St Christophers: Cardiovascular Disease Programme

Between April 2023 and October 2024, St Christopher’s Hospice delivered a pioneering palliative heart failure project, funded by The Burdett Trust for Nursing, to transform care for people living with and dying from heart failure across Bromley and Croydon.  

Building on successful pilot work, the project aimed to tackle inequities in access to palliative care, improve collaboration between cardiac and palliative teams and ensure people receive compassionate, coordinated support tailored to their needs. 

Over 18 months, the integrated heart failure service supported 246 patients and their families, half from each borough, many of whom had previously struggled to access specialist help. Working sidebyside with heart failure nurses, GPs, rapid response teams and community services, the team provided expert symptom management, advance care planning and joint home visits that enabled most patients to remain in their preferred place of care. 

Innovation was at the centre of the programme. A new outpatient infusion service offered iron and diuretic treatments in a calm hospice environment, reducing hospital attendances and improving quality of life. Subcutaneous furosemide was safely administered at home, helping people avoid distressing emergency admissions. A global online Community of Practice connected more than 189 professionals to share learning, while codesign workshops with patients and carers shaped future service improvements. 

The project has shown that integrated, compassionate care can reduce hospital use, increase patient choice and dignity, and significantly improve outcomes for people with heart failure. Its legacy includes strengthened partnerships, new clinical pathways, and a model of care now recognised nationally for its innovation and impact.