Editor,—To complement the editorial by McMurray and Stewart,1 I present the results of a recent study from the Netherlands in which we randomised 179 patients (mean age 73 years), hospitalised with heart failure to intervention by a specially appointed nurse or to usual care. The intervention was intensive, systematised, and planned education by a study nurse about the consequences of heart failure in daily life, using a standard nursing care plan. During hospital stay, the study nurse assessed patients’ needs, provided education and support to patients (and family), gave patients a card with warning symptoms, and discussed discharge. Within one week after discharge the study nurse telephoned patients to assess potential …