E P.

[higgy52]

If i pay to see a E P private and pay the 2 to 300 pound, do you get 10 min with them or 30 min or more, thinking going private as still waiting to see E P on NHS. Thanks

[meadfoot]

You should get longer than 10 minutes. I had haif an hour for my first consultation privately. Call th ep's secretary and ask how long the consultation will be and what you can expect from the first meeting. Good luck and go for it.

[higgy52 in reply to meadfoot]

thank for your imput much apreciated

[PeterWh]

You will need to ask the EP's secretary or the private hospital / clinic. In my case I certainly had half an hour, probably more as I had a lot of questions.

[Mike11]

My first was nearer an hour

[Annaelizabeth]

Make sure you take a written list of questions!

[Hidden]

I emailed a carefully thought out medical history 3 days before then took my medical records and a list of questions with me. This approach does not endear you to the EP so at the consultation charm is required to get them back on side. Assuming that he/she is not already late in clinic you should get at least 30 mins.

Don't leave until you have all the answers, you have to be tough you are not making friends and the old days of a doctor assessing you holistically have gone. You have to accept you are just a number and it is your job to make sure you are a prime number!

Good luck.

[Hidden]

Done it a few times and usually about 30 minutes. One time there wasn't much to discuss other than arrange a monitor to be fitted, so it was only 10 minutes. But then I went back for the review of the monitor results and again that was say 15 minutes but he only charged me for one consultation. He then arranged an ablation on the NHS which I waited ages for, about 6-9 months.

Yes, don't forget to do a list of questions.

Koll

PS. My private EP is also my NHS EP, same guy every time, just a different hospital.

[carriewoods]

Yes I agree with all the comments here. I'm sure I had more than 30 mins as I had a list of questions and I certainly didn't feel rushed.

[AlanAF]

I asked his secretary this question and was told 40 mins, which is probably about what I got (didn't time it).

Regarding being prepared beforehand, I made an appointment with my GP to ask for the referral and was thoroughly told off for wasting their time. I asked if specific results would be passed on and was told that of course they would. When I saw the EP, he had not had either the referral or any test results. Clearly, I was indeed wasting my time with the useless GP.

Fortunately, I had both a good grip on the situation myself and had some Alivecor readings taken when in AF, which he took. He also had a ECG taken immediately beforehand, which, whilst not showing actual AF, did show abnormalities linked to AF. So we managed and, in future, I will always ask for copies of test results.

In my case, I had already decided I wanted an ablation on the NHS, and this was merely going to be a quick, good quality route to get an expert opinion confirming that and get on the waiting list, which is what I ended up with. He was also offering exactly the type of ablation (cryo-balloon) that I wanted, on the basis of my amateur internet research.

I also transferred to his hospital, Liverpool Heart & Chest, rather than Crewe/Stoke. Whilst this is much further to travel, I think it's worth it as they are a big department who do a lot of ablations and have a good reputation. I haven't been able to get any info on this forum re Crewe/Stoke, but they do some/all of their ablations at Wythenshawe, which is well regarded but just as far from me as Liverpool.

So, in my case, the length of the consultation wasn't really that important. Very well worth the money, for me at least (£200 + £50 for the ECG). Also, I only had to wait about 5-10 mins, barely time for the cup of tea provided.

Best wishes in whatever you decide to do.

[higgy52 in reply to AlanAF]

Very interesting, thank you

[Pam-51]

Had an ECG on arrival then saw consultant for 30 mins. He answered lots of questions which I had pre-prepared. Also took along a diary of events I had kept recording all "funny turns" over the previous 3 weeks. He ordered an MRI scan and 72 hour monitor and prescribed flecainide.

Saw him once more a couple of weeks later for results of tests before ablation 3 months later. Initial consult cost £200.00 at Papworth Hospital near Cambridge. Worth every penny.

Best wishes Pam

[pirnough6 in reply to Pam-51]

Can you tell me the name EP specialist and are you having the ablation on the NHS

Ann

[grandadbren1]

I went to Nuffield at Leeds saw ep for about 30 minutes which cost £200 ,worth every penny. I took a list of all things that had ocurred previous and test results I had had done etc gave him it to read,it seemed much better than me reading it out to him.

He also downloaded my pacemaker readings and did adjustments in the consultation.

I would say go private and go prepared with a concise list of what has happened prior and results of any tests you have had done if possible. You are entitled to have copies of any tests (ecgs, xrays, blood tests) done at hospital ,I was only charged a £10 administration fee, your gp should also beable to give you relevant copies of tests he has carried out.

Good luck and a Happy 2016

[joebob]

I spent an hour and twenty minutes with my EP privately and it could have been longer but we exhausted the topic. Cost me £250.

[PeterWh]

Tip for everyone is to write your notes under different headings and do it in bullet point style. The reason for bullet points is it mentally forces the writer to be more focussed and put things in order and also anyone reading it (eg consultant, GP, etc) will retain mor and comprehend more. This is a technique that I developed / picked up when working and I did some trial testing.

[migmog]

I have had my EP for the past 8 years, he sees me on a 6 monthly interval. Always so caring, understandable and has a listening ear during at least a 30min consultation. Praise be to him, my saving grace!!

Mags