Coronavirus: community heart failure update
In response to the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak, please read our advice and information before sending any referrals.
Clinic locations
You will be seen by the heart failure nurse specialists either in a community clinic or at home if you are unable to come to a clinic. Community clinics are held across Lambeth and Southwark to provide care close to your home.
Community clinics
Appointments
You need an appointment before attending a clinic. Your GP or hospital doctor can refer you to one of our clinics.
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What should you do if you haven’t received an appointment yet?
Contact the heart failure administrator on 020 3049 4652.
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Cancelling or changing your appointment
If you need to cancel or change your appointment with your heart failure nurse, please call our community heart failure on 020 3049 4652.
Alternatively you can contact your nurse directly.
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Before your appointment
Please bring with you:
- any medications you are taking
- any recent information you may have been given by your doctors or health care professionals.
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What to expect at your appointment
Your first appointment will usually last an hour. Follow-up appointments usually last 30 minutes.
At your appointment, you can expect to have the following:
- clinical examination and/or assessment
- a review of the medicines you are currently taking, including discussions about starting new medicines, or changing the doses of your existing medicines
- advice and support regarding your lifestyle.
As this is a teaching hospital, students supervised by qualified staff might be involved in your care. It is valuable training for students and does not affect the quality of your treatment in any way, but please tell us if you do not want them to be present or involved. We will always respect your wishes.
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After your appointment
A letter will be sent to you and your GP. It will include a heart failure management plan and details of any follow-up appointments you may need to attend.
If you have any concerns, please contact any member of the heart failure team or your GP.
We may ask you if you would like to take part in research or surveys to help us improve the service. This is entirely your choice and will not affect your care if you choose not to take part.
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Research studies and service improvement
We may ask you if you would like to take part in research or surveys to help us improve the service. This is entirely your choice and will not affect your care if you choose not to take part.