Today I received a text from my GP Surgery asking me to book an annual heart failure review with a pharmacist. In the 6 years since my HA and HF diagnosis this has always been done by a doctor. Does anyone have any experience of this? I feel well. I take my medication, do my exercise and am careful with my diet. Do they do a blood test? I used to have a blood test prior to my GP review. Feel a bit put out about this but am I just being daft?
Pharmacist Heart Failure Review - British Heart Fou...
Pharmacist Heart Failure Review
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Corriefan33
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Hello 
It is becoming more familiar that when it comes to reviews you can be seen by the pharmacist
Most of the time when you are they want to know about how you are getting on with your medications
If they feel any concern I think they will then suggest you make an appointment with your Doctor
I can understand why you feel put out but I would accept this appointment you can tell the pharmacist how you feel when you are used to seeing a Doctor I am sure they will explain the reason behind it and hopefully that will make you feel better
Let us know how you get on x
Thanks BeKind28, I guess it’s just getting used to changes in the way things are done. I was aware pharmacist’s are doing a wider range of things but I wasn’t aware they were doing HF reviews. I have booked a telephone consultation as requested for late Sept and will certainly let you know how I get on. Thanks for your reply. Hope you are doing okay 🙂x
Hello
Yes they have changed so much in how they do things or who they pass you onto and I think personally HF patients should still be reviewed by their Doctor but see how it goes and if you are not happy you can book an appointment with your Doctor
Look forward to hearing how you get on x
Thanks so much 🙂 will keep you posted.
x
Since my dianogsis of reduced HF nearly 5 year's ago not seen a doctor once in that time, my reviews at the GP's is undertaken by Practice nurses and blood tests by trained health care assistants along with Echo's/ICD checks at Hospital. Not encountered any problems and happy with the current arrangements.
Thank you for your reply. Good to know you are being well cared for 👍
I am happy to see anyone who can do the same checks and investigations adequately. GPs are very protective of their work and skills, and I trust them to ensure only the staff they delegate to are competent (in those procedures).
My husband has just been told he has to wait 58 weeks before getting a first Cardiologist appt. If delegation of discrete technical bits of cardiac work frees a Dr up for the more tricky jobs that need their full training and experience, then I’m all for it.
Hi Corriefan33, I can also understand why you feel a bit put out. Ihad an Nstemi heart attack and quadruple bypass July 2023. In this last year I’ve seen my GP and a couple of tests (xray, scans on heart and EKG & ECG) , not seen the consultant I was transferred to locally , they didn’t even go through with the telephone consultation I was told (in writing) that I would have (probably based on the test results). My pharmacist I consider an absolute ally. She calls me to follow up to see if I have any issues if my meds have been changed and has helped me get a GP appointment after one call “I’m writing to the surgery as we speak to get you an appointment, don’t worry , they will listen to me or there will be trouble “ made me feel very supported. I hope your appointment goes well.
Thank you for taking time to reply. Your pharmacist sounds amazing! I’m so pleased you are getting good support.
Are they perhaps talking about a pharmacist within the gp practice rather than at a pharmacy . I have had a telephone consultation regarding my heart meds with the pharmacist at my gp surgery.
They didn’t give me any information in the text about where this pharmacist is located so I’ll have to wait and see. Thank you for replying. I’m sure it will be ok.
Don't worry it's quite normal they are just doing a medication review to check that your are OK with them. Many practitioners now have a prescribing nurse who is a pharmacist too , it eases the workload on the Dr's. If you have concerns raise with them and they will help. In my experience the prescribing nurse knows more about the medication than the Dr....
Thank you for your very reassuring reply.
You're very welcome...have a good weekend..
My review is done by the practice nurse (not a specialist) with bloods taken a week before.
I was seen by a pharmacist and I felt he knew more about my medication than my Doctor.
I too had a review with the surgery pharmacist back in February, 4 years post MI, 7 stents with a bit of permanent damage. I have had very little attention since my episode, not helped by having it just as the pandemic kicked off. She suggested I drop Lanzaprazole, a stomach protector. This I did & gradually had increased stomach acid. This reached a situation one night, while out in Spain working where I thought my second event was happening. It wasn't & on returning home got an appointment with the GP who was horrified the pharmacist had removed the Lanzaprazole from my prescription, she said anyone on Aspirin should be on a stomach protector. So I will be declining any further reviews with the practice pharmacist
My husband who has HF just had a pharmacist review and it was on the phone. However he is also getting some blood tests done and then a follow up with the practice nurse. So my advice would be don't forget to ask for your annual blood test.
Just had my annual review two days ago. I had a triple bypass six years ago. My review was done by a pharmacist this time.It's good in a way because those guys really know about our prescribed drugs. However l wanted to discuss a couple of other side issues but I've now got to book another appointment to see a GP.
Many GPs now have specially trained nurses to do check ups. Nothing to worry about. They are probably better informed than GPs.
I had a heart attack in April, one stent. Am on ALL the meds. I did rehab exercise 2 months at the hospital, and on leaving I asked if I would be having any kind of checkup at any stage and they said no, no check up ever, unless I felt ill. I am in Dorset, I guess you are somewhere else in the country with a different policy?
