The success of an integrated care programme for patients with ischaemic heart disease: the practice nurses' perspective of SHIP

Follow-up care of patients with angina and myocardial infarction after hospital discharge is known to be suboptimal across the UK. The employment of cardiac liaison nurses ensured timely notification of hospital discharge and good communication of each patient's current and planned care. The direct ongoing support of the liaison nurse was valued by more practice nurses than educational support meetings and the initial counselling skills course. The most important factor which enabled practice nurses to expand their role to provide post-hospital follow-up care was the support of the doctors in the practice. After the conclusion of the Southampton Heart Integrated Care Project (SHIP) and the withdrawal of cardiac liaison nurses, the lack of hospital discharge notification was the most important reason for practice nurses discontinuing follow-up care.