The Heart Failure Service provides nursing and physiotherapy support to patients with a diagnosis of heart failure in the community either at home or in a community based clinic. There are also Cardiac Rehabilitation group exercise programmes for eligible patients in certain areas.
What are the objectives of the service?
To provide education, support and assistance with symptom control and medical treatment for people with heart failure. Physiotherapy can help to increase exercise/physical activity levels and manage everyday activities in accordance with a patient’s symptoms. We encourage patients to manage their own condition where able and with our support. We aim to provide this in the community, as far as possible, in order to avoid people being admitted to hospital unnecessarily.
We work closely with hospital staff, GPs and practice nurses and provide support and education to other health professionals.
Who might need the service?
The service is for people with a diagnosis of heart failure. The diagnosis will be confirmed by a heart scan (an ultrasound of the heart) called an echocardiogram which assesses the function of the heart muscle.
What type of staff work in the service?
The service consists of four Heart Failure Nurses, a Cardiac Physiotherapist and a Community Support Worker (CSW). There is also an administrator based in our office.
Opening hours and contact information
The service operates Monday to Friday from 9.00am to 5.00pm.
How can people access the Service?
Referrals for nursing support are accepted from any health professional, for patients with a confirmed diagnosis of Heart Failure. Patients can only be referred to the physiotherapist from the heart failure nurses.
From 21 January 2013 referrals should be made through the Nottingham Health and Care Point on 0300 300 3333 or use the online form here.