The Heart Failure Support Service (volunteers, forum and newsletter) created a supportive patient-carer network and represents a successful voluntary sector/NHS partnership.

Empowering stroke patients to have their say in a person-centred NHS in Scotland then deputy first minister and cabinet secretary for health and wellbeing, Nicola Sturgeon: 'This realisation presented new opportunities to develop a "mutual" NHS in Scotland in which each one of us sees ourselves as partners in the service, with rights and responsibilities.' (Scottish Government, 2007: 3) The Voices Scotland model for this vision of mutuality was recommended to the MCNs in 2012 by Sir Harry Burns, chief medical officer, and Derek Feeley, former director general of NHS Scotland.

Rebecca Hay and Louise Peardon discuss some of the key concerns that patients calling the Chest Hear t & Stroke Scotland Advice Line have about travelling with a hear t condition, and suggests sources of information for nurses and patients