Annual review for housebound patients with coronary heart disease

Abstract

The care of people with long-term conditions is a priority for the NHS. While there are many strategies in place in primary care to support the management of patients with long-term conditions, there is a paucity of services for people who are housebound. Coronary heart disease (CHD) is the most common cause of death in the UK and costs more than £9 billion every year (British Heart Foundation, 2012). This article describes a pilot project set up by a nurse, working under an honourary contract within a general practice. The project's aim was to deliver a service, to housebound patients with CHD, which would provide an annual review of their condition in the home. This pilot provided some justification for the expansion of the service to all housebound patients who have a long-term condition, ensuring that they receive the same equitable assessment, treatment and health promotion advice afforded to those able to come into the practice. Some of the findings from the patient visits are discussed and a case is made for the expansion of the project beyond the pilot.