Heart failure - what the general physician needs to know

The British Society of Heart Failure (BSH) meetings highlight the latest advancements within the field of heart failure (HF) and provide education for training and revalidation for cardiologists and general physicians. This article reviews take-home messages from the 7th BSH HF revalidation and training meeting. It emphasises what every physician needs to know about the latest acute HF guidelines, diagnostics in HF, management strategies (including pharmacotherapeutics and device therapy), and when to consider referring to a transplant centre for mechanical circulatory support or transplantation. It describes the practical challenges faced and provides clinicians with a framework to assist with service development and commissioning of resources to deliver optimal, integrated services that meet the ever-advancing needs of our HF communities.