Heart failure is a major clinical, social and economic problem in the UK according to the Department of Health [DH] (2013). The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence [NICE] (2010) reported that around 900,000 people suffer from heart failure in the UK. The National Institute for Cardiovascular Outcomes Research [NICOR] (2011) conducted a national audit which found that one in 20 people over the age of 65 are diagnosed with heart failure, demonstrating that it affects mainly the elderly. As a leading cause of mortality, heart failure contributes to more than 6,000 deaths each year (NICOR, 2011). Newly diagnosed cases of heart failure have a 40% risk of dying within a year (NICOR, 2011). Despite therapeutic advances, mortality remains high and only half of patients are alive five years after diagnosis of heart failure (NICE, 2010). According to the European Society of Cardiology [ESC] guidelines (2012), heart failure is diagnosed by symptoms. such as dyspnea, fatigue, at rest or during exercise. The National Heart Failure Audit [NHFA] (2010) reported that providing care to patients with heart failure costs the National Health Service (NHS) approximately £625 million per year. Heart failure is considered one of the top ten diagnoses in terms of hospital days and spaces, leading to significant demand for hospital admissions as 90% of heart failure admissions are typically emergencies and account for 5% of all emergency medical admissions to hospitals nationwide. United Kingdom (NHFA, 2010). The unpredictability of the disease makes partner assistance important in the care of patients with heart failure. Support from partners or family members contributes...... middle of article ......000 - 2013 In order to bring together all relevant and research material through the use of databases search, key terms were used. These terms were “partners' experience of heart failure,” “heart failure,” “heart failure caregiver burden,” and “do partners experience caregiver burden ? Inclusion criteria are those residing in the North West of England, male or female aged 55-60 years. This is to ensure that the objectives of the study are met. Minors and those whose partner had recently died were excluded. Eight research articles were selected for review. Of the eight, only one was from the United Kingdom (Macclesfield), the others were from the United States of America, Australia, China and Sweden. Hence the rationale for the study, to explore partners' experiences with heart failure patients in the North West of England..