A series of heart failure ‘learning bite’ videos provides focused learning for GPs and primary care professionals. Developed with clinical experts across our region, they offer clear guidance on recognising, diagnosing and managing heart failure in primary care. Each one highlights practical actions, key clinical considerations, and evidence based approaches. The series is designed to support earlier identification, improved management and more confident decision making when caring for people with heart failure. There are four videos, see details below – the heart failure learning bites can also be accessed on this YouTube playlist:
- Empirical treatment in heart failure
- Managing deteriorating heart failure
- Practical diuretic management
- Frailty and heart failure
They were produced jointly with the Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire and Berkshire West (BOB) Integrated Care Board and the BOB Cardiac Network.
Empirical treatment in heart failure
Speakers: Dr James Gamble, Consultant Cardiologist and Co-Chair of the BOB Cardiac Network; Dr Heike Veldtman, GP and CVD Prevention Lead, and Co-Chair of the BOB Cardiac Network BOB ICB
Duration: 20 minutes
Overview:
In this learning bite, Dr James Gamble and Dr Heike Veldtman discuss the empirical treatment of heart failure, focusing on how GPs can safely start evidence based therapy while awaiting formal diagnosis. The session explores symptom recognition, NT-proBNP interpretation, and how frailty influences decision-making.
Learning objectives:
- Understand the underlying pathophysiology of heart failure and key clinical signs
- Identify when empirical treatment is appropriate in primary care before specialist review
- Apply risk stratification and frailty assessment to guide management decisions
- Recognise the key pharmacological therapies used in the initial treatment of heart failure
Managing deteriorating heart failure
Speakers: David Butler, Heart Function Nurse Specialist
Dr Lindsey Tilling, Consultant Cardiologist (Heart Function and Cardiac Rhythm Management)
Duration: 22 minutes
Overview:
In this session, David Butler and Dr Lindsey Tilling discuss recognising and managing worsening heart failure. The session covers common signs and symptoms of deterioration, key investigations in primary care, appropriate management strategies, and identifying red-flag situations that require urgent specialist review.
Learning objectives:
- Signs of worsening heart failure
- What can be done in primary care
- When to seek specialist advice
Practical diuretic management
Speaker: Alice Escudier, Heart Failure Specialist Nurse
Duration: 18 minutes
Overview:
In this session, Alice Escudier discusses the practical management of diuretics in people with heart failure. The session explores: how to adjust diuretic doses safely and effectively; when to consider combination therapy; and how to monitor renal function and electrolytes. Alice also highlights patient engagement, adherence challenges, and the decision-making process around when it may be appropriate to stop diuretics .
Learning objectives:
- How to adjust the dose of diuretics
- When it is appropriate to stop diuretics
Frailty and heart failure
Speakers: Dr Raj Thakkar, GP and President of the Primary Care Cardiovascular Society
Dr James Gamble, Consultant Cardiologist and Heart Failure Lead
Duration: 45 minutes
In this podcast-style discussion, Dr Raj Thakkar, GP and President of the Primary Care Cardiovascular Society, and Dr James Gamble, Consultant Cardiologist and Heart Failure Lead in Oxford, explore the complex relationship between frailty and heart failure. Raj and James share practical insights from both primary and secondary care perspectives highlighting how clinicians can deliver safe, person-centred management for frail patients with heart failure.
Learning objectives:
By the end of this session, viewers will:
- Understand the importance of patient-centred care in managing heart failure and frailty
- Recognise how to balance uptitration of therapy in the presence of frailty
- Explore the role of empirical treatment when evidence is limited in frail populations
- Identify appropriate choices of therapy tailored to patients with varying degrees of frailty