Apparatus for use with a ventricular assist device that is assisting cardiac function of a biological subject, the apparatus including an electronic processing device that determines a flow rate of blood through the ventricular assist device, analyses the flow rate to determine a flow parameter value at least partially indicative of a change in the flow rate during diastole; and uses the flow parameter value to either derive at least one blood pressure parameter value at least partially indicative of a blood pressure in the biological subject or control the ventricular assist device.