Daily checks patient to complete at home
  • Daily weight recording Wake Wee Weigh Write
  • Eating a well-balanced heart healthy diet, low in salt but avoid salt substitutes.
  • Take prescribed medication as instructed daily.
  • Monitor your feet, ankles, legs and stomach for any swelling.
  • Don’t drink more than 1-2 units of alcohol daily and if you smoke – STOP!
  • Take regular daily activity suitable for your level of fitness and rest as required.
Green – Your condition is stable:
  • Your weight is stable.
  • Your appetite remains the same.
  • You have no new or increased swelling of your feet, ankles, legs or stomach.
  • Your breathing pattern is the same as it normally is.
  • You have no chest pain.
Amber – Contact your heart failure nurse or GP if:
  • Your weight has sufficiently increased within the last few days (2-3lbs overnight or more than 5lbs in a week).
  • You have lost your appetite, are unwell or not eating or drinking as normal.
  • Your feet, ankles, legs or stomach are more swollen than usual.
  • You feel more breathless or are coughing more than usual.
  • Your breathing is causing you to have a restless sleep or you need extra pillows to prop yourself up in bed in order to help you breathe more easily.
  • You are feeling, or have felt recently palpitations or flutters in your chest.
  • You have found you are using your GTN spray more frequently to relieve angina.
  • You feel more tired than usual and are sleeping a lot more.
Red – Seek help Call 999 and ask for an ambulance:
  • You have ongoing pains or tightness in your chest, which may spread into your arms, back or jaw for more than 15 minutes despite using your GTN spray.
  • The pain is also making you feel sick, clammy, sweaty or breathless.
  • You are finding it hard to breathe even when you are sitting down.
  • You feel very unwell, you are confused and things are not clear or making sense.

Please contact the Community Heart Failure nurse team on 016973 66637

If you are admitted to hospital please inform your heart failure nurse

Confidentiality

‘The Trust’s vision is to keep your information safe in our hands.’ We promise to use your information fairly and legally, and in-line with local and national policies. You have a right to understand how your information is used and you can request a copy of the information we hold about you at any time.

For further information on confidentiality contact the Information Governance Team:

Information.Governance@ncic.nhs.uk | 01228 603961

Feedback

We appreciate and encourage feedback, which helps us to improve our services. If you have any comments, compliments or concerns to make about your care, please contact the Patient, Advice & Liaison Service:

pals@ncic.nhs.uk | 01228 814008 or 01946 523818

If you would like to raise a complaint regarding your care, please contact the Complaints Department:

complaints@ncic.nhs.uk | 01228 936302