Bromley and Croydon Palliative Heart Failure service at St Christopher’s

Support for symptoms including breathlessness, fatigue, and fluid build-up. A full holistic assessment will be carried out, and referrals on to other services including rehab where appropriate
Support for psychological wellbeing- an assessment will be carried out and linking with other services including emotional support, complimentary therapies, spiritual support, carer assessment and support
Welfare support
Assessment for equipment and care
Advance care planning and creation of Universal Care Plan
Assessment for and guidance around use of sub-cutaneous furosemide to aid hospital avoidance
Coordination of care and close working alongside GP’s / DN’s and cardiology/ heart failure services to optimise treatment.
Support and coordination around deactivation of internal defibrillators as appropriate

Patients who are registered with either a Bromley or Croydon GP- including those in nursing homes:

Confirm that the patient meets at least one of the following referral criteria- if unsure please call to discuss:

Symptomatic (e.g. breathless at rest or minimal exertion) despite optimal treatment (NYHA III or IV)
Heart failure patients when hospital admission may not be the best/ only/ preferred option, or for whom palliative care (Hospice, hospital inpatient or community care) may be of benefit, either immediately or in the future
Optimal therapy but continuing or deteriorating physical and/or psychological symptoms. Where only psychological issues are present consider referral to clinical psychology
Patient has advanced heart failure and their family or carer(s) would benefit from support, either immediately or in the future (including bereavement)
The patient has had two or more previous admissions for heart failure within the last 6 months.

GP referrals

For routine referrals to the palliative heart failure service please use the standard pan london form clearly highlighting it is for this service

For urgent referrals please mark it as urgent and it will be triaged by our spoc team accordingly.

GPs in Bromley: If you are not certain about a Heart Failure diagnosis and treatment options and whether someone is suitable for palliative care input you can refer in to the monthly palliative heart failure MDM for discussion with a heart failure consultant and the palliative care team – see link above.

Heart failure team referrals

Referrals will also be taken direct from the relevant heart failure teams.

Routine referrals:

The GP sends the referral form via EMIS

The referrals team will contact the patient/carer and discuss the referral and aims of our input- highlighting any issues that need addressing

The heart failure service will book in to see the patient/ carer at home or in the hospice as an outpatient if able.

The patient will either stay under the heart failure service depending on the level of complexity or be handed over to the community team for ongoing support if appropriate.