Faster treatment for heart failure

Patients with heart failure can now access early treatment and avoid hospital admission following the introduction of a new Rapid Access Heart Failure Service at The Prince Charles Hospital (TPCH).

Patients with a diagnosis of heart failure can be referred directly to the service, enabling early clinical intervention and prevention of more serious complications.

Nurse Practitioner Cameron Greenland said that patients with heart failure typically present to an emergency department or their GP when their condition starts to deteriorate.

“Heart failure can cause a build-up of fluid around the body as the heart cannot pump blood effectively. Overtime, fluid build-up can cause breathlessness, fatigue, tummy bloating and swollen legs,” he said.

“That’s why access to expert review and timely treatment and is critical for patients with heart failure.”

Through the heart failure rapid access clinic, patients receive specialist review by a nurse practitioner who assesses the patient’s condition, orders tests, and prescribes and administers medications to stabilise their condition. Some patients may need more than one visit to the clinic, and then high priority follow up by the patient’s usual heart failure service in order to avoid hospitalisation.

Patient Elise Ibrahim, 61, was diagnosed with heart failure in 2021. As a full-time carer for her husband Louie who suffers Alzheimer’s Disease, Elise said that being able to contact the clinic directly for treatment is invaluable.

“With heart failure, I can feel when I’m getting fluid build-up in my lungs and know when I need to contact the team for help. I get very breathless and often have pain in my chest and other parts of my body,” she said.

“The clinic means I can get the treatment I need within a day or two of ringing up, rather than going to the emergency department which would mean a two or three day hospital admission.

“I can just come in and see the team who will give me the necessary medications to reduce my fluid levels. It only takes a few hours, my husband can come with me, and then I can go straight home which is excellent.

“For me, the best part is that I don’t have to worry about who will take care of Louie. It gives me a real peace of mind to know I can get the help I need almost immediately without having to stay in hospital. It’s been a life changer.”

TPCH Rapid Access Heart Failure Service is one of four rapid access heart failure clinics across Metro North. Patients with known heart failure can access the service by contacting their heart failure nursing service or via referral from their GP or hospital heart specialist.