Palliative care heart failure nurses

Palliative care heart failure nurses provide supportive and palliative care services to patients with advanced heart failure.

Palliative care means preventing and relieving suffering, and improving the quality of life for patients facing the problems associated with advanced illness, and their families.

This is done by quickly identifying, assessing and treating pain and other problems, whether they are physical, psychosocial or spiritual. It also includes organising appropriate clinical and social support services.

Torbay palliative care heart failure nurse Maisie accepted an award on behalf of winner Tim Chester. She says her patient's bravery is a constant source of inspiration. Watch the video

A carer’s testimony

“I can't begin to express to the difference my husband's BHF heart failure nurse made to our lives in the last year. I think without her we probably would not have coped and we would not have had the quality of life we did achieve, very poorly though he was at the end.

"She gave us huge support and comfort all the way through and her visits to us were always a joy. My husband was so fond of her and it all gave me great confidence. She was always so approachable and contactable.

“When the time came to introduce the palliative care team, our BHF nurse did it with great sensitivity - without her and the lovely community nurses, I am sure my husband would have needed a hospital bed or residential care.

"That we achieved his remaining at home is a great comfort to me at the moment as I go through the dark tunnel of bereavement.”