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The NHS Long Term Plan states that the biggest area where the NHS can save lives over the next 10 years is in reducing the incidence of cardiovascular disease (CVD).
CVD affects around seven million people in the UK and is a significant cause of disability and death. CVD is responsible for one in four premature deaths in the UK, with those in the most deprived areas almost twice as likely to die from CVD.
Over the next 10 years, the NHS will help prevent up to 150,000 heart attacks, strokes and dementia cases.
HIEM will support our local systems to detect, appropriately manage and optimise treatment for heart failure, high cholesterol, hypertension and FH, and so reduce broader cardiovascular risk, prevent heart attacks, strokes, and dementia.
england.nhs.uk
longtermplan.nhs.uk
Supporting our systems to improve patients care and outcomes by effectively identifying and treating patients with Familial Hypercholesterolaemia (an inherited genetic condition which predisposes people to extremely high cholesterol, which cannot be managed by lifestyle modifications alone).
Learn more
Supporting our systems to improve patients care and outcomes by effectively identifying and treating patients with hypercholesterolaemia (patients with high cholesterol)
Supporting our systems to improve patients care and outcomes by effectively identifying and treating patients with hypertension (high blood pressure).
Supporting our systems to improve patients care and outcomes by effectively identifying and treating patients with heart failure.
Since Covid-19, Health Innovation East Midlands has supported ICBs, PCNs and GP practices to implement the Proactive Care Frameworks to help better manage patients’ long-term conditions in primary care.
A new video revisiting some of our most valuable archived clips rounds up teams’ experiences of introducing the new ways of working and their top tips for implementation. A Top Tips guide can also be found here.
Colleagues have found that using the frameworks allows better identification of patients who require intervention, and of those who can be managed well by other team members and / or remotely. The frameworks also enable improved patient self-management and digital pathways, freeing up GP and nurse time for patients most in need.
If you are interested to learn more about our previous HIEM Proactive Care Frameworks programmes, including effective ways to run patient searches and risk stratification in a variety of long-term condition areas, please This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
We are proud to have been working with Lincolnshire ICS to introduce the first Lincolnshire Specialist Lipids Service covering both primary and secondary care.
The service has been in place for approximately one year and during that time, it has helped to reduce patient waiting times for an initial assessment with a lipidology consultant from 58 weeks down to 13 weeks.
A new video discusses the success of the service and the benefits it has brought for local patients and for wider CVD services.
If you are interested in how to run patient searches and stratify patients in primary care to identify patients most at risk in a variety of long-term condition areas, get in touch with HIEM, and look out for our video next month featuring teams in Leicestershire and Northamptonshire who have introduced Proactive Care Frameworks into their services.
Contact us for more information on how we could support your service transformation.
Resources referenced in the video
Manchester Search & Risk Stratification Tool
Disclaimer
Please note any clinical opinions/ views shared here remain those of the clinician/s and are not necessarily those of Health Innovation East Midlands.
Any case studies, links or other information (not directly produced by HIEM) is for the purpose of sharing approach, successes and learning as identified by the clinicians involved. HIEM does not declare or promote this information as ‘best practice’.
Readers are advised to follow the latest national and local clinical guidelines for their area.
Clinical advice and guidelines change – please take note that this podcast was recorded on 11/06/24, and any guidance shared or discussed may be superseded in the future.
Declaration of Interests
This episode, brought to you by Health Innovation East Midlands (HIEM),
features conversations with leading figures in health innovation to help us better understand the key enablers and barriers to good communication between clinicians and patients relating to lipid management.
Although conversations centre around lipid management the communication techniques and reasonable adjustments discussed will be applicable to any interaction between a health care professional and patient.
This episode will explore:
In this podcast you will hear from key speakers including:
As part of this podcast HIEM, with support from the Speech and Language Therapy Team at Derbyshire Healthcare NHS Trust, has produced a Top Tips document to support health care professionals when considering reasonable adjustment and communicating about cardiovascular health. This document can be accessed here.
We have also engaged with patients with lived experience of CVD to understand their views and personal experiences. This will help inform the CVD programme. If you would like to find out more about this work or to get involved, please This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
We would value any feedback on this podcast to help us tailor future materials and events to the needs of our colleagues and systems, please click here to complete this short survey.
If you would like to learn more about the organisations mentioned and guidelines discussed, please find useful links below:
Clinical advice and guidelines change – please take note that this podcast was recorded on 29/11/23, and any guidance shared or discussed may be superseded in the future.
Declaration of interests
Please note any clinical opinions/ views shared here remain those of the clinician/s and are not necessarily those of the Health Innovation East Midlands.
Any case studies, links or other information (not directly produced by the HIEM) is for the purpose of sharing approach, successes and learning as identified by the clinicians involved. The HIEM does not declare or promote this information as ‘best practice’.
Clinical advice and guidelines change – please take note that this webinar was recorded on 15.3.23, and any guidance shared or discussed may be superseded in the future.
Clinical advice and guidelines change – please take note that this webinar was recorded on 20.7.22, and any guidance shared or discussed may be superseded in the future.
Clinical advice and guidelines change – please take note that this webinar was recorded on 14.12.22, and any guidance shared or discussed may be superseded in the future.
Clinical advice and guidelines change – please take note that this podcast was recorded on 12/7/23, and any guidance shared or discussed may be superseded in the future.
National guidance and pathway information
NHS England national guidance for lipid management (AAC Pathway)
NHS England statin intolerance pathway guidance
AHSN Lipid management pathways for primary care and secondary care clinicians (under review)
Pathway for secondary care – following an Acute Cardiovascular Event
Pathway for primary care – for Secondary Prevention in Primary Care
NG238 Guidance:
https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/ng238
Summary of key recommendations from national guidance on lipid management
A summary of key recommendations from national guidance on lipid management for the primary and secondary prevention of cardiovascular disease (CVD). Published 2022
UCLPartners Proactive Care Framework for hypertension
helps primary care teams to improve blood pressure and broader CVD risk management, particularly lipids, in people with hypertension. It was developed by our partner AHSN, UCL Partners.
UCL Partners proactive care frameworks resources
Inclisiran explained video - interview with Dr Phil Jennings, Chief Officer of the Innovation Agency and AHSN Network Lead for Rapid Uptake Products
A video for GPs and healthcare professionals
Prescqipp clinical webinar on Inclisiran
Inclisiran reimbursement guide
A selection of videos by Health Innovation NENC, explaining the role of inclisiran in the lipid management pathway:
Familial Hypercholesterolaemia: Useful Resources
We have produced a document to signpost primary care professionals to existing informative and credible resources on familial hypercholesterolaemia (FH). The resources listed have not been developed or accredited by Health Innovation East Midlands, but rather, have been selected by the Health Innovation CVD Delivery Team as ‘useful’ resources.
Read the document
‘Top tips’ to help you implement Proactive Care Frameworks
Health Innovation East Midlands, as part of the 2021 – 2023 Blood Pressure Optimisation programme, supported Primary Care Networks (PCNs) and practices across the East Midlands to implement the Hypertension Proactive Care Framework. This document includes some of the system top tips for implementation of the Proactive Care Frameworks.
Q&A – Secondary Prevention Lipid Optimisation
We have produced a document designed to support lipid optimisation in primary care by answering some of the frequently asked questions we hear from practitioners who are supporting patients to lower their cholesterol after a CVD event (secondary prevention).
A guide to patient search tools for lipid management produced by the AAC.
The guide provides clinicians with an overview of some of the existing search tools available stipulating what each tool does, where to find it, training needs and associated costs (if any).
Download the guide
Primary care Cardiovascular Society website - Information for healthcare professionals
Provides up to date CVD education opportunities for primary care health care practitioner. Membership is free for all practicing health care professionals.
A number of resources from the British Heart Foundation to Understanding risk factors such as Understanding blood pressure, cholesterol, stress, weight amongst many others. Available for patients, and for clinicians to share with patients electronically, in a link by text or to print (hard copies can also be delivered to practices).
Understanding risk factors | BHF
Information and resources available for clinicians from the Stroke Association:
https://www.stroke.org.uk/professionals
Heart UK. For professionals: https://www.heartuk.org.uk/health-professionals/home
Improving Population Health | An Introduction to Lipid Management in Primary Care
To support GP practices to meet 23/24 QOF cholesterol targets, Professor Ahmet Fuat, GPSI in Cardiology, explains how practices can treat patients in the secondary prevention of cardiovascular disease (CVD).
Implementing an Innovative Lipid Management Technique Using siRNA LDL-C Lowering Therapy: Lessons Learned in an NHS Primary Care Practice With Worked Case Examples
Implementing an Innovative Lipid Management Technique Using siRNA LDL-C Lowering Therapy: Lessons Learned in an NHS Primary Care Practice With Worked Case Examples - Carl Deaney, Meredith Donaldson, Agne Meskauskiene, 2023 (sagepub.com)
Carl Deaney Meredith Donaldson, and Agne Meskauskiene
Published online May 16, 2023
In addition to our clinical resources we have also collated some useful resources for members of the public.
Manage your blood pressure at home hub Created by The British Heart Foundation to provide support and advice to help patients understand and control their blood pressure
An animated, 2 minute video for patients explaining What is FH? has been developed by HI NENC in collaboration with Heart UK, their ambassadors and the Northern Genetics Service.
Information and resources available for patients from the Stroke Association:
https://www.stroke.org.uk/
Heart UK
Main website: www.heartuk.org.uk
Get back in the game campaign
Get back in the game - Keep on top of cholesterol (heartuk.org.uk)
Understanding your cholestrol
Understanding your cholestrol and other blood fats video
Readers are advised to follow the latest national and local clinical guidelines for their area. Clinical advice and guidelines change – please take note that any guidance shared or discussed may be superseded in the future.
Want to get involved or get in touch? Contact us at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
A new HIEM programme is being rolled out across the East Midlands to implement Hybrid Closed Loop (HCL) technology for people with Type 1 diabetes.
Find out more.
The Respiratory Transformation Partnership (RTP) brings together NHS England, the Office for Life Sciences, NHS systems, leading industry partners and health innovation networks to drive whole‑pathway transformation in asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), addressing unmet need and making better use of innovative treatments and technology.
Find out more
The Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland (LLR) Chronic Kidney Disease Integrated Care Delivery Programme (LUCID) aims to improve patient outcomes through early detection of CKD, early intervention and optimisation, as well as maximising productivity and value for money.
The S-Press device is designed to be used conveniently in bed or a chair, aiming to break barriers with in-hospital exercise and rehabilitation.
Learn more about S-press
During 2025-2026, HIEM is leading work as part of a wider Neurodiversity portfolio, with an initial focus on adult ADHD.
Learn more about our work
Learn more about the programme
Supporting our systems to improve patients care and outcomes by effectively identifying and treating patients with hypercholesterolaemia (patients with high cholesterol).
Explore how we're supporting our systems to improve patients care and outcomes by effectively identifying and treating patients with Familial Hypercholesterolaemia.
Find out about the support we are currently offering, as part of the MedSIP programme, to help systems to reduce harm from psychotropic medicines.
Learn more about the programme.
Providing quicker, timely support for patients in a mental health crisis.
Find out more about the Lincolnshire mental health urgent assessment centre
Use of remote monitoring and visual sharing of patient data helps improve productivity and reduce unnecessary face to face appointments.
Find out more about the digital platform Isla Health used in two Nottinghamshire trusts
Smart messaging to enhance the wellbeing of patients in cancer care.
Find out more about the programme
Implemented by Nottinghamshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust reducing waiting times and increasing staff education and training.
Find out more about the transformative pathway
Social support groups for people with dementia and their loved ones. The memory hubs initiative combines a psychosocial approach with input from health professionals.
Find out more about the Oakley Vale Memory Hub
Pioneering respiratory device aims to reduce patient length of treatment.
Learn more about the Derbyshire pilot
Improving clinical outcomes through earlier intervention for patients with chronic kidney disease.
Learn more about the LLR chronic kidney disease integrated care delivery programme.
Community breast pain clinics have been shown to transform 2-week wait (2WW) and improve patient satisfaction.
Read more about the evaluation of community clinics and the positive impact on 2WW referrals.
Find out how a virtual Atrial Fibrillation ward in Leicester has helped to reduce hospital stays, enabling more patients to receive care out hospital.
Learn more about the AF virtual ward.
Following successful trials and pilots in the East Midlands, the health innovation networks supported a national programme from 2020 – 2023 called Focus ADHD to improve ADHD assessment in children and young people.
Learn more about our work supporting the diagnosis of ADHD
Safe and secure messaging service for young people and new parents.
Learn more about ChatHealth
Scheduling outpatient appointments based on patient needs.
Learn more about the digital outpatient appointment follow up project
We support the local delivery of the Accelerated Access Collaborative’s MedTech Funding Mandate policy which aims to direct the NHS on which MedTech innovations are effective and likely to give savings on investment.
Learn more about MTFM products
Improving the care, experience and outcomes of young people aged 16 to 25 with eating disorders.
Learn more about Early Intervention Eating Disorders
Supporting primary care colleagues to deliver high-quality, proactive, routine care for patients with long term conditions.
Learn more about Proactive Care Frameworks
Supporting Integrated Care Systems in our region to address health inequalities in line with NHS England’s national Core20PLUS5 programme.
Learn more about our InHIP programme
Ensures patients with lower limb wounds receive evidence based care improving the healing of wounds, quality of life and reducing the likelihood of wound recurrence.
Learn more about our transforming wound care programme
Polypharmacy is when people are prescribed many different medicines for one or more health conditions; this can lead to unintended consequences, such as hospital admission, adverse drug events, and non-adherence issues.
Learn more about our Polypharmacy: Getting the balance right programme
Find out how we improving the management of non cancer pain by reducing harm from opioids.
Learn more about how we are improving the management of non cancer pain
A recent HIEM evaluation report shows the Skin Analytics AI solution could help identify patients with skin lesions, who need to be seen by a consultant.
Read how the pilot project in Leicester’s acute hospitals aimed to reduce waiting lists.
Well-Track (using a combination of Fitbit health trackers and face to face support) has been successfully integrated into several care pathways including an early intervention in psychosis service and an at-risk mental state service.
Read how it has improved patients’ mental and physical health.
Find out more about the work we are doing on the prevention of cardiovascular disease - this includes heart failure, blood pressure optimisation and Lipid Management and Familial Hypercholesterolaemia.
Find out more about cardiovascular disease prevention
A pilot across four primary care networks in Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland has shown how multi-disciplinary team medication reviews across primary and secondary care can improve patient outcomes and reduce hospital admissions.
Find out more about the pilot