Echo cardiogram backlog

[seasider18]

I had a letter cancelling my September 3 rd echo cardiogram (Aortic valve replaced May 2012 )and substituting a ten minute phone health check instead. They said they would reschedule my appointment in six months.

I asked if they were seeing many patients at the present time and was told that they have a 2,500 backlog/waiting list. I'm in Eastbourne but expect other areas are no better.

[10gingercats]

pretty awful but understandable in the light of covid.Well, you have 3 choices.Accept the 10 min tel chat,wait for 6 months which might turn into much longer if we get another lock down or try and go private if at all possible. I reckon my piggy bank may well be raided if waiting lists continue to get longer.

[Hidden]

Hi seasider,

Talk about .... 'synchronicity' ..... I had just read your post and some 45 minutes later the phone rang. My GP's surgery ..... reminding me on was due for an ECHO ..... yes I said.

I was then told there was a massive backlog for ECHO's and they just wanted to keep me in the loop and reassure me I was on the list. If my conditioned worsened then I was to ring the surgery immediately and let them know.

I told them for now I was fine and was having a 24 hr Holter monitor next week so we'll just see how we go.

I am down the pointy end of Cornwall, closer to Brittany than to Westminster.

Happy days ..... back to the red .... wine, not traffic lights !

John

[Physalis]

Oh dear, I had an echocardiogram before my ablation. That was on 6 July at the DGH - I'm in Eastbourne too. I was worried about being late but there was not a single person in the waiting area when I left. It took less than a quarter of an hour so I should imagine they will get through the backlog at quite a fast rate.

Saw the cardiologist in February, then there was the lockdown but they started up with ablations on 19 June.

Had an appointment in Opthalmology at the DGH in March, was referred to the Brighton Eye Hospital, was seen two weeks ago and will have a vitrectomy in December so things are moving.

Because your operation was done eight years ago and you feel alright, I guess yours is low priority. In a way that is quite good news.