Anybody been to see Dr Saagar Mahida?

[DaveT81]

Just as it says above - anybody been treated or had a consultation with Dr Mahida?

I'm getting desperate and I've waited almost 3 months to hear about my rearranged 7-day tape (I know it will have been delayed due to the pandemic) but I feel like I need a fresh start under a better cardiologist.

The guy I saw at Fazakarley hospital basically admitted that, unless my heart looked in real distress on the tape, it's unlikely they'd do anything anyway. I don't know how some of these guys become doctors, such disinterest in treating people.

I have afib, ablation in 2017 but the last 6 months activity has ramped up, in terms of palpitations, ectopics and thudding heart. No afib but it feels as if that's just around the corner. It's really starting to impact my life, sleep, etc so I need to see a really good doc and Dr Mahida looks to tick all the boxes. He's just quite expensive so want to do my due diligence first.

[jennydog]

So you're in / near Liverpool.

I see Dr Derrick Todd at LHCH. He came out top in the Daily Mail feature about which doctor other doctors would consult. He's an Electrophysiologist and he does do private work at Spire Stretton,Warrington.

[DaveT81 in reply to jennydog]

Hi, yeah I had my ablation procedure done by Dr Todd, unfortunately I don't drive so can't get to Warrington at the moment and it's a nightmare trying to get a referral to see him as he's in high demand!

[jennydog in reply to DaveT81]

My actual ablation at LHCH was done by Dr Richard Snowden who was excellent.

Would Dr Todd not see you privately at Broadgreen ?

[DaveT81 in reply to jennydog]

I don't know, actually. Do they do private care at BG? I know he had his own website, I may see if I can contact his secretary directly.

[jennydog in reply to DaveT81]

I don't know but you could ask. I only know that he does private work at Spire, Stetton because I mentioned that I had had a rotten experience with Orthopedics at Spire, Abergele. Not all doctors do private work but he definitely does and Dr Snowdon does too as I saw his web site.

[CDreamer]

LCH has a really good reputation for AF, Fazakarley specialises in major trauma. I come from Liverpool and that’s where I would go if I was still in the NW.

[DaveT81 in reply to CDreamer]

I'd previously been under Dr Todd at LHC at Broadgreen and he was great but whenever I contact the heart rhythm nurses I'm told that, unless I'm actually in afib or able to catch it, to just go to my GP and ask for a referral. Hence why I'm looking to go private. I don't feel I can't wait another 4 or 5 months.

I'm from, and still in, Liverpool myself but waiting for an NHS referral now following the last few months will be a long wait.

[CDreamer in reply to DaveT81]

Have you got a Kardia? They can be very helpful at providing evidence of AF.

[DizzyD in reply to DaveT81]

Hi DaveT81 although your post is 8 months old I feel compelled to reply to it at this late date. Did you ever get to go for a consult with Dr Madida? If you did how did it go and what was the outcome? At the minute, Feb 2021 I am in a same situation as you were back in mid 2020 with same heart condition, based in Liverpool, and feel I need to go private.

[DaveT81 in reply to DizzyD]

Hi, sorry my response was a bit slow!

Yes, I did have a Zoom consultation with him. He was a really nice guy but because I've had an ablation, he didn't think there was anything else for me to worry about after having a 2 week Zio patch on.

It's a lot more than I got from my NHS cardiologist so I would definitely recommend trying a private Dr. Even if they're only interested in extracting more money from you, you'll get more joy. Especially as the NHS is a little more overwhelmed these days.

I'd been playing with various supplements that are good for heart health and I'd found a happy medium, to an extent, but my heart still plays up A LOT. It's really unsettling at times and one thing all doctors, whether NHS or private, seem to ignore is how this impacts on our quality of life. Which is massive, for me anyway.