A device (10) for treating heart failure in a patient. The device (10) comprising abody (12), at least one passage (18) through the body (12), at least one one way valve( 20) in the passage (18) and a mounting means (14) adapted for mounting the body(12) in an opening provided in the patient's atrial septum. In use, the device(10) is oriented such that, when the patient's left atrial pressure exceedsthe patient's right atrial pressure by a predetermined amount, the oneway valve(s) (20) opens to allow blood flow through the passage(s) from the leftatrium to the right atrium to thereby reduce the left atrial pressure.
