The Heart Failure Academy is quietly transforming cardiac care across the region, as healthcare professionals are being equipped with the skills and confidence to spot the early signs of heart failure. Developed by colleagues at Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, together with Health Innovation Yorkshire and Humber and the three Yorkshire Integrated Care Boards, this work has now been recognised on a national stage.
Shannon Nickson, Advanced Clinical Pharmacist at the Trust and a leading force behind the Academy’s education programme, received the Special Recognition Award from the Pumping Marvellous Foundation, the UK’s leading patient-led heart failure charity.
The award celebrates individuals who combine expertise with compassion, and innovation with a relentless focus on patients. For colleagues across Yorkshire and the Humber, Shannon’s win comes as no surprise.
Dr Rani Khatib, Clinical Lead for the Heart Failure Academy said
“I am absolutely delighted that Shannon has received this award, it is so well deserved.
“Early detection of Heart failure in its early stages is vital to reduce its burden and slow its progression. Breathlessness, fatigue and swelling are symptoms that can easily be missed or mistaken, and The Heart Failure Academy was created to change that. We have built a network of knowledgeable, confident clinicians who are educating a wider community to identify warning signs early, enabling people to start life-changing treatment sooner. We engaged and involved people living with heart failure throughout our Academy. This is a really positive moment for Shannon and for the Academy’s work.”
At the centre of this work has been Shannon’s belief that education is the most important thing, not just for professionals, for patients too. She has focused on strengthening partnerships between hospital teams, primary care, specialists and patient advocates, and helped create an approach that is truly person-centred.
Accepting the award, Shannon said
“I am very honoured and super grateful to receive this Special Recognition Award from the Pumping Marvellous Foundation.
“Everyone who works in the Academy shares genuine passion and commitment to enhancing and improving the care of the person living with heart failure. For me, this has been a privilege to collaborate with each of the partner organisations and their incredible heart failure specialists across our region and I am proud of our education programme and look forward to building on this work together.”
For the teams behind the Heart Failure Academy, the award is more than a personal accolade. It shines a light on what is possible when NHS organisations, innovation bodies and patient charities work side by side with a shared purpose.
Across Yorkshire and the Humber, the shared purpose is clear: earlier recognition, faster diagnosis, better treatment.
Find out more about The Heart Failure Academy on their website: Heart Failure Academy.