Four NHS centres across the United Kingdom will offer a new home-based rehabilitation programme with the goal of improving the quality of life of patients with heart failure.
The 4 'beacon' sites, namely University College Hospitals London NHS Foundation Trust, Belfast Health and Social Care Trust, Gloucestershire Care Services and Wirral Community NHS Foundation Trust are soon set to unveil the 'Rehabilitation Enablement in Chronic Heart Failure' (REACH-HF) programme to patients.
REACH-HF has been jointly designed by clinicians, academics, patients and caregivers. It aims to increase the participation of patients in rehabilitation interventions in the comfort of their own homes. Some of the key components of the programme include a chair-based exercise programme, a manual with advice on lifestyle and medication, and relaxation techniques to cope with the physical and psychological effects of heart failure.
Professor Patrick Doherty from the University of York said: "The success of this home-based programme now means that clinicians will be able to offer an out of hospital programme that is proven to benefit patients."
