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ℹ️ Introduction
This article explains how to use the Ardens Heart Failure QOF resources to identify and manage patients with suspected or confirmed heart failure in line with the current guidance and QOF requirements. By the end of the article, you will understand how to identify patients who require action, record the correct data using the Ardens templates, and monitor progress throughout the year.
Background
Heart failure is a long-term condition requiring ongoing management in Primary Care. The Heart Failure QOF domain supports practices in confirming the diagnosis where appropriate, undertaking structured annual reviews, and optimising evidence-based treatment for eligible patients.
In Primary Care, there are two key focuses for heart failure activity:
QOF: For 2026/27, the Heart Failure QOF domain focuses on confirming the diagnosis where appropriate, completing structured annual heart failure reviews, and ensuring patients with heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) are prescribed evidence-based therapies, unless contraindicated or not tolerated.
Best Practice: Clinicians should provide holistic care, including symptom monitoring, medication optimisation, self-management support, and referral for specialist assessment where appropriate.
This article outlines how Ardens supports practices in achieving the Heart Failure QOF domain ; however, we will be creating additional articles with support with heart failure patients through best practice care and the medication pathway.
Heart Failure Registers | |
HF1_REG |
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HF3_REG |
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Heart Failure Indicators | |
HF007 |
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HF008 |
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HF009 |
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How Ardens Can Help
Ardens provides a range of resources to help practices:
Clinical system reports: to identify and manage eligible patients using Case Finder, Register, Time-Sensitive, Outstanding, Achieved, Data Quality and Personalised Care Adjustments (PCA) reports.
Clinical templates: to support consistent consultations and improve coding accuracy.
Dashboards: to monitor QOF achievement and practice performance throughout the year.
How to Access the Resources
📝 Record Data
Accurate coding is essential to ensure activity is captured correctly for QOF achievement. The Ardens Heart Failure template and LTC Review templates contain all the relevant codes required for the Heart Failure indicators.
🔍 Identify Patients Requiring Action
Ardens provides a range of reports to help practices identify patients who require intervention for the Heart Failure QOF indicators.
Time Sensitive
The Time Sensitive reports support the time-limited requirement for the HF008 indicator. Patients must have an echocardiogram or specialist assessment recorded within 6 months of their heart failure diagnosis. These reports group patients by time remaining and highlight where the timeframe has expired.
Outstanding
The Outstanding reports identify patients who remain eligible for the heart failure indicators but have not yet met all the required criteria.
Time Sensitive Reports
Run the 5.19 Contracts - QOF 2026-27 > Conditions > 3. Time Sensitive report folder
The reports will identify how much time is left to achieve the indicator or where time has expired
Select the required report, and click View Results on the EMIS ribbon
Outstanding
Run the 5.19 Contracts - QOF 2026-27 > Conditions > 4. Outstanding report folder
Select the CVRM | HF folder to view the reports
For the searches, to view the list of outstanding patients, click on the Population Included tab
For the reports, click View Results on the EMIS ribbon to view the list of patients
📊 Monitor Progress
Ardens provides a range of reports to help practices monitor performance and achievement against the Heart Failure QOF indicators throughout the year.
Achieved Reports
The Achieved reports display patients who have successfully met the requirements for each indicator.
These reports can be used to:
Monitor current achievement
Review completed activity
Track progress towards targets
Identify remaining opportunities before year-end
Ardens Manager
Ardens Manager National Contract subscribers can use the QOF dashboard to review overall achievement, plan QOF delivery, identify outstanding work and monitor progress throughout the reporting year.
❓FAQs
Registers
What is the difference between the heart failure registers?
Both registers are based on patients with an unresolved heart failure diagnosis; however, HF3_REG is specifically looking at an unresolved heart failure diagnosis and a recording of a reduced ejection fraction.
Why do I have fewer patients on the second heart failure register compared to last year?
The register criteria have changed for 2026/27. Previously, patients could be included if they had an unresolved heart failure diagnosis together with either a coded left ventricular systolic dysfunction (LVSD) diagnosis or reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) recorded. For this year, the register only includes patients with an unresolved heart failure diagnosis and a recorded reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF). Patients with an LVSD code alone will no longer be included unless a reduced ejection fraction has also been recorded in line with the current QOF business rules.
HF007
What needs to be completed for HF007?
HF007 requires both a heart failure review and a medication review to be completed within the financial year. These can be recorded using the Ardens Heart Failure template.
HF008
Does this indicator apply to patients diagnosed before 1 April 2023?
No. HF008 only applies to patients with a diagnosis of heart failure recorded on or after 1 April 2023. Patients diagnosed before this date are not eligible for HF008, although they may still be eligible for HF007 and HF009 where appropriate.
HF009
Why is my patient not appearing as eligible for HF009?
HF009 applies only to patients who meet HF3_REG, unresolved heart failure diagnosis with a coded reduced ejection fraction.
Can I record contraindications or declined treatment for the HF009 medicines?
Yes. Where clinically appropriate, contraindication or declined treatment codes can be recorded for each of the medicines included within HF009. The Ardens Heart Failure template includes dedicated fields to record this information.
For ACE inhibitors, ARBs and ARNIs, the QOF business rules treat these as alternative treatment options. If a patient is not prescribed one of these medicines, the appropriate contraindication or declined treatment code should be recorded against the relevant treatment option where applicable.
🏫 Additional Support
Heart Failure QOF Domain Webinar for EMIS and SystmOne practices
Book training for your GP Practice, PCN or ICB
Contact our Support Team for support in real time