BOWEL surgery patients in the Forth Valley can pedal their way to a speedier recovery as part of a pilot project.

As part of the National Enhanced Recovery Initiative, NHS Forth Valley is offering to lend e-bikes to patients due to undergo bowel surgery.

The bikes are offered to a specific group of patients, in addition to a pre-operative assessment, which looks at people’s current health and what they can do to improve it prior to surgery

Aileen Schofield, NHS Forth Valley's health promotion officer, helped secure the bikes through Forth Environment Link and Edinburgh University's Sport Department has shown interest in an academic evaluation of the programme.

The health promotion officer said: “We are very much focused on physical activity as part of the patient’s care and treatment process.

“In fact, one of the post-surgery wards for bowel cancer patients now has what is known as an exercise alley where they are encouraged to take part in a series of simple stretches throughout the day.

“It’s early days but it will be good to know how much using e-bikes helps with the recovery programme.

“We are all very much excited about this new pilot project and what we can learn from it as this will help inform our next steps.”

The National Enhanced Recovery Initiative would also normally include a special preparation boot camp, giving patients the chance to meet with others and discuss with staff what will happen before, during and after their operation.

The aim is to make sure people are as knowledgeable as possible and that they can be actively involved in their own care.

These groups are currently suspended due to Covid-19, however.

The results of the programme so far are particularly encouraging for patients undergoing keyhole surgery for conditions such as bowel cancer, inflammatory bowel conditions including Crohn’s and Colitis and diverticular disease, said the health board.

Linnet McGeever, lead nurse for colorectal cancer and project manager for the enhanced recovery programme, highlighted that people who are more active prior to their surgery and immediately after have a reduced risk of many potential surgical complications.

She added: “The use of the e-bikes is one method of encouraging an increase in exercise which we will be investigating, however, there are also other methods for those who may not find this idea appealing.

“Not only will be encouraging patients to use the e-bikes before surgery but we will also be urging them to get back into the saddle four weeks after their operation to improve their stamina and hopefully aid their longer term recovery.”