3 December 2025
This activity is part of Healthy Working Life, a joint programme of the West Yorkshire Combined Authority and NHS West Yorkshire Integrated Care Board.
What's this project all about?
The Mid Yorkshire Cardiac Rehabilitation team is now supporting more people to get back to work after a cardiac event, thanks to investment from the Healthy Working Life programme.
After a heart attack or cardiac procedure, many people want to return to work but don’t always get the specialist help they need. Until recently, cardiac rehabilitation had no occupational therapy (OT) input. That changed in 2024, and with Healthy Working Life funding from April 2025, the team has been able to expand and offer dedicated OT support to working-age adults.
Sarah Jessop, Clinical Lead Occupational Therapist explains: “Healthy Working Life funding has enabled the service to fully integrate work-focused rehabilitation into the patient pathway.
“Today, the team provides flexible, personalised OT input across Wakefield District and North Kirklees - through home visits, telephone appointments and virtual consultations. OTs work closely with cardiac nurses and therapists to offer truly holistic care, recognising that good work is a key part of recovery and long-term wellbeing.”
OTs provide:
- 1:1 rehabilitation sessions and support on managing fatigue, sleep and returning to work
- flexible appointments
- clear work-focused advice for both patients and employers
- help with phased return plans and a health and work report
“This approach supports people to rebuild confidence, manage energy levels and return to meaningful, sustainable work,” adds Sarah.
What difference has it made
Since July 2024, we’ve referred 131 patients for cardiac OT support.
From April - November 2025, following the Healthy Working Life funding:
- 33 people received specialist vocational rehabilitation
- 20 successfully returned to work
Patients tell us the support has been “invaluable” in helping them feel ready, supported and able to manage their job alongside recovery.
Patient story
One patient, recovering from a heart attack, needed support to return to his role managing a large office block. Following referral in August 2025, the OT carried out a detailed vocational assessment, identifying barriers, work demands and possible adjustments.
Through detailed discussions, personalised advice and a structured phased-return plan, the OT helped him build his confidence and stamina. By October 2025, he was back to full-time hours, managing well at home and at work and was confidently discharged from the service.
“Many patients would previously have had no specialist support to return to work after a cardiac event. Now, they are supported from the point of referral through to a successful return and beyond,” says Sarah.
What do people think?
Patients consistently describe the service as pivotal to rebuilding confidence, managing fatigue, planning phased returns and navigating conversations with employers.
“My OT is helping me think about returning to work and I have to be kind to myself. I have a structure to follow now and I'm looking forward to starting back.”
“The report my OT wrote for my work was brilliant… it tells them clearly what to do and how to support my return.”
“Thanks to therapy, I've got a better work-life balance now… I feel less stress after my heart attack.”
“My OT has helped me a lot. I'm on my phased return and I'm managing pretty well. Things I was worried about tackling, have actually been OK.”
What's next for the project?
Sarah added: “Good work is a health outcome. Supporting someone to stay in or return to work isn’t an ‘extra’ - it’s part of rehabilitation. This service brings that principle to life every day.”
The service aims to support at least 75 patients over one year, helping 46 people stay in work thanks to early, practical OT input. This will help demonstrate the value of work-focused rehabilitation in cardiac care.
Funding continues for one year, with the goal of securing longer-term investment through future opportunities or a business case.
This project is part of Healthy Working Life - reducing the number of people in West Yorkshire who may become unable to work because of ill health. Find out more on our Healthy Working Life website pages.
You can also read the helping more cardiac patients stay well and stay in work case study as a pdf file.