What we’ve achieved
HPP acts as secretariat to the Heart Failure Policy Network (HFPN), which was launched in 2015. We have been instrumental leading the Network’s publications, meetings and political campaigns.
In 2015, HFPN members and supporters gathered at the European Parliament on World Heart Day (29 September), to launch the a Call to Action and the Heart Failure Policy Toolkit.
In 2016/17, the HFPN led a European Parliament Written Declaration on Heart Failure (WD 110/2016). Gaining 236 signatures, it was one of the largest ever political campaigns on heart failure. The HFPN later published summaries on the state of play in heart failure in 12 countries across Europe.
In 2018, the HFPN produced its first landmark resource, The handbook of multidisciplinary and integrated heart failure care. It provides an accessible, action-oriented view of best practice, highlighting practical tools and models for change management and showcasing examples of service innovation from across Europe. The handbook was launched at the European Parliament on 5 September 2018, along with five extended ‘pressure point’ documents published online. It was originally published in English, with translations later produced in Spanish (2019) and French (2021). A 10-page summary of the handbook is available in English, French, Italian, Polish and Spanish.
In 2019, the HFPN published a seven-part collection called Understanding heart failure guidelines, offering an accessible overview of what key European guidelines say about prevention, diagnosis, the multidisciplinary team, clinical management, comorbidities, patient empowerment and self-care, and advance care planning. In 2020, the HFPN launched the Spotlight series of reports focusing on topics at the forefront of debates and challenges in the future of heart failure care.
The HFPN published a landmark project in 2020: Heart failure policy and practice in Europe. Comprising a pan-European report and 11 country profiles, the project was developed to equip and empower national advocates across Europe with a clear picture of central leadership and overall performance in terms of major pillars of health services, treatment and care.
The HFPN has also published a report on heart failure and COVID-19, exploring the effect of the pandemic on heart failure care. Early in 2021, the HFPN developed a case study on reducing hospitalisations in heart failure, which was presented at the first global summit of the Partnership for Health System Sustainability and Resilience.
Building on the foundation of policy reports developed over the previous five years, 2021 saw the HFPN focus on supporting advocates to secure high-level policy commitments for heart failure at the national and European level. It launched the Action Statement on Heart Failure, arguably the most detailed call to action on heart failure yet directed at European institutions. On 16–18 November 2021, the inaugural Heart Failure Policy Summit was held. More than 30 speakers covered topics including the strategic role of the EU in heart failure, the global challenge of heart failure diagnosis, digital and innovative solutions in heart failure, workforce expansion and heart failure specialist nursing, the heart patient perspective, and learning from successes in policy advocacy. Almost 400 delegates attended the virtual summit over the three days.
2021 also saw the launch of the Trailblazers Hub, an online resource on the HFPN website that features case studies which aim to inspire and support heart failure advocates in taking action. Each case study incorporates expert insights and practical tips.
In 2022, the HFPN explored how to move from guidelines to action. Publications included a summary of what changes to the latest international guidelines meant for people with heart failure, a report on opportunities for change offered by the updated European Society for Cardiology guidelines, and policy briefs on how to drive system change at a national level in France, Germany, Italy and Spain. The network also published a report on early diagnosis in community settings, exploring four major opportunities for innovation in community-based diagnosis.
2023 saw the HFPN launch the ambitious European Heart Failure Mission, which aims to secure political recognition of and investment in heart failure from the European Union. Activities in this campaign are ongoing, with the web page being updated regularly.
To find out more, please see the Heart Failure Policy Network website.
