Professor Martin Cowie, of the National Heart and Lung Institute, has received ‘The Roy Award’ for his outstanding contribution to heart failure.

Sponsored by The Pumping Marvellous Foundation, the 'Roy Award', given in memory of Roy Heesom who died of heart failure in 2016, is the charity's CEO's discretionary award given to an individual who they feel has shown outstanding contribution and excellence in heart failure care. CEO and Founder of the UK charity, Nick Hartshorne-Evans, has commended Professor Cowie for his outstanding contribution to heart failure services globally, leading the field and striving for continuous development and excellence.   

"Professor Martin Cowie is a true leader in his field, not just in the UK but globally. Not only is he a great heart failure specialist but he leads the thinking of what we need to do to help people with heart failure live better" Nick Hartshorne-Evans Charity CEO and Founder

Heart failure affects 920,000 people in the UK. Despite increased awareness of heart failure, it is a debilitating condition if not treated properly, and outcomes for patients can be worse than conditions such as breast or prostate cancer, although results are improving year-on-year. Heart failure is also a major cost to the NHS as the leading cause of hospital admission in those over 65.

Martin Cowie is Professor of Cardiology (Health Services Research) and an Honorary Consultant Cardiologist at the Royal Brompton and Harefield NHS Foundation Trust where he leads the heart failure service. Professor Cowie trained in London, undertaking a MSc in Epidemiology at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine in addition to his cardiology training. His MD related to the epidemiology of heart failure in the UK. His major clinical and research interests are in health technology assessment and the delivery of efficient and effective care for patients with heart failure, with a particular focus on new technologies such as the use of natriuretic peptides in diagnosis of heart failure, the treatment of sleep apnoea, and remote monitoring using a variety of wearable and implanted technologies. He was a founding member and past-Chair of the British Society for Heart Failure, is a Non-Executive Director of the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE), and is the Inaugural Chair of the Digital Health Committee of the European Society of Cardiology. 

As the representative of the UK Heart Failure patients' voice, The Pumping Marvellous Foundation emphasises the importance of the patient perspective in recognising and rewarding healthcare professionals. "Professor Martin Cowie is a true leader in his field, not just in the UK but globally. Not only is he a great heart failure specialist but he leads the thinking of what we need to do to help people with heart failure live better. He sees the importance of looking towards the future and blending the existing with the new, reminding us all that moving forward is conditional on doing what we know works. Professor Martin Cowie deserves the 'Roy Award' in 2019 for keeping all our eyes on the ball around the quality management of heart failure, along with striving for development and excellence. A truly patient-focused cardiologist who consistently surpasses what is expected of him as a healthcare professional, and truly understand the needs of heart failure patients” comments Nick Hartshorne-Evans CEO of The Pumping Marvellous Foundation.

The Pumping Marvellous Foundation (PMF) is the UK's patient led Heart Failure charity. It was founded by a heart failure patient whose experience whilst rehabilitating has shaped the Foundation's goals and principles of a patient-centric charity focused on improved patient outcomes and experience of care.