 | Heart failure top tips for GPs - set of four postcards: |
 | National projects: Making a difference for your heart failure patients
In March 2010, NHS Improvement invited organisations to work in partnership on projects dedicated to improving the heart failure pathway, up to and including end of life projects. Projects were submitted from acute trusts, PCTs and cardiac and stroke networks and some with involvement of palliative care services. This publication provides a flavour of the work that was undertaken, and celebrates the project teams' hard work and achievement.
(Published September 2011) For more information, please visit: NHS Improvement heart failure web resource. |
 | A guide for review and improvement of hospital based heart failure services
The information in this document has been put together by NHS Improvement, to help hospital teams to review their heart failure (HF) service.
(Published June 2011) |
 | Anticoagulation for Atrial Fibrilation - a simple overview to support the commissioning of quality services
NHS Improvement has developed a simple guide to support the commissioning of quality anticoagulation services. It sets out to help commissioners develop quality anticoagulation services by emphasising evidence based practice and measurable outcomes.
(Published April 2011) |
 | National roll-out of Primary PCI for patients with ST segment elevation myocardial infarction
The Department of Health estimated that it was feasible for PPCI to be rolled out to at least 95% of the population over three about years, but implementation would be for local determination. NHS Improvement was available to support, guide and coordinate the the implementation of PPCI across the 28 Cardiac and Stroke Networks in England. The purpose of this interim report is to document the progress that has been made after 18 months.
(Published October 2010). |
 | End of life care in heart failure - A framework for implementation
This joint publication with the End of Life Care Team, highlights how an end of life care service can best accommodate the specific needs of heart failure patients. The framework takes each step of the end of life pathway and suggests the heart failure specific care that a patient and their carers need and how it can be delivered in the community, the hospice environment or in secondary care.
(Published June 2010). |
 | A Guide to Commissioning Cardiac Surgical Services
Eight NHS Trusts supported by their local cardiac networks were involved as demonstration sites in the Cardiac Surgery National Priority Project. It includes practical examples of where local teams have delivered innovation in their service to improve the efficiency and experience for patients and staff ie how to reduce length of stay; ensuring patients are fit for surgery and reducing delays and discharge planning.
(Published March 2010). |
 | What should I expect from cardiac rehabilitation? – A guide for heart patients in England
The British Heart Foundation (BHF) and NHS Improvement have developed a guide to help patients and their families and carers understand what may be expected from involvement in a cardiac rehabilitation programme. Hard copies of this publication can be obtained from the BHF orderline, Tel: 0870 600 6566 or email orderline@bhf.org.uk - please quote ref G517 |
 | Transforming cardiac rehabilitation: celebrating achievements and sharing the learning from the national projects
Drawing on the experience of the national Priority Projects for Cardiac Rehabilitation (CR) in 2009/10, this second and final publication outlines the next steps in transforming cardiac rehabilitation in England in terms of the Commissioning Pack for Cardiac Rehabilitation and the next round of National Projects aimed at testing the utility of the Pack in real life settings.
View the full transcripts of the interviews with site leads. |
 | Continuing to Improve Cardiac Services - National Project Summaries 2009/10
This document details the areas that the Heart Improvement Programme has been working on during 2009/10, briefly describing the various ideas that have been tested by commissioners and providers across England |
 | Cardiac Rehabilitation - National Priority Projects: Lessons and learning one year on...
Cardiac rehabilitation (CR) is a national priority project of NHS Improvement focusing on increasing the access to, equity of provision and uptake of CR services for heart attack, angioplasty and CABG patients. The project summaries include issues to be addressed, baseline position, actions taken, key learning, QIPP outcomes and results to date from the 11 projects participating in this work.
(Published October 2009). |
 | Atrial fibrillation in primary care: making an impact on stroke prevention National priority project final summaries.
The document aims to capture the final summary of their individual approach, lessons learned, improvements to practice and quality outcomes, also sharing tools and resources developed to enable other health communities to drive this agenda forward.
(Published October 2009). |
 | A Guide to Implementing Primary Angioplasty - Since the publication of new national good practice guiadance on treatment of heart attack. NHS Improvement looked at the major issues and obstacles to implementing primary percutaneous coronary angioplasty (PPCI) services across England and all the learning has now been pulled together in a useful implementation guide. The guide provides a brief overview of current provision of primary PCI, a discussion of the issues and some useful suggestions to assist in the planning and commissiong of primary PCI services.
(Published June 2009). |
 | Commissioning for Stroke Prevention in Primary Care: the role of Atrial Fibrillation - Developed following a national consensus meeting of opinion leaders in the field, this document is to develop a concerted strategy towards the management of AF in primary care, in particular anticoagulant management and its significance in relation to reduction in the risk of stroke.This document considers the evidence that a review of AF management in primary care is needed to develop more systematic strategies for the identification, diagnosis and optimal treatment of patients with AF to reduce the risk of stroke. It is aimed at cardiac and stroke networks, PCTs, commissioners, medical directors, cardiac and stroke leads, public health colleagues, GPs.
(Published June 2009). |
 | Heart Failure - A quick guide to quality commissioning across the whole pathway of care.
This practical guide sets out to help commissioners develop integrated heart failure services by highlighting evidence-based practice and measurable outcomes. It draws on the NICE Commissioning Guidelines (Feb 2008), Our NHS Our Future (specifically long term conditions, urgent care and end of life).
(Published September 2008). |
 | Making Best Use of Inpatient Beds Project - National Priority Projects 07/08 Summary Document
This summary document include descriptions, supporting information and key learning from the project. Details of each project site are available in the summary document, and are linked to the priority project online resource – an interactive tool that shares the learning across all project areas (Published June 2008). |
 | Atrial Fibrillation in Primary Care Project - National Priority Projects 07/08 Summary Document
This summary document includes descriptions, supporting information and key learning from the project. Details of each project site are available in the summary document, and are linked to the priority project online resource – an interactive tool that shares the learning across all project areas
(Published June 2008). |
 | 18 Weeks Whole Pathways Project - National Priority Projects 07/08 Summary Document
This summary document include descriptions, supporting information and key learning from the project. Details of each project site are available in the summary document, and are linked to the priority project online resource – an interactive tool that shares the learning across all project areas (Published June 2008). |
 | 18 Weeks - Focus on Cardiac Diagnostics Project - National Priority Projects 07/08 Summary Document
This summary document include descriptions, supporting information and key learning from the project. Details of each project site are available in the summary document, and are linked to the priority project online resource – an interactive tool that shares the learning across all project areas (Published June 2008). |
 | Brain-type Natriuretic Peptide (BNP) - An Information Resource for Cardiac Networks.
Produced by the NHS Heart Improvement Programme, this online document gives a brief overview of available information on Brain-type Natriuretic Peptide (BNP) testing as a ‘rule-out’ measure for echocardiogram when suspecting a diagnosis of heart failure.
(Updated July 2008). |