Our specialist nurses assess Wiltshire residents who are newly diagnosed, require treatment, or have had a recent admission to hospital because of heart failure.

Supported by Cardiac Physiologists, we can also carry out diagnostic tests used to assess a patient’s heart function.

We are unable to accept self-referrals. Please contact your GP if you wish to access the service.

How to access the service

Your GP may refer you to our Diagnostic Service if they suspect you may have heart failure.

If you have a confirmed diagnosis of Heart Failure and need support, your GP can refer directly to our community heart failure team.

You may also be referred because of a recent admission to hospital as a result of your heart failure.

Once we receive your referral, we will assess how quickly we will need to see you. Our heart failure team will contact you to make an appointment at one of our clinics in Wiltshire. If we are unable to contact you by telephone to schedule an appointment, a letter will be sent to you in the post.

Please let us know before your appointment if you need an interpreter. You may wish to bring a relative or friend who is able to translate. Alternatively, the heart failure team will try to arrange a phone-based interpreter service.

We are unable to provide transport to appointments. Wiltshire Link is a local voluntary service who may be able to help you get to your appointment. Please follow this link to view their website.

How to contact the team

Telephone 01249 456605

Our phones are covered Monday to Friday, 08:30 – 16:30. If there is no answer, please leave us a message and we will aim to call you back within 48 hours.

Remember, if at any time you consider your condition to be life-threatening, please dial 999 immediately.

If you would like to provide feedback on the service you have received, you can do this anonymously by clicking clicking here to the Friends and Family Test survey

Heart failure and me

The term ‘heart failure’ is used to describe a set of conditions that prevent the heart from pumping blood around the body as well as it should.

Learning about heart failure and getting involved in making decisions about your treatment will help you feel more in control and may help to relieve anxiety.

Our team are on hand to support you and will provide you and your healthcare team, with a management plan to ensure your care is tailored to your needs and what matters to you most.

At your appointment the nurse will discuss with you how you are feeling. Blood pressure, weight and other observations may be taken. The nurse may prescribe or adjust your medication.

Whilst receiving care from the service, patients may be offered equipment or technology to remotely monitor their condition or, to assist with self-management.

How to be healthy