An innovative new service has been funded by the British Heart Foundation (BHF) which will give heart failure patients individually-tailored care. The first BHF Heart Failure Pharmacist was appointed in Northampton recently to give bespoke prescriptions and advice to heart patients with complex medical needs.
The pilot project, which is funded by the BHF and will run for three years, was recently launched in England. Russell Parsons has been appointed to the role and is primarily based at Northampton General Hospital NHS Trust but will also provide an outreach service to patients in the local community. He will be working in partnership with a newly appointed BHF Heart Failure Nurse, Dorothy Vass.
Parsons said: “By attending ward rounds and speaking to patients in the community, I will be able to ensure patients are prescribed the most appropriate medication at the right levels for their individual needs.”
Jill Cowley, BHF Nurse Project Manager, said: “This innovative and exciting new role really is much needed. Together, the BHF Heart Failure Pharmacist and Nurse will offer expert advice to patients, their families and carers, which could lead to a reduction in unnecessary hospital admissions but most importantly, a better quality of life for patients.“
