Anyone had pacemaker fitted privately in U.K.?

[Love101cats]

I know a good many of you who have had it done privately will be on a private health plan anyway. But what about those like me who don't have private health insurance? I am going round in circles. I have tried for a year. I thought I was getting somewhere but repeated tests seem to be slowing everything down. So I've had a recent ultrasound and the technician did think I would be a pacemaker candidate. But after 4 weeks I've not had any written info but more appointments by phone. In the meantime I'm have bad episodes with heart rate dropping to 25. Called paramedics! Private Hospitals request a referral, im not seeing any one to ask for referral, g.p. is only offering telephone appointments booked 3 weeks in advance, duty doctor just fobbed me off with the age comment. So there must be a system for applying for private care. Or maybe not!

[Kristin1812 Heart Star]

You said you have had ‘phone appointments’. We’re these with your GP? If not, your GP can refer you, if they think it is indicated.

[Love101cats in reply to Kristin1812]

Sadly that's the problem. They don't. It may be because my local hospital does not do heart surgery though we do have cardiologists and a specialist ward. So relationships aren't there between g.p. and heart surgeon. I also realise that I probably would need to have all the tests repeated by a private team due to nature of heart surgery. You can see I am clutching at straws! I dont want to regret not trying. Thank you for reply.

[bantam12 in reply to Love101cats]

If your local hospital can't help ask to be referred to a different Cardiology unit.

You will need to have lots of tests and possibly also see an EP before they even think about a pacemaker, it took 6 years of repeated tests and different cardiologists before I finally had my pacemaker fitted.

It's a long slog and you just have to be persistent but going private for all the tests and any procedures would no doubt be hugely expensive, I'm seeing a private consultant for something else and the costs are crazy !

[Love100cats in reply to bantam12]

Thank you. I have heart failure nurses tomorrow so I will start the merry go round again but you never know if one day I might find myself on an NHS list!

[Alison_L in reply to Love100cats]

Hi 100 (do you realise you've switched back from 101?). I always found my HF nurse (when I had one) has a lot of influence, so if you can persuade her to get things moving, you should get somewhere with the NHS without having to go private. Alternatively, how about having a one-off private consult with a cardiologist. That doesn't commit you to further private work, but the consultant should be able to set your mind at rest and get you onto an NHS list if necessary.

[Love100cats in reply to Alison_L]

Thank you. I have heart failure appointment tomorrow so thats the plan. I did ask about cardiologist but I haven't seen one for a year. All this is happening now because I was admitted to hospital a few weeks ago and on 24 hour monitoring for 5 days. Now I have a cardiologist I am talking to in 3 weeks.

[Love100cats in reply to Alison_L]

Its a long story but a new tablet, health unlocked wasn't happy with 100 so I added +1 but couldn't get rid of old one? So many think im a daft old lady. They're right.

[Alison_L in reply to Love100cats]

I'm 59 and don't understand any of this "new" technology

[IanF7]

Mine was implanted privately but under a healthcare scheme. The thing that got to the bottom of it for me was a 'loop recorder' which I had implanted. They needed to take the data off prior to a scan which could have erased it and as a result a lot of issues were noted, so, I was privately admitted the next day.

[Love100cats in reply to IanF7]

Thank you. I am building up a picture of what could happen.

[seasider18]

Best bet would be to make a private appointment with an E.P.

[Love100cats in reply to seasider18]

I wish. My NHS has 3 cardiologists , 1 small cardiology ward, 4 hf nurses. I haven't met an EP yet. Closest for surgery is about 100 miles. And a g.p. who only makes appointments 3 weeks in advance and only by phone. And im too old to move!

[seasider18 in reply to Love100cats]

I thought that our doctor was difficult to contact but your needs an assistant.