February 2026 - First Training Session for Volunteers for the Welcome Home Heart Failure Program

Welcome Home Heart Failure is a structured 12-week education and support program originally launched in the United States in 2022 to help heart failure patients transition safely and confidently from hospital to home. The program was developed to address one of the most vulnerable moments in the patient journey — the period immediately following discharge — when individuals often face uncertainty, fear, and a lack of coordinated information. By combining weekly educational and emotional-support emails with regular phone calls from trained volunteers, the program aims to strengthen patients’ understanding of their condition, promote self-management, reduce hospitalisations and provide reassurance during a difficult and disorienting time.

The program is delivered by trained volunteers, many of whom are patients or carers themselves, who complete mandatory certification and annual reaccreditation. Their role is to offer empathetic listening, practical guidance, and trustworthy signposting —complementing, but never replacing, medical care. A strict code of conduct ensures professionalism, confidentiality, and respect for each patient’s dignity. Building on its success.