Gloucestershire Health and Care NHS Trust
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Gloucestershire Heart Failure Service

We’re a countywide community specialist team which provides assessment for Gloucestershire residents who have suspected heart failure, providing heart scans called echocardiograms.

Established in 2003, the Gloucestershire Heart Failure Service is nationally recognised for its work to support and improve patient outcomes. 

The team comprises consultant cardiologists, general practitioners with a special interest (GPwSI) in heart failure, a team of specialist heart failure nurses, an educator, phlebotomists as well as administrative support.

We provide assessments for Gloucestershire residents who have suspected heart failure. The investigation for this is called an Echocardiogram. If, following an Echocardiogram, a diagnosis of heart failure is confirmed, patients will be reviewed by a GP with Special Interest (GPwSI) in heart failure and a heart failure specialist nurse, who, with the patient, will agree a treatment and management plan.

We promote education through information sessions, empowering patients to manage this long-term condition. We also manage patients who have had a recent admission, receiving referrals from the hospital and provide ongoing care  to support you at home.

Patients are referred into our service by their GP and the team also accepts self-referrals from patients who have been discharged from the service within the previous 12 months. Please consult with your GP if you wish to access the service.

Contact us

Patient and carer helpline
9am-4.30pm, Monday to Friday
0300 421 7084

Meet the team
Frequently asked questions
David's heart journey
25in25 campaign
Useful links & info

Meet the Community Heart Failure Service team

Heart Failure Specialist Nurse Lead

  • Clare Davis

Lead Clinical Heart Failure Specialist Nurse

  • Chrissie Horak

Heart Failure Specialist Nurses

  • Sophie Mutimer
  • Kate Boyd
  • Jodie Smethers
  • Stephanie Jones
  • Rehema Kitally
  • Rachel Lappin
  • Lucy Leamon
  • Kirsty Cole
  • Kerry Murphy
  • Helen Beaton
  • Corynne Sugar
  • Charlotte Bodman

Heart Failure Educator

  • Jess Ko

Administrators

  • Laura Cooper
  • Elaine Orpin
  • Julie Halligan

 

In this short film, Community Heart Failure Specialist Nurse Jodie talks about the Heart Failure Service and how it supports people living with heart failure.

Frequently asked questions

What is heart failure?

The term ‘heart failure’ is when the heart muscle is unable to pump as efficiently as it should. This can cause symptoms of breathlessness, fatigue and congestion.

How common is heart failure?

Heart failure is very common and, although not curable, there are many effective treatments such as medications and pacemakers that are available to improve symptoms, improve quality of life and help people live longer.

How is heart failure diagnosed?

Your GP will request a blood test, ECG, chest x-ray and you will then be referred to the service.

You will then have an Echocardiogram or ‘echo’ an ultrasound scan of your heart to assess your heart function.

What is an echocardiogram?

An echocardiogram or ‘echo’ is an ultrasound scan of your heart.  The machine will be able to show us pictures of your heart and how well it is pumping.

David’s heart journey

Believing he had a chest infection following a bout of flu, David discovered his condition was actually a lot more serious. He had an aortic aneurysm, enlarged heart and a previously undiagnosed congenital heart defect known as a bicuspid valve.

David underwent surgery to replace his aortic valve but, due to complications, ended up having a double heart bypass.

In this short film he talks about his heart journey, the amazing life-saving surgery he received from the specialist heart team and fantastic aftercare treatment he has received from the Heart Failure Service to aid him on the road to recovery.

#25in25 campaign

In the UK, 200,000 people are diagnosed with heart failure every year. Heart failure is a misunderstood and misdiagnosed condition. As malignant as some of the most common cancers, it should be treated with the same urgency. Yet, the condition, the term, does not reside in the public consciousness with anything like the same threat.

With the widespread impact of the Covid-19 pandemic, this issue has become more pressing than ever, with at least 23,000 missed cases of heart failure in the last year that we know about.

The British Society for Heart Failure wishes to address this lack of awareness in its quest to make heart failure a national priority. We need an early warning system whereby people recognise the symptoms that come to form heart failure, prompting early diagnosis and access to specialist care for those that need it.

The BSH #25in25 initiative aims to reduce the mortality from heart failure in the first year after diagnosis by 25% in the next 25 years.

Heart failure is treatable. Recognising the symptoms early could save 10,000 other lives a year.

  • Fighting for breath
  • Fatigued
  • Fluid retention

If you have these symptoms see your GP and ask if it could be heart failure.

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