Pumping Marvellous

The Pumping Marvellous Foundation (PMF) is the UK’s patient-led Heart Failure charity. It was founded by a heart failure patient whose experiences during rehabilitation shaped the Foundation’s goals and principles, emphasising a patient-centric approach focused on improving patient outcomes.

The beneficiaries of the Pumping Marvellous Foundation are all individuals living with heart failure, along with their family and friends. The charity’s aim is to instil HOPE in its recipients by promoting better outcomes through collaboration and advocacy at local, regional, national, and international levels. It works closely with all stakeholders to develop better pathways and serve as the patient’s voice for progress. Our services include patient-driven solutions, created by patients and guided but not controlled by the Foundation, available in both printed and online formats. The Pumping Marvellous Foundation is funded through donations and fundraising by individuals, support from the NHS, charitable organisations, corporate sponsorship and hands-off grants.

Over 1,000,000 heart failure patients, their families, and carers in the UK are eligible for assistance. The Foundation has no bias towards specific subgroups. Heart failure is a broad term covering various conditions and affects all socio-economic groups; therefore, our support is diverse and tailored to individual needs.

The charity is based in Preston, UK. It has a network of regional volunteers called ‘Patient Educators’ who deliver the charity’s core messages and actively participate in campaigns, publications, literature distribution, and local relationship building. Additionally, we maintain a strong online presence that allows the charity to reach out and drive progress in heart failure care through increased engagement with clinicians, patients, and their families.

Heart failure is a progressive condition that requires management. About 75% of heart failure diagnoses result from persistent hypertension or myocardial infarction (heart attacks). Recently, more people are surviving heart attacks due to better intervention techniques, but many end up with heart failure. The outlook for heart failure patients is less favourable than for most common cancers. As a result, mortality rates are high, and hospital readmission levels are substantial. Heart failure accounts for over 2% of total admissions in A&E. However, it is treatable and manageable with appropriate care, including treatments and self-management or self-care. The Foundation’s core value is to promote HOPE for people living with heart failure, as well as their carers and families, through self-care and education via peer-to-peer coaching and support. We aim to reduce the growing burden on the health economy by helping patients and families better manage their conditions through self-management and self-care.

Our services and information enhance the ability of heart failure patients to self-manage by recognising early symptoms and taking self-interventions and steps to alleviate common issues. Investing in the Pumping Marvellous Foundation is a small cost compared to ignoring the heart failure problem.