BHF Nurses
Introduction
In 1996, after a gap in the care of heart patients was identified, the BHF began funding heart nurses who are trained to provide the specialist help and support that heart patients need.
Action
We currently fund or support 180 British Heart Foundation Nurses who were able to help around 50,000 patients throughout the UK last year. Last October we received a grant from the Big Lottery Fund to fund 76 more nurses. But there are still many other patients of all ages who need help, as at least 2.6 million people are living with coronary heart disease, angina and heart failure.
Impact
The nurses have a really positive impact on patients' health and quality of life. As one patient put it,
"the support we receive from BHF Nurses has been superb. They are always there at the end of the phone for advice and support and the regular visits to our home are most helpful and comforting."
The Real Valentine Appeal enabled us to create 26 additional BHF heart nurse posts, which will benefit thousands of patients a year.
Next steps
This year and next we will continue to extend our network of heart nurses, giving them specialist training to help them build on their skills and professional development.
Some of our BHF heart failure nurses are now working with cardiologists and GPs in doctors' surgeries, and tackling heart problems at an earlier stage. There they can offer patients treatment and lifestyle advice to keep them well, and out of hospital.
We also aim to fund nurses for different groups of heart patients, such as young people who are growing up with congenital heart problems.
The first BHF Heart Nurses to be established through our initial funding are now funded by their local health trust instead of the BHF. We hope to encourage many more of our nurse posts to be adopted in this way, so that we can identify other areas of need and fill the gaps.