Background <p>Screening, triage and referral systems can support patients to become more physically active and receive the right level of rehabilitation. This study aimed to understand patient experiences of attending a physiotherapy-led triage and referral clinic.</p> Methods <p>Adults who had been diagnosed with cancer during COVID-19 (March 2020 to May 2022) and had completed treatment were invited to attend a physiotherapy-led triage and referral clinic for assessment and triage to one of three needs-based pathways. Participant experiences were captured via semi-structured interviews at 12-weeks post triage assessment. The Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research (CFIR) was used to design interview guides and to guide deductive analysis.</p> Results <p>Twenty-six participants (male <i>n</i> = 15, mean age 65 (11.6) years, mean 28.5 (6) months post-diagnosis) were interviewed. Key findings were substantial unmet needs and a sense of being unsupported (outer setting), an individual assessment with the specialist physiotherapist was gratefully received (outer setting), cancer rehabilitation services must improve (intervention characteristics), rehabilitation is a worthwhile investment for the health service (inner setting) and ability varies amongst participants to absorb community service costs (intervention characteristics).</p> Conclusion <p>Findings indicate high participant satisfaction with personalised assessment and referral to exercise services. The opportunity to meet with a specialist physiotherapist was highly valued by participants across all levels, addressed a significant unmet service need and led to improvements in multiple unmet physical and psychosocial needs.</p> <p>Implications for Cancer Survivors.</p> <p>Triage and referral systems have significant potential to support implementation of exercise and rehabilitation pathways into cancer care with high patient satisfaction.</p> <p>Trial registration.</p> <p>ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT05615285.</p>