Heart failure: role of the healthcare assistant in treatment and management

The number of people with heart failure is rising in line with an ageing population. There are now around 1 million people living with heart failure in the UK. People with heart failure have higher mortality rates than those with certain cancers such as prostate, bladder and breast cancer. This article outlines how the healthcare assistant can help to identify heart failure in people and promote healthy habits that can treat the condition. It will also discuss the healthcare assistant's role in identifying the adverse effects of medication and working with the patient and healthcare team to ensure heart failure is treated effectively.