Cardiologist

[itsanass1964]

Does anyone on here know the best Cardiologist at Aberystwyth hospital please and experience.....thank you...Colin Mid Wales..

[Desanthony]

If you can ask to see an Electrophysiologist (EP) They deal more with AF and rate control. I live in West Wales and in Pembrokeshire when I was first diagnosed with persistent AF and no Cardiologist at the local hospital - they hadn't been able to recruit one for 14 months so paid to see a private cardiologist/EP. Within the year I moved to Carmarthenshire and got to see a great Cardiologist who had an EP from the Swansea area attached to her team. Its amazing to think that its not all that long ago but very few EP's here at that time. I had three successful cardioversions which kept me in normal sinus rhythm (NSR) for about 3+ years out of 4. was about to have an ablation the April of the first lock down which for various reasons was cancelled 3 times - the last time was because of an outbreak of Covid in the Cardiology Department of the hospital that would treat me. Fast forward to mid-2022 and because it was more than a year since any scans and ECG's etc done had to have all new tests - and although I was in NSR at the time these scans found that my heart had remodelled itself so they believed further cardioversions or ablations would be unlikely to put me into or keep me in NSR. I thenwent back into low rate permanent AF but quite happy still doing all the things I used to do. Unable to take rate control medication as it made me feel worse than the AF so just on Apixaban anticoagulant.

Good Luck.

[itsanass1964 in reply to Desanthony]

Thank you so much...I did pay private a yearcago to see a cardiologist private at Hereford Nuffield...had a 10 day monitor on confirmed afib with bit of a flutter...just still on a tiny dose of bisoprolol lol 1.25gms was on 10mg initially 2 years ago..monitorvwas £800...now he just says give it 8 months or so and ring me..hmmmm...did mention maybe ablation in the future..no thinners I asked doctor again about thinners..he said Chad score is low..im 59...lol..he said min age 60..both my parents had strokes..I don't get it all..get quite alot of skipped beats n thumps with tachycardia not often though...thank you for reply...Desanthony

[Buzby62]

Hi, I started knowing about my PAF episodes in Nov 2020 at age 58 after getting an Apple Watch to monitor my walking during the pandemic. I think I may have been having them for some time but blissfully unaware. Seen a cardiologist privately and was put on a little bisoprolol and apixaban, had further checks and was put on a 6 monthly review. Carried on having episodes monthly, not very symptomatic but now I knew the signs. Knowing what I know now I may have pushed to see an EP sooner as others have replied as they are the arrhythmia specialists. Seen an EP in September this year and now on the list for an ablation. I now think the sooner you have conversations with an EP to discuss your options of treatments (drugs or procedures) the better. Not sure if they have Electrophysiology at Aberystwyth but they do in Swansea. Hope this is helpful.

[Desanthony in reply to Buzby62]

Yes I went to Swansea to see an EP he is part of my cardiology team - even though I had been referred on the NHS to see him by the cardiologist I did pay for the first consultation with him to start the ball rolling. At the time the wait for an ablation in Swansea was 3 months once you had seen the EP - I imagine now it is much longer. I am presuming he is still there he is very good and the talks given to us (we had classes we attended in the evenings for a few weeks where specialist nurses explained everything we needed to know about our condition and the ablation and checked our AF were absolutely brilliant - though not sure if they are carrying on with those post pandemic. All in all a very good level of care.

[RaySyl]

“Best cardiologist”? This question implies that those of us without private arrangements have a choice. The staffing situation in some parts of the country are such that you will lucky to find a full complement of staff in any department!

[itsanass1964 in reply to RaySyl]

Aye true mt..

[Singwell]

I'm in mid Wales too. Can you not get a referral to the Hereford's visiting EP? He comes in every 6 weeks from QEH Birmingham. I suppose if you have a largish hospital closer to you than we do here in Presteigne it's more difficult. But worth a shot! Ask your GP if they can get a referral to Hereford NHS cardiology and with luck you can get on the list for the EP.

[itsanass1964 in reply to Singwell]

I actually had a private appointment with a Cardiologist in Nuffield Hereford a year and a half ago...and 6 monthly chat but doesn't seem over concerned or explain very well...on NHS my doctor put me on the list for a consultation that's all first...December 2024..🤣🤣🤣🤣

[2learn]

Hi, I'd echo Singwell. I 'm in Herefordshire and have found their cardiology v helpful. Consultants and EPs come from Birmingham on regular basis and major procedures are done in Brum.

[En85]

Hi all, can I ask how do you get referred? I live in the Valleys and I only got to see the nurse in Prince Charles hospital in Merthyr. GP said they referred me for cardiologist but I was never called, when asked the nurse she said cardiologist is very busy. I ended up using private insurance and seeing an EP in Cardiff, I got through them a Cardioversion, thankfully successful but I found the EP not really on my case, so I ended up with someone in London. I had an awful time trying to get access to any health care and I spent a lot of money. I would really like to have a reference point in Wales. Can anyone help please?

[Desanthony in reply to En85]

The EP I saw in Swansea was very good. Can you be referred there. Thing is everywhere must be backed up to the hilt now so doubt you would get an quick appointment but if you can get an NHS referral and then get a private consultation with the EP you are referred to then you do move up the list a little.

Best of Luck.

[Buzby62 in reply to En85]

What you have been told is right, cardiology have been overwhelmed I think in the last few years, maybe because of all these wearables making people aware of arrhythmias or something else, who knows. The process should be your GP refers you and then chases up your referral if required (good luck with that). In November 2020 when I became aware everything was in a mess so I went privately to a cardiologist that also works locally in the NHS, I had initial consultation, echocardiogram and follow up consultation privately and then transferred to his NHS list for 6 monthly reviews. Many on this forum have done the same I believe. My last 6month review was 13 months to put things in perspective, then I was referred to their colleagues in electrophysiology and things have moved on more swiftly. Ultimately the answer to your question is your GP should do it, try and get the name of the consultant they refer you to and speak to their secretary is my advice, they have been very helpful to me.

[En85]

I even complained to the local health board, after that they treated me with a bit more humanity but no substantial progress. I think I gave up with GP for the sake of my health really, the whole drama of getting medical attention made my life a misery much more than AF itself. I had a monitor fitted from hospital which no doctor have ever looked at... it's just unbelievable. At the moment I'm in NSR since cardiovertion in August. I just would like to have someone I can rely on if something happens, that's closer than London. If someone can provide names, even in private messages, it would be very helpful. The EP I was seeing in Cardiff was not really nice to me in few occasions and also he put me on Flecainide for life (which previously gave me flutter too, again ignored by him and bypassed has "psychological"), which Flecainide has been since removed by two other EPs (the one in London and one in Milan), so imagine who I was dealing with...

[Buzby62 in reply to En85]

hmtsanctamaria.org/consulta...

hmtsanctamaria.org/consulta...

There’s two that I know of do private consultations

[En85 in reply to Buzby62]

Thank you 🙏