Does anyone know what's happening with outpatient appointments at the moment? After having to pay for a private consultation as my NHS appointment was cancelled for 29th June and no other date given. The private consultant was part of the team that fitted my stents last year. He has put me on the NHS waiting list and I've had a confirmation that I'm on the waiting list but no idea of dates.
Cheers
Hi. I think there is a pandemic happening and delaying outpatient appointments. But since you went private for your consultation why not go private for any future treatment required? Or like the majority wait until NHS catches up
I did wonder what was going on...... I was in hospital about a month ago and was on the old covid ward, that had been closed due to the lack of patients. I had heard that they were reopening the outpatients appointments in my area and some others that's why I asked the honest question. My salary protection insurance will refund me for the private consultation, unfortunately they dont pay for the procedure or I would have it at the drop of a hat.
I had an ultrasound last week and have a CT booked for next week so things are moving but they are mainly sorting the urgent cases first. Most NHS Consultants are doing telephone outpatient appts, not ideal but better than nothing.
I believe the honest answer is along the lines of "how long is a piece of string?"
Seems like the NHS is trying to pick up the pieces from the pandemic, but also trying to keep ready for a second wave.
Let us not forget that most clinical staff are trying to get as much time off work to recover from the trauma of what they have had to endure, because if it happens again they will need to be as recovered (mentally) as can be.
Recently had an Angiogram only to disocver one of the doctors assisting with them and Echo Cardiograms was also the doctor doing the ward rounds in the heart and lung ward at the hospital. Which explains why some days he did not turn up until 2 or 3 in the afternoon!
my stress test was cancelled (June 2nd) i emailed my cardiologist saying i wasn’t best pleased and i’d like to be booked in asap (did this in a very polite way 😃)
i rcvd a letter on tuesday - re booked for monday 22nd 👍
press them and ask for it asap. they can only say ‘no, you’ll have to wait’
I am sure that the situation varies from area to area. My hospital, Basildon, was closed so I went private. I had to travel to the West End of London.
Basildon is now "open" and working its way through the very urgent cases.
Good luck. The waiting is disturbing. Try to stay calm if you possibly can
Colin
I got one of the first Heart CT Scans when Basildon re-opened.
I think in fairness, that hospital got hit quite hard by Covid 19, as did Essex in general.
Now waiting for a next appointment 
Thanks, hope your appointment happens soon. Stay safe.
Ive just heard my appointment in August is now to be over the phone. Disappointed as it will not include the Echocardiogram and Im desperate to find out how my heart has recovered and is now performing following HA and stents in January. I will be asking for this.
My echocardiogram was don e in January ( I didn’t know there was anything wrong with my heart until 3 days before that). An appointment was made for an angiogram in March but was postponed. I had the angio on Monday this week. The ward had just reopened. I have been told by the surgeon that my AVR should follow in 6-8 weeks. There will be a backlog and also emergency cases to be seen too. I hope you are given a date soon. Best wishes.
Just received a letter today to say I’m on the waiting list and that if there is any further work they will do it at the same time as the angiogram. So happy with that only waiting once.
Angiogram
Angiogram 
Angiogram 
