Mandy Davies, community heart failure specialist nurse/lead practice nurse, and pharmacist prescriber Christine Thomson are based at the Linkwood Medical Practice in the Glassgreen Centre, Elgin, Grampian.

Their unusual heart failure clinic won the RCGP Scotland practice team award and RCGP North East award for innovation in primary care.

Ms Davies said: ‘We believe out service is unique to Scotland because we have a pharmacist prescriber trained to a significant level in heart failure and an in-house heart failure specialist nurse, who also works as a practice nurse. We provide a community-based, one-stop clinic, delivering house calls and drug treatment.

‘Early indications are that patients are living longer and don't need to be admitted to hospital as often, as a result of this service. At the same time the service releases our GPs to focus on acute care and diagnosis.'

The service was supported by GP Dr Garry Farquhar.

Patients are referred to the clinic and the team provides an intensive lifestyle review and holistic heart failure education to patients and carers.