Table 3

Mechanisms by which the community wide guidelines for the management of patients with heart failure were developed locally

*The fast track service was piloted in the participating practices before being extended as a service to all referring general practitioners.

  • Initial educational grant from Camden and Islington Health Authority

  • Nine local general practitioners involved

  • Three consecutive intensive sessions

    • education component

    • end point a seven page document and algorithm

    • fast track referral format for pilot practices for patients with heart failure*

  • Guidelines endorsed by multidisciplinary health authority reference group, local hospital trusts: available from the MAAG coronary artery disease resource pack

  • URL: www.chd.org.uk