There was an item about these on the local radio this morning. A listener had contacted them last week. After displaying classic angina symptoms he went to see his GP who referred him to the clinic and told him it would be about four weeks wait. He (the patient) then contacted the radio station after finding out he would not be seen for 11 weeks! After their intervention he received an apology and is being seen this week.
When my GP referred me he said that it was unlikely I would be seen that week (I think it was Tuesday) but the following week. In the end I was seen after six weeks. When I queried the delay, I was told they were busy!
It turns out that there are national guidelines that on first referrals the patient should be seen within two weeks! So if anybody is experiencing long delays with this complain and quote the two week rule!
Written by
MichaelJH
Heart Star
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Hi Michael, I saw my GP on the 1st December, she thought I might have Angina instead of my asthma getting worse & referred me to the rapid access clinic here on the Wirral, I received an appointment for the 8th December. Each health authority appears to be different.
Hi sindia, when I was referred to a rapid access clinic it was a cardio rapid access & I was referred to the one at St Catherine’s in Birkenhead. I did see there was a rapid access clinic at Arrowe Park Cardiology Out Patients when I went for an appointment with my cardiologist a few weeks ago. It was him who referred me to Broad Green for a triple bypass last year. Hope you hear soon. Jean
There does seem to be a huge regional variation, often outside the guidelines. Because we have a target based health service different health trusts seem to focus on different areas. Last year two people I know were referred for colonoscopies. Fortunately both were clear - one got the results within five days of referral, the other ten! So it does seem unacceptable that a potential heart attack can wait months for their appointment!
I was told my initial consultation could last for five hours; an initial ECG and consultation followed by further tests. Bar being sent for blood tests there were no others on the day. When I heard there was a four month lead for an angiogram I opted to have it done privately. I then had a proper diagnosis two weeks later.
After having started getting chest pain again 16 years after my bypass our GP said the way forward was through the Rapid Access Chest Clinic at our local hospital and if anything further was needed I would then be referred to the Cardiology Dept at the Freeman in Newcastle. I got my appointment within 2 weeks.
On attending they did the usual - weight, height and suggested I needed an ECG - had I ever had one before, yes was the answer I have had one or two previously. At this stage they then spotted the long scar down the front of my chest and wondered if I could tell them what it was from!!
After explaining I had had a quad bypass previously I then asked if they had all my notes but no they did not. At this stage they then decided I was in the wrong clinic as I knew more than they did and needed to go to the Freeman instead. Going back to my GP I then suggested the route they had for this does not apply to everyone as in my case it was a waste of both their and my time. Locally the procedures have now changed.
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