Publications & Guidance
On this page you will find BACPR publications, guidance and additional resources.
Standards & Core Components
2023 Standards and Core Components for Cardiovascular Disease Prevention and Rehabilitation
This 4th edition of BACPR Standards and Core Components (SCC) has greater emphasis on the need for a person-centred approach for cardiovascular prevention and rehabilitation programmes (CPRPs). Patients should be afforded the opportunity to engage with the sum of coordinated cardiac rehabilitation activities as outlined in the five core components to enhance their health, wellbeing and outcomes. The six standards remain with greater emphasis on offering patients a choice of when, where and how their CPRP is delivered to ensure their individual needs are met. Guided by the evidence, the SCC are also more inclusive of all patient populations who may benefit from a cardiovascular prevention and rehabilitation programme.
BACPR Publications
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A valuable manual to every cardiac rehabilitation programme packed with information to develop knowledge and skills in physical activity, exercise advice and exercise training.
Buy BACPR Textbook - Physicial Activity and Exercise in the Management of Cardiovascular Disease
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One of the core components of the BACPR Standards and Core Components for Cardiovascular Disease Prevention and Rehabilitation (2023) is the Psychosocial component of rehabilitation (CR). Staff who facilitate and / or deliver psychosocial support and education, should be appropriately qualified, skilled and competent.
Competent health professionals are essential to the successful delivery of a CR service which meets the needs of the patient whilst promoting high quality CR services. This document provides guidance on the key competences required to ensure the use of best practice standards and guidelines to psychosocial health. In total, 9 core competences are outlined, identifying specific knowledge and skills for each core competency and a framework to assess the health professional’s ability to demonstrate their competency. This document also serves as a tool to monitor the need for continuing professional development for the health professional and supporting staff to achieve specific competences.
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Cardiovascular Prevention and Rehabilitation in Practice is a comprehensive, practitioner-focused clinical handbook which provides internationally applicable evidence-based standards of good practice. Edited and written by a multidisciplinary team of experts from the British Association for Cardiovascular Prevention and Rehabilitation (BACPR), this book is invaluable for practitioners helping people with heart disease return to health. The text provides an overview of research findings, examines the core components of cardiac rehabilitation, and discusses how to support healthier lifestyles and reduce the risks of recurrence.
The book has been published by Wiley - click here to order.
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Thirteen Core Competences are outlined, identifying specific knowledge and skills for each competency, with a framework to assess the health professional’s ability to demonstrate their competence in physical activity and exercise prescription.
The working party that developed these competences included:
Association of Chartered Physiotherapists with a special interest in Cardiac Rehabilitation (ACPICR)
BACPR Exercise Instructor Network (EIN)
British Association of Exercise Sciences (BASES)escription text goes here
Download Core Competences for the Physical Activity and Exercise Component
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This document provides guidance on the key competences required to ensure the use of best practice standards and guidelines for Health Behaviour Change and Education – an integral component of cardiac rehabilitation. In total, 12 core competences are outlined, identifying specific knowledge and skills for each core competency and a framework to assess the health professional's ability to demonstrate their competency. This document also serves as a tool to monitor the need for continuing professional development for the health professional and supporting staff to achieve specific competences.
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This document provides guidance on the key competences required to ensure the use of best practice standards and guidelines for healthy eating and body composition. In total, 7 core competences are outlined, identifying specific knowledge and skills for each core competency and a framework to assess the health professional's ability to demonstrate their competence. This document also serves as a tool to monitor the need for continuing professional development for the exercise professional and supporting staff to achieve specific competences.
Download BACPR Core Competences for the Diet Component: Healthy Eating and Body Composition
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This booklet aims to help you in day to day practice in assessing, monitoring and guiding physical activity and exercise intensity. It includes tables which allow you to have quick access to determining target heart rates and MET values.
BACPR Guidance
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Core Competency Frameworks are intended for use with any staff member who is involved in the delivery of the Core Components of CR throughout the patient pathway, they are applicable to programmes running in both the hospital and community setting. The frameworks can be used to assess competence and to direct Continuing Professional Development [CPD] for staff involved in the delivery of CR programmes. The frameworks provide the facility to tailor their use to the individual’s specific role and responsibilities within a programme.
How do I use the Core Competency Frameworks?
Please download: Guidance on using the BACPR Core Competency Frameworks
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A joint statement from the HIIT or MISS UK Research Group and the BACPR Exercise Professionals Group
BACPR Position Statement - Cardiovascular Rehabilitation: Core to Long-Term Pathway (2025)
BACPR want to raise awareness and strengthen both communication and working partnerships across the CVPR workforce.
Optimum nutritional strategies for cardiovascular disease prevention and rehabilitation (2021)
A statement by the BACPR Diet Working Group
BACPR Exercise Professionals Group Position Statement (2019)
Outlining the essential competences and minimum qualifications required to lead the exercise component in early cardiac rehabilitation. The following two statements contained within the document refer to the exercise component of the clinically supervised CR programme in hospital, community or home settings and provide guidance on the competences and qualifications required to lead this component.
A joint statement by the Resuscitation Council (UK) and BACPR
A joint statement by the British Society for Heart Failure (BSH) and BACPR
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What is the BACPR Exercise Protocol for Transition from Core to Long Term Exercise?
A protocol and transfer form (to which the patient gives his/her consent) has been developed by the BACPR, to ensure safe and appropriate transition of individuals from Phase III to IV. Adoption of the protocol and use of the transfer form will also serve to standardise the information provided to the BACPR Specialist Exercise Instructor and will promote close liaison between professionals in the long term management of patients.
To download the protocol and transfer form, please click on the links below:
BACPR Protocol for Transition from Core to Long Term Exercise
BACPR Transfer Form March 2026 (Print Version)
BACPR Transfer Form March 2026 (Interactive for electronic completion)
Please note that if you are using these forms in your everyday practice, ensure that you are complying with GDPR regulations
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Resources and Guidance to Support Remote Delivery
Resources and Guidance to support remote delivery of cardiovascular rehabilitation
EPG Guidance and Statement
The EPG COVID-19 Guidance Document and Supplement were written to support service delivery during the COVID-19 pandemic. However, the two documents both contain information relevant to remote service delivery.
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BACPR and BHF have worked together to produce this consensus document on key terminology that is being used commonly in modern practice.
Download Cardiac Rehabilitation - Consenus of key Terminology 2023.
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BACPR has developed guidance for the minimum criteria which should be included in a discharge summary.
The template aims to support cardiovascular rehabilitation programmes to communicate the long-term strategies for the management of the patient on discharge, both for the individual and across healthcare settings including primary care.
This resource is an initial template and will be reviewed following feedback.
Please click here to download the BACPR Discharge Letter Template.
Additional Resources
Below are a list of useful resources for cardiovascular disease prevention and rehabilitation professionals.