Echo waiting list.....?

[twosparks]

Hubby had two Heart Attacks and 2 stents fitted. three months later, telecon with consultant - he was bothered about lack of breath, so booked an echo test. That was nearly a month ago, and we are apparently on a waiting list. Anyone else having trouble with cardiac care? Wondering if its worth having the test done privately. Feel very worried for my hubby who is four months down the road to fitness but with no support from anyone and we feel very much on our own. sorry for the moan but its late at night and hubby feeling down about things.

[Kristin1812 Heart Star]

It sounds as if NHS care varies a lot, depending on where you are.

I have had good care from GP who has been liaising with my Cardiologist 20 miles away. It’s all been by phone, though she offered me a face to-face recently, and I’ve just had an angiogram, which had been re-scheduled after being delayed 5 months due to Covid.

Local A and E has been another matter. Usually prompt and efficient, but now they seem very stressed, with a higher proportion of agency nurses who were struggling even to find stuff, and a Consultant who was irritated (with me!) when I’d been sent in by my GP.

Our local Private Hospital has been taken over for NHS work, so I assume private work is not so easy to access.

[MacRodney in reply to Kristin1812]

Yes same for me. Between my GP and the hospital things have moved smoothly, think it comes down unfortunately to a post code lottery

[cowhide]

Echo capacity seems very patchy. I have to have an echo every year , normally around April/May. Obviously we didn't even bother to book it because of Covid, but at end of June my consultant sent in the request and I was contacted 48 hours later and had my echo within 10 days!!!! In Health, a private sector provider, does most of the GP referrals round here and then takes other referrals (such as that from my consultant) if they have capacity. This is in Leicestershire where they do echos in all the cottage hospitals. Certainly seems to keep the waiting lists down. Hope your hubby is sorted soon.

[Kristin1812 Heart Star]

All rather different then? .....we need to check locally, I guess?

[Prada47]

Hi TRST

Quick question how do you monitor your Kidneys ??

Wash Face Space Keep Well

[Prada47]

I wasn't aware of a blood test that you can do yourself at home interesting !!

Hands Face Space do all three and Stay Safe !!

[marypw]

I've just had to wait about 2 months for a routine NHS echo, following a phone appointment.

A private echo costs £200-£300 - the consultant was in the room for most of it so I got the results straight away.

I think a lot depends on where you live at the moment!

[Girlfriday53]

Hi twosparks I am the same, I had a telephone consultation last Thursday and after explaining that I was getting very breathless and my feet and ankles were swelling (never had that before) I was told by the cardiologist that it ‘could’ be the Ticagrelor meds I’m on but I would also need an echo cardiogram but couldn’t tell me when! That was the first time a doctor has spoken to me since I had four stents fitted in April and with Covid there has been no rehab just left worrying and trying to plod along. I’m not sure what I should or shouldn’t be doing. I think because of Covid we (and other serious illness) are being left by the wayside

[twosparks]

I am so sorry, you must be in a real state - I hope you have someone to talk to. It's really terrible I understand the need for caution re covid but I agree we are being left in a massive void. Doctrs are rubbish and we are on our own. But I will be fighting all the way for my hubbie. Since writing tho, we have a tooth extraction to deal with and that's worrying too. All the best to you. Keep fighting. Bless you.