Heart Failure – Integrated Community Service

What we do

We work together with Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust to provide specialist heart failure services in Southwark and Lambeth community clinics. We aim to treat your condition closer to home, help you understand and manage your symptoms, and support you with lifestyle changes. To do this we:

• regularly review your prescriptions, to ensure you are on appropriate medications based on the most up-to-date evidence.
• provide educational materials for people with heart failure and their families or carers, to enable them to manage symptoms.
• work with your GP and other health professionals involved in your care.
• work with psychologists, psychiatrists and social care professionals to provide psychological or social support where needed.

You can be referred to us following a hospital admission, by your GP, or through a hospital outpatient appointment. You will be seen in a community clinic, or at home if you are unable to come to a clinic. King’s also provides hospital-based heart failure services.

Preparing for your appointment

To cancel or change your appointment, call 020 3049 4652.

Please bring to your appointment:

• any medications you are taking
• any recent information you may have been given by your doctors or health care professionals.

During your appointment

Your first appointment will usually last an hour. Follow-up appointments usually last 30 minutes. At your appointment, you can expect:

• a clinical examination and/or assessment
• a review of the medicines you are currently taking
• advice and support regarding your lifestyle.

We are a teaching hospital, which means our students get practical experience by treating patients. Please tell your nurse or doctor if you do not want students to be involved in your care. Your treatment will not be affected by your decision.

After your appointment

A letter will be sent to you and your GP. It will include a heart failure management plan and details of any follow-up appointments. If you have any concerns, please contact any member of the heart failure team or your GP.

Locations

Lambeth Community Clinics

• Akerman Health Centre, Patmos Road, Brixton, SW9 6AF
• Gracefield Gardens Health Centre, 2-8 Gracefield Gardens, Streatham, SW16 2ST
• Lambeth Community Care Centre, Monkton St, Kennington, SE11 4TX
• Whittington Centre, 11-13 Rutford Road,Streatham, SW16 2DQ

Southwark Community Clinics

• Artesian Health Centre, 137-138 Grange Road, Bermondsey SE1 3GF
• Lister Health Centre, 101 Peckham Road, Peckham SE15 5LJ

Contact Details

• Community team coordinator: 020 3049 4652