Press Release :: Parliamentary Heart Failure Inquiry
Parliamentary heart failure inquiry highlights 10 key recommendations as to where the NHS could improve treatment to people diagnosed with Heart Failure
“The Pumping Marvellous Foundation, the UK’s patient led Heart Failure Charity welcomes 10 key recommendations which are essential to improving the care for Heart Failure patients in the UK”
Tuesday 13th September 2016
According to the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence there are around 900,000 people living with Heart Failure (HF) in the UK. New recommendations today released by the All Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on Heart Disease has recommended 10 areas for improvement in care.
The recommendations listed below were the result of evidence both written and oral evidence provided to the APPG by patients, carers, clinical experts and commissioners of services.
1. Awareness of Heart Failure promoted to the General Medical Community.
2. Wider use of a blood test (NTproBNP), which supports diagnosis made available to everyone.
3. Recommendations that the NHS looks to address the shortage of Echocardiography services.
4. Patients diagnosed with heart failure to receive information on heart failure detailing supportive information and immediate points of contact.
5. When admitted to hospital patients should receive early specialist input.
6. The NHS should look into the number and qualifications of heart failure Specialist Nurses where there are concerns of inequity across England
7. Services should be commissioned for heart failure based on a multi-disciplinary team including heart failure specialist nurses
8. Heart failure rehabilitation programmes should be available to everyone with heart failure.
9. Healthcare professionals should be trained in advance end of life communication skills to support open conversations with parents and carers.
10. End of life care communication with heart failure patients should be made available to everyone to enable them to make informed decisions and plan the care they wish for at the end of life.
Angela Graves, Clinical Lead for the Pumping Marvellous Foundation and Queens Nurse says, “The Foundation will be keen to look at the report, and seek to work on its recommendations. Patients and carers had a major input into the report and I would like to thank them for the evidence that they provided, particularly the patients and carers that actually give evidence at Parliament. Highlighted in the report is the significance of the role of the heart failure specialist nurse, and how patients and carers alike speak so highly of the significant care, support and management that they provide. Evidence was given as to the lack of clarity of how many nurses are actually in post, and the concern that there is an insufficient workforce to meet the ever-growing demand attributable to the increase in heart failure.”
Nick Hartshorne-Evans, Chief Executive of the Pumping Marvellous Foundation, said: “A diagnosis of “Heart Failure” alone has a devastating effect on people and their families. The patient community will welcome these recommendations and will be supportive of them. The recommendations are wide ranging and throw a spotlight on areas that need drastic improvement by the NHS”
To download or read the full Focus on Heart Failure report by the APPG on Heart Failure click here.
Notes to the Editor
Available for Interview:
• Nick Hartshorne-Evans, Founder and CEO of Pumping Marvellous Foundation.
• Angela Graves, Clinical Lead of the Pumping Marvellous Foundation.
For more Information please contact:
• Nick Hartshorne-Evans,
nick@pumpingmarvellous.org
T + 44 (0)7854 407050
• Dawn Robinson – dawn.robinson@pumpingmarvellous.org – +44 (0)1772 796542
About Heart Failure
Heart failure is a condition caused by the heart failing to pump enough blood around the body in order to deliver the blood and nutrients that the body requires. It usually occurs because the heart muscle has become too weak or stiff to work properly. It can affect those of all ages and the main symptoms include a combination of fatigue, breathlessness and swelling. Heart failure is most often caused by an underlying heart condition, such as previous heart attacks or high blood pressure. However it can also be caused by more unusual conditions including, heart muscle disease (cardiomyopathy) due to genetic conditions, virus illness, or alcohol or drug abuse. Prognosis can be poorer than many forms of cancer, however symptoms can be managed through complex medication and medical devices. Patients with the correct treatment and support can have a good quality of life and increase life expectancy.
Heart failure is expensive and currently costs the NHS up to 2 billion pounds, predominantly due to hospital admissions; indeed heart failure is one of the primary causes of admissions in the NHS. Ensuring patients receive the recommendations of the report will help to address the economic burden the NHS currently faces due to heart failure.
About the Pumping Marvellous Foundation
The Pumping Marvellous Foundation (PMF) is the UK’s patient led Heart Failure charity. Nick Hartshorne-Evans founded it in 2010 because of his experiences after a recent diagnosis of heart failure. This has shaped the Foundation’s goals and principles of a patient-centric charity focused on improved patient outcomes leading to a better quality of life.
The beneficiaries are all people who suffer from heart failure together with their family and friends. The Pumping Marvellous Foundation’s goal is to deliver HOPE to its beneficiaries through the facilitation of better outcomes by cross-working and advocating at a local, regional, national and international level; working hand in hand with stakeholders to deliver better ways of working and be the patient voice of progression.h