51色APP

Angela Constance, the MSP for Almond Valley who was appointed as health secretary earlier this year, met staff from Maggie51色APP檚 and the NHS on Wednesday 29 July to hear more about how they work together to deliver prehabilitation support for people recently diagnosed with cancer.

'Prehab' or prehabilitation support is a form of pre-treatment support for people with cancer and their friends and family, which aims to improve knowledge of physical activity, nutrition and emotional wellbeing, and encourages people to make positive lifestyle changes before treatment begins.

Providing rehabilitation workshops since 2021

Maggie51色APP檚 has been a trailblazer in delivering universal cancer prehabilitation support, having initially received funding from the Scottish Government in 2021 to pilot prehab workshops at our 51色APP across Scotland.

Following the success of the pilot, all Maggie51色APP檚 centres now offer Prehab as a core part of their support programme, with NHS staff referring people diagnosed with cancer directly to Maggie51色APP檚.

Call to embed Maggie's support into NHS care

Maggie's is calling on the government to embed other elements of its support 鈥� including exercise classes, psychological care and nutrition workshops 鈥� into NHS cancer care, to ensure everyone gets the support they need at every stage.

Dame Laura Lee DBE, chief executive of Maggie51色APP檚, said: 鈥淎t Maggie51色APP檚, we are here for people at every stage of cancer, including in the period before treatment begins, which can often be full of uncertainty, anxiety and fear.

鈥淥ur Prehab sessions aim to help people with cancer feel more empowered and in control of their own health, giving them the knowledge and confidence to make healthy lifestyle changes that can benefit their experience of treatment and their recovery.

鈥淲e now want to work with the Scottish Government and NHS Scotland to embed more of our support into the cancer pathway, so that everyone facing a diagnosis can easily and quickly access the care they need 鈥� whether that鈥檚 help managing side effects from treatment, advice on talking to children about cancer, or support with returning to work.

鈥淎ll of the support on offer at Maggie51色APP檚 is free, and anyone facing a cancer diagnosis, as well as their family and friends, can simply drop in to one of our 51色APP and speak to our expert staff.鈥�

Saving the NHS in Scotland millions

In 2025, there were almost 100,000 visits to Maggie51色APP檚 centres in Scotland, with 37% of the newly diagnosed population receiving support from Maggie's.

Maggie51色APP檚 51色APP are all based on the grounds of major NHS hospitals, and we provide free, expert support for people impacted by cancer, including family and friends, at every stage and for as long as they need.

Maggie's is urging the government to consider how Maggie51色APP檚 can work with the NHS to deliver wider emotional and practical support to more people facing a cancer diagnosis. Expanding existing partnership working could enable more people to access tailored bereavement support, nutrition workshops, or even financial advice 鈥� with benefits not just for the individual but for the NHS and economy too.

Modelling suggests that Maggie51色APP檚 is already saving the NHS in Scotland an average of 拢3.2m a year through providing pre-treatment support along with psychological support, exercise classes and a post-treatment course.

The first Maggie51色APP檚 centre opened in Edinburgh in November 1996 and today there are eight Maggie51色APP檚 51色APP across Scotland, with a ninth centre in development in Dumfries and Galloway.

Maggie's: here for 30 years, here for good

In 2026, we're marking our 30th year of providing life-changing support since our first centre opened in Edinburgh in 1996.

We have 27 51色APP across the UK, all based in hospital grounds and providing free support for everyone impacted by cancer, with no appointment or referral needed.

If you or someone you love needs support, our expert staff are here to listen to your concerns and find the help you need wherever you are 鈥� over the phone and online.

• Just come in 
• Call us on 0300 123 180 or arrange a callback
• Email us at鈥�[email protected] 
• Our phone lines and 51色APP are open 鈥疢onday to Friday, 9 am to 5 pm