The service is based at Kingsgate, Wellington Road North, Stockport SK4 1LW. 

Reception for clinic appointments is on Floor 2. There is lift access, which are wheelchair accessible to all floors.

Opening Times:

Monday to Friday (excluding bank holidays)

9am – 5pm

Telephone number 0161 204 4777

Heart failure is a serious condition caused by the heart failing to pump enough blood around the body at the right pressure.

It usually occurs because the heart muscle has become too weak or stiff to work properly. If you have heart failure it does not mean that your heart is about to stop working. It means that your heart needs some support to do its job, usually in the form of medicines.

Breathlessness, feeling very tired and ankle swelling are the main symptoms of heart failure. However, all of these symptoms can have other causes, only some of which are serious. The symptoms of heart failure usually develop quickly (acute heart failure), but they can also develop gradually (chronic heart failure).

Read more about the symptoms of heart failure.

Types of heart failure

There are three main types of heart failure. They are:

• heart failure due to left ventricular systolic dysfunction (LVSD) – due to the part of the heart that pumps blood around your body (the left ventricle) becoming weak 
• heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFPEF) – usually due to the left ventricle become stiff, causing difficulty in filling with blood
• heart failure due to valve disease

It is important that the type of heart failure you have is identified because it will affect the type of treatment you will be offered.

The service is based at Kingsgate, in the centre of Stockport. The multidisciplinary specialist team consists of Consultant cardiologists with an interest in heart failure, GP with special interest in heart failure, Heart Failure Specialist Nurses and a Clinical Support Worker.  The service sees patients with proven Left Ventricular Systolic Dysfunction (LVSD) on Echocardiogram (ultrasound scan of the heart), this is referred to as heart failure. There are specific criteria and pathways for referral into the service depending on whether it is the GP or secondary care (hospital) that refer. In addition to optimising medical management for LVSD we offer education, support and advice on self management. There is also a dedicated telephone advice number for patients, carers/families and access to heart failure rehabilitation once your condition has stabilised.

Heart Failure support is given at face to face assessments following referral by your GP or Hospital consultant. You may also be referred to the service following a hospital admission by the ward or members of the team responsible for your care.

Face to Face by appointments are only offered following receipt of an appropriate referral, which is triaged and accepted by the team. If the referral criteria are NOT met you would not be offered an appointment by the service and the reasons for this would be explained to the person referring.

Please note you can not self refer.

Before your visit

Depending on how soon you are offered an appointment you may receive a telephone call and/or letter advising you of your appointment. You must bring an up to date list of your current medication, such as your repeat prescription from your GP surgery, or the packs of medication with you. Your initial appointment will last approximately 45 minutes - 1 hour.

During your visit

Your first appointment will consist of discussing with you your current symptoms and the events that have led up to the referral, and a physical assessment. You may have bloods and an ECG (heart tracing) taken. You will be given information about heart failure and the things that you can do to monitor your condition and remain as well as possible. You may be given a self management plan and/or daily weight chart. You will also be given the contact telephone number for the heart failure nurses.

After your visit

You may contact the heart failure specialist nurses via telephone at any point. There is a answer phone line and your call will be returned as soon as possible, but this may not always be the same day, so for this reason please do not leave any messages which are urgent in nature. If you are unwell and require urgent medical advice or assistance you should contact your GP or out of hours services.

Any changes to your medications as a result of your appointment with us will be sent to your GP in writing – please allow time for these changes to filter though. If you are worried about any delays regarding this you may contact us for advice.