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Heart Failure Support Service
- Introduction
- Objectives
- Service model
- Quality, awards and recognition
- How to become a volunteer
- HFSS local details
- Latest news
Introduction
The Heart Failure Support Service (HFSS) is a partnership between Chest Heart & Stroke Scotland and NHS Boards.
- It provides social support to people, living in their local communities, who have become isolated as a result of living with heart failure.
- Heart failure is a debilitating long–term condition which can seriously affect quality of life. Over 100,000 people live with heart failure in Scotland today, many of whom regularly experience breathlessness, fatigue and painful leg and ankle swelling. These lead to reduced mobility which, in turn, can contribute to social isolation and loneliness.
- People living with heart failure are also three times more likely to experience symptoms of depression and anxiety, which can also play a part in becoming isolated.
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Objectives
The main objectives of the HFSS are to:
- Reduce the social isolation of clients through providing companionship and information about services and activities in their local communities.
- Increase the potential for clients' participation in new activities or activities which they had enjoyed prior to developing heart failure.
- Improve the quality of life of clients through helping to raise self–confidence and enjoyment.
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Service model
There are three components to the HFSS model: Volunteer Befriending, Heart Failure Forum Meetings and the Heart Failure Newsletter. These are aimed at providing support to people living with Heart Failure in a range of different ways.
- Volunteer Befriending: trained volunteers are matched on a one–to–one basis with isolated clients. Volunteers visits clients in their own homes on a weekly or fortnightly basis and accompany them on trips out of the home where appropriate. To apply to become a volunteer, see 'How to Become a Volunteer'.
- Heart Failure Forum Meetings: in partnership with NHS Heart Failure Specialist nurses, HFSS Coordinators organise regular informal meetings in their local areas for people living with heart failure and their carers. Guest speakers are invited to talk on a wide range of subjects of interest and it is an excellent chance to meet other people living with the same condition. Refreshments and a very warm welcome are always provided! For more information contact the HFSS Coordinator in your area.
- Heart Failure Newsletter: CHSS Local Coordinators and Heart Failure Specialist Nurses in each NHS Scotland Health Board area produce a quarterly newsletter full of useful articles about Heart Failure, health tips, local events and services and contributions from people living with Heart Failure and their carers. Please contact the HFSS Lead if you would like to be added to the mailing list.
An evaluation of all aspects of our service is provided in the HFSS Annual Report (see 'Related documents').
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Quality, awards and recognition
- In May 2009 Lothian HFSS became one of the first befriending projects in Scotland to gain the Approved Provider Standard (APS) from the Mentoring and Befriending Foundation.
- HFSS in Greater Glasgow & Clyde is currently working towards the new Quality in Befriending award which has now replaced APS as the benchmark in Scotland.
- In July 2009 the HFSS was endorsed by the Scottish Government as part of the Better Heart Disease and Stroke Care Action Plan: ''NHS Boards, through their Cardiac MCNs, should work with Chest Heart & Stroke Scotland to replicate its Heart Failure Support Service initiatives across Scotland''.
- In October 2010, the HFSS was chosen to showcase its work at the launch of the first National Mentoring and Befriending Week.
- The HFSS was selected (from all befriending services in Scotland) to appear on national television in October 2010. A client and volunteer from the Lothian HFSS were invited to take part in STV's 'The Hour' to talk about the benefits of befriending.
- In November 2010 the HFSS was presented with a National Recognition Award for Befriending Services. This is the first time these awards have been made, which makes the achievement even more significant!
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How to become a volunteer
Follow these links for information on:
- How to become a heart failure volunteer with the CHSS
- Befriending in general and the benefits it can bring to the clients we work with
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HFSS local details
The HFSS currently operates in the following Health Board areas: Lothian, Lanarkshire, Greater Glasgow & Clyde, Highland and the Western Isles.
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Lothian Local Coordinator: Gemma Craigie–Sharland
Email: Gemma Craigie–Sharland
Telephone: 0131 225 6963 ext 1109 / 07918723787 - Lanarkshire
Local Coordinator:
Alison Stewart
Email: Alison Stewart
Telephone: (01236) 832843 / 07912423004 - Greater Glasgow & Clyde Local Coordinator:
Alison Stewart
Email: Alison Stewart
Telephone: (01236) 832843 / 07912423004
- Highland Local Coordinator: Anna Metzler-Murray
Email: Anna Metzler-Murray
Telephone: 07553372557 - Western Isles Local Coordinator: Sue Hill
Email: Sue Hill
Telephone: 01859530461/ 07918690648
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Latest news
- The latest newsletters are available to download (see 'Related Documents').
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