Patient and Public Involvement (PPI) is high on the Government's NHS agenda. Its goal is to create a health and social care service which is patient focused, with the role of patient representatives becoming ever more important in influencing NHS policy.

The BHF Hearty Voices programme gives heart patients and carers the skills and confidence they need to influence and improve cardiac health services across the UK. The scheme aims to develop a nationwide network of representatives to speak out on behalf of heart patients and carers by providing them with training and support.

The scheme is going from strength to strength, and by the end of March 2008, over 700 people were on the Hearty Voices register. The scheme has expanded into Northern Ireland, working with the Northern Ireland Cardiac Network, and Hearty Voices Scotland is building a great partnership with Chest, Heart and Stroke Scotland. Members are also getting involved with our vital cardiac rehabilitation campaign, raising their voices together to ensure that this life-saving treatment becomes available to every heart patient who needs it.

To find out how you can help give heart patients a voice for change, please go to bhf.org.uk/heartyvoices