Project Name: Service improvement for the detection and treatment of Heart Failure (“HF”) in secondary care

Project Summary:

The aim of the proposed JWP is to improve identification, monitoring, management and treatment of HF patients in secondary care via:

  • the extension of the current hospital based specialist HF service through the deployment of an “in-reach” nurse
  • with the purpose of identifying and triaging HF patients (both at acute medical receiving units and non Cardiology
  • departments) so they can be appropriately referred and receive specialist HF input;
  • the utilisation of a bespoke HF patient database (the “Database”):the Database will facilitate the identification of
  • new HF patients and the management of existing HF patients in secondary care;
  • the implementation of a Multi-Disciplinary Team (“MDT”); and
  • the increase of capacity of the current out-patient HF Specialist Clinic.

The activity of the ‘in-reach’ nurse, the proactive review of the Database by HF specialist nurses (the “HFSN”) and scrutiny by the MDT of the most complex cases will promote timely and appropriate follow-up care, which may include attendance at additional outpatient HF Specialist Clinic, based in secondary care.

Planned Milestones:

Milestone 1 (i)Agreement on design and content of Database
Milestone 1 (ii)Development of Database
Milestone 1 (iii)Deployment of Database and training of Trust staff
Milestone 2

The Trust shall procure the services of:

  • 2 x specialist HF nurses – (MDT and HF Specialist Clinics)
  • 1 x band 6 HF Nurse (in-reach nurse)
  • Lead HF Consultant (MDT , support to clinical operations as required, project management)

On-boarding and familiarisation of personnel

Complete collection of baseline comparator data for the project outcomes

Milestone 3Development of strategies/protocols and implementation procedures
Milestone 4 (i)Clinical operations commenced and ongoing according to the developed protocols
Milestone 4 (ii)Continue clinical operations according to the developed protocols
Milestone 4 (iii)Complete final 6 months of clinical operations according to the developed protocols
Milestone 4 (iv)

Complete final 18 months of clinical operations according to the developed protocols

Analyse data and prepare business case

Milestone 5Novartis to provide funding for one year continued use of database commencing 
Aug-2022 to Aug-2023 Trust to contract with third party directly, as before.
Milestone 6Submission of business case
Milestone 7Submission of JWP Report

 

Expected Benefits:

Patients:

  • improved access to optimal diagnosis and treatment;
  • more equitable and consistent care and access to care;
  • enhanced experience for patients who live with HF and their carers.

Trust:

  • increase the overall quality of care and improve equity of access to specialist care for patients with HF;
  • improve patient flow and reduce total number of unplanned admissions due to HF;
  • increase proportion of patients with HF being managed in accordance with NICE guideline standards;
  • insight into benefits of an enhanced HF service which may inform ongoing redesign and workforce planning.

Novartis:

  • further opportunities for the appropriate use of cardiology licensed medicines in line with NICE guidelines, including Novartis’s medicine;
  • improved professional and transparent relationship and trust between Novartis and the NHS.

Start Date & Duration: October 2019, 47 months

UK2306123691
UK | July 2023 | 655325