Lancashire cardiac centre Blackpool

[Van28]

Hi. As I’ve mentioned previously Ive been waiting 18 mths for a 2nd Ablation at the Lancashire cardiac centre. I’m in persistent af, had cardioversion a yr ago which only lasted 2 mths. Just wondering is anyone else waiting or recently had an ablation with general anaesthetic at the LCC, & how long have you waited. I was told there are few general anaesthetic ablations coming through at moment & im only down as a routine. 😏. Quality of life is rubbish as I get breathless/tired all the time. Also have low blood pressure. Had to cancel hip replacement twice as HR is constantly all over the shop. Sorry for rambling, Feeling sorry for myself.

[momist]

So sorry to hear your troubles. I had my ablation there in June last year, after delays due to a miscommunication followed by the pandemic. The '3 month follow up' finally occurred by telephone 14 months later, and then a month later I had a 7 day monitor test. I've had a copy of the result from that, but await the EP's opinion and notification of a way forward.

The arrhythmia nurses are fine to deal with, but the surgeons are obviously way too busy and very slow to act. Dr Chalil now has an approachable secretary though, so I suggest you enquire there what the delay might be. Good luck, and I hope they come through soon.

[Van28 in reply to momist]

Thanks momist for your reply, was starting to think I was the only one going there😀. Glad you managed to get sorted. I have contacted the secretary who just messaged me cardiology nos who messaged me EP waiting list coordinator nos & she was the one who said about GA s being few & far between😏 Did you have a General or sedation. ?

[momist in reply to Van28]

I had turned down an ablation by an EP new to the team (on his second day there!) and that was part of the miscommunication. Dr Chalil was left with the impression that I wanted only him to do the job, and this also caused some delay. Dr Chalil insists on a GA, and I was quite happy with that approach. It gives them time to do the job right without pressure, in my opinion, but yes, it needs more staff and costs them more to do that way. I can see that with the current staff shortages, this puts a lot of delay on such things.

[Van28 in reply to momist]

yes totally agree about shortages.

[Kendalghost]

I'm sorry to hear that you seem to be waiting such a long time. I am waiting too for my second ablation at Blackpool but I've not waited over a year yet. Although I haven't seen Dr Chalil for him to agree with what my surgery thinks. Did you see Dr C to get on the list for your second one?? If you an find out if there are delays could you let me know?

[Van28 in reply to Kendalghost]

hi kendalghost. Thanks for your reply. I last spoke to dr c 2 days after I went back into af, this was the routine phone follow up to my 1st ablation( 2yrs in sinus). Luckily it happened then as he was going to discharge me. then had letter to have cardioversion( lasted 2 mths) & that he had put me on ablation waiting list, nothing since. Again tried phoning secretary & Ep waiting list coordinator today both not at their desks. 😏 Will try again tomorrow. 🤞🏻Are you having general anaesthetic or sedation?

[Kendalghost]

Hi Van28, I had my first ablation towards the end of September 2019 and didn't get over it till mid January. I think I was sedated as no one mention a general anaesthetic. Months after the ablation a nurse phoned and that was the only check that I had. I had about 18 months of being normal (probably not a good word to use) which was lovely but then the af started again. My issue is that I have such a low pulse I cannot take any medication. When I had a heart stress test they refused to the stress part as my pulse was in the low30s and going to the low 40s. That was af and I was asymptomatic. I will be speaking to my GP in a week or so and will ask about the referral and will then ring Blackpool. Good luck tomorrow with the phone calls.

[Van28 in reply to Kendalghost]

will let you know if I find anything out.