What we do
We are a small team of specialist nurses providing expert care to patients with a diagnosis of Heart failure confirmed by echocardiogram.
The team consists of four Specialist Heart failure Nurses supported by office administration staff.
The service aims to:
1. Educate newly diagnosed patients regarding their diagnosis, treatment and management and enable them to recognise worsening symptoms.
2. Provide evidence based treatments and aim to titrate and optimise these in accordance with national and local policy frameworks. All specialist nurses within the team are Non-Medical prescribers.
3. Support and empower patients to self-manage their condition and symptoms.
4. Provide Nurse led services in the form of Community based Nurse led heart failure clinics in various localities across East Lancashire and Blackburn with Darwen as per service provision agreement. The service also provides in reach to the hospital wards to accept new patient referrals and a limited domiciliary visit service for house bound patients who are unable to attend clinic.
Ongoing support and onward referral to appropriate supporting services. Provide means of contact for the patient between appointments should the need arise.
How to access the service
Referrals are made to the service via hospital wards (for inpatients admitted and treated for Heart failure), via Consultant Cardiologists (after review by the consultant or their team in OP clinic) or via GP/ANP (referred directly by the GP practice).
Ward referrals are made via the EPTS electronic whiteboard referral system.
GPs can refer patients directly through E-Referral.
Cardiologists or other Consultant referral via letter following OP clinic review.
Where to find us
We have an office base at Fusion House, Evolution Park, Haslingden Road, Blackburn.
We hold clinics in various locations including:
Burnley General Teaching Hospital
Accrington Victoria Community Hospital - will be moving to Accrington PALS (date tbc)
Barbara Castle Way Health Centre, Blackburn
Rossendale Primary Care Health Centre
Service Leads
Debbie Wilcox - Cardiology Matron
Judy Finley - Clinical Lead
Key staff
Sharon Hargreaves - Heart Failure Specialist Nurse
Lynn Greenwood - Heart Failure Specialist Nurse
Victoria Rhodes - Heart Failure Specialist Nurse
Katie McGlynn - Heart Failure Specialist Nurse
Kate Toye - Service Administrator
General enquiries
Main office - 01254 734651
Opening times
Monday to Friday 8.30am - 4.30pm
Once a patient referral is accepted, new patients will be contacted and will receive an appointment via post with relevant patient information detailing what to expect from an appointment. Future appointments will be made by the nurse during consultation and given to the patient on the day.