Dr Rajiv Sankaranarayanan, Consultant Cardiologist and Heart Failure Lead at Liverpool University Hospitals, has been presented with a national award for his outstanding contribution to care for heart failure patients.

The Roy Award, sponsored by heart failure charity, Pumping Marvellous, recognises a healthcare professional who delivers the highest standards of care to their patients.

Dr Sankaranarayanan, with support from his heart failure team, has introduced new methods of care to improve diagnosis and management of the condition in both hospital and community settings.

Artificial intelligence is now being used by his team at Aintree University Hospital, which is run by Liverpool University Hospital, to perform heart scans, helping detect early signs of heart failure.

During the last year, he and his team have been conducting ongoing public education about heart failure, as well as screening events during Eurovision and at Everton Football Club, collaborating with Liverpool City Council, the Department of Public Health and Pumping Marvellous.

A new dedicated self-care app for heart failure patients has also been launched, as well as virtual wards, enabling patients to be managed from the comfort of their own home with the aid of remote digital health technology.

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Dr Peter Turkington, Executive Managing Director at Aintree University Hospital, presents Dr Rajiv Sankaranarayanan with his award.

Dr Sankaranarayanan said: “I am deeply humbled and honoured to receive this prestigious award. Huge credit goes to my heart failure team and most importantly to our patients for readily embracing research and innovations.

“Working with them, we will continue to explore and implement new ways of working that are best suited to their needs and enable them to life a healthy and active life.”

Dr Peter Turkington, Executive Managing Director at Aintree University Hospital, presented Dr Sankaranarayanan with his award.

He said: “This achievement is testament to Rajiv’s dedication. The passion he demonstrates is truly inspiring. To be the driving force behind so much positive change, not only in Liverpool but throughout Cheshire and Merseyside makes me extremely proud to work alongside him.”

Presented annually and named in memory of Roy Heesom, a heart failure patient who passed away in 2016, the winner is selected by the Chief Executive of Pumping Marvellous.

Chief Executive and Founder of Pumping Marvellous, Nick Hartshorne Evans, added: “Rajiv is a dynamo. He is not focused on himself and how his successes may make him look; he is patient and drives positive change that is impactful, measurable, and memorable to patients.”