Contact with cardiologist

[Lucyjoujou]

I was given a monitor to wear for 48 hours over three weeks ago. Since returning it I have had no results from the cardiologist. I have tried phoning the hospital on two occasions as my GP suggested that I should chase them, but have had no response. The admin team said that they would email the doctor but I have heard nothing more. I am becoming increasingly breathless and tired and feel that I need to see a doctor perhaps so that my medication can. be changed or treatment given, but it seems impossible to speak to a consultant or registrar and equally impossible to get an appointment. Is this usual or should I see the consultant privately as I have done once before?

[BobD Volunteer]

Probably not much you can do right now but in future do ask for copies of any test results , ecgs etc to be sent direct to you. This is normally your right. Your GP should have been sent copies by now. AF is a chronic condition and not generally life threatening so these things are not usually considered that urgent even if you may feel so.

[Bshersey]

I'm not sure how it works in the UK. But here in US I go to the ER. Walk into the ER and say the words "chest pain" and you go to the front of the line. It's how I got cardioverted in January, nuclear stress in April and cardiac catheterization in May.

[Bagrat]

Have you been in touch with PALS patient advice and liaison service. Should be on hosp website or phone switchboard and ask for PALS. They should be able to help you with this. Every hosp has one.

nhs.uk/chq/Pages/1082.aspx?...

[Lucyjoujou in reply to Bagrat]

I didn't know about this and will certainly try them if it is delayed much longer.

[CDreamer]

I know in our area the backlog is disgraceful - so I would say at the moment - it’s normal - shouldn’t be - but is. It sometimes helps if the GP rings, I know mine did for me - it still took weeks for letter to come through though.

[Lucyjoujou in reply to CDreamer]

My GP has tried phoning and gets the same reply as me. She is very frustrated by the situation.

[mavisrich]

I had mine over 9 weeks ago and it is still not 'processed'!! It is chronic in North Wales! A F is certainly not important here!!!

[Lucyjoujou]

I find it very worrying that they take so long. I hope yours comes through soon.

[Vonnieruth]

I have been waiting 4 weeks now for a AF clinic appointment Apparently there's a back log I'm now waiting for appointments to contact cardiologist secretary and get back to me

[Lucyjoujou in reply to Vonnieruth]

Hope you get your appointment soon. I hadn't realised that there were such clinics! I would just love to be able to discuss my heart problem with a cardiologist as I worry about it and I think that makes it worse.

[Vonnieruth]

My gphone sent me to our acute medicine ward where they try to treat you and send you home The doctor there arranged for me to have heart echo scan and 24 ecg.They then phoned me with results