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Last Friday, the Your Heart Matters bus made its final call in Leeds. Over the past two years, the bus has visited cities and towns across the UK, promoting awareness of the red-flag symptoms of heart valve disease and the importance of stethoscope checks for over 65s.

Last week, as part of Heart Valve Disease Awareness Week 2023, Heart Valve Voice and the Greater Manchester Cardiac Network partnered with Manchester Library Services to hold a series of awareness events across the city.

On September 12th, Heart Valve Voice visited the Palace of Westminster as part of Heart Valve Disease Awareness Week 2023 in an attempt to raise awareness of heart valve disease. We parked the Your Heart Matters Bus in New Palace Yard and offered stethoscope checks to MPs and staff to highlight the importance of early detection of the disease.

Today marks the start of International Heart Valve Disease Awareness Week. A week that aims to improve the global diagnosis, treatment, and management of heart valve disease. The week is celebrated by charities from across the globe, all to promote awareness of the disease, its symptoms and the importance of early detection and timely treatment.

All NHS regions should properly consult patients on how to improve outcomes, says the Medical Technology Group in its latest report. Research into the structures, policies and processes of the country’s 42 Integrated Care Systems found that, while there are examples of best practice, 40 percent of them have no formal patient involvement in Board meetings and subcommittees in place.

Traditionally heart valve follow-ups in outpatients are offered at routine intervals. Although this works well for some patients, for those who are managing their condition well it often means time and money spent on a trip to a hospital that isn’t needed.