeks of digital assistance before a person’s operation.
Once patients sign up, they have access to the Surgery Hero app which includes one-to-one calls with a personal health coach.
The service also provides tailored, on-demand resources and information, peer support groups, and learning workshops.
An incentive spirometer is provided, which is used to strengthen the lungs and prevent chest infections.
Leighton Hospital patient Tim Ashcroft was among those who were chosen to receive the Surgery Hero package.
The 74-year-old, from Winsford, received an email from Surgery Hero and signed up before operations for a hernia repair and stoma reversal.
He found the offer of one-to-one calls with a personal health coach particularly useful, including the information and advice she provided on nutrition.
Tim said: “When I was contacted about Surgery Hero, I thought that it sounded good, so I downloaded it to see what it offered. If this technology is a process that saves time and lives, then that’s great.
“It was really interesting to use. There are all sorts of things on the app that provide personalised support. Mental health is one of the strong areas where they’ve focused on, linked to resilience.
“The part that I found most useful was the one-to-one coach, with sessions that you can join online. Their job as a mentor is to talk to you and support you, find out where you need help and what your challenges are.
“It was great because it gave you a sounding board for advice, with someone meeting you at your convenience wherever you are – you don’t have to go off to a hospital.
“Because of my condition, I couldn’t put weight back on, so we talked about food and nutrition, including trying to increase the amount of protein in my diet. She gave me practical ideas of what I could do and I have kept up those changes.”
Surgery Hero is already available across multiple Trusts in Cheshire and Merseyside. Hundreds of patients have been supported to prepare for their surgery, which can help to reduce their length of stay in hospital and the chances of readmission.
Dr Clare Hammell, Chief Medical Officer and Deputy Chief Executive Officer at Mid Cheshire Hospitals, said: “The Surgery Hero app empowers patients to take an active role in managing their own healthcare. Using the expert support and guidance, it helps them to get in better physical and mental shape for their upcoming operation. Patients who take part in programmes like these have been shown to have a lower risk of complications and can return to normal activities sooner."
“This programme is part of our commitment to work with partners and encourage innovation, going beyond traditional boundaries to deliver unparalleled care that benefits patients and meets their individual needs.”
Professor Rowan Pritchard Jones, Medical Director for NHS Cheshire and Merseyside, said: “We’re absolutely committed to ensuring patients across Cheshire and Merseyside have access to the best possible care and experience.
“Our use of AI, which is one of the biggest changes in the history of the NHS, is helping us to identify and prevent risks becoming reality for many patients, while also empowering them to manage their own health in a way that hasn't been possible before.”
More information can be found here.
