This article discusses the cardiac care and rehabilitation needs of patients with chronic heart failure (CHF). Research suggests that patients with CHF who are in a stable condition can undertake supervised exercise programmes. Patients are rarely prescribed exercise; however exercise in patients with CHF reduces mortality and hospital admission rates. Improvements have also been demonstrated in symptoms and quality of life. It is recommended that exercise programmes are provided and that all-cause mortality is used as an indication of treatment efficacy, because it is the most unbiased outcome measure.