Inpatients

In hospital, following a scan of your heart (echocardiogram); the diagnosis of heart failure may be given at the time of recovery from an acute event or following repeated admission. The British Heart Foundation (BHF) outlines further information for patient guidance.

Patients at this time are often unaware of symptoms they may develop. Heart failure specialist nurses aim to provide education and support to help patients recognise future reductions in physical ability and quality of life.

Often patients reviewed in hospital may be older people, who may also have other conditions that may affect heart failure.

UH Bristol and Bristol Community Health work in partnership with the nurse led heart failure service enabling smooth patient focused care provision.

Depending on your symptoms; continued care of your heart failure may include follow up in either a clinic setting or at home. 

South Bristol NHS Community Hospital
Hengrove Promenade
BRISTOL
BS14 0DE

Switchboard: 0117 923 0000

Patients who have been reviewed in hospital, regardless of demographics, are offered follow up to maximise understanding of condition and begin the process of up titration of medications. If you live outside of Bristol, follow up to complete this process will occur under the care of your GP.

Patients who have been reviewed in hospital or in South Bristol Community Hospital are offered follow up to maximise understanding of condition and uptitrate heart failure medications.

Patients who are house bound and have symptoms of breathlessness, fatigue and oedema are offered close follow up with the heart failure nurse. The nurse works in close partnership with GPs. In cases of extreme symptom management advice is sought  from the cardiologist. 

For further support for health care professionals, the BHF are proposing a strategy for bringing the focus of end of life care to the forefront of care provision http://www.bhf.org.uk/default.aspx?page=12961