Long waiting times

[dharkan]

Report in Guardian today and I am sure this affects most of us in this group.

theguardian.com/society/202...

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Hello

This makes disturbing reading to think this is what is happening

At the same time it made me feel grateful as much as I am struggling that I got my Bypass operation done x

[Chickenlou]

I read this too, shocking statistics (although good the BHF has brought it into the public eye.)

Even though my fiancé has had issues since his bypass in 2020 I’m so glad he had it when he did.

[RufusScamp]

Frightening. I feel lucky in that my condition manifested itself just before the arrival of the dread plague.

[HeartyJames in reply to RufusScamp]

There were massive problems developing before covid and covid just exacerbated it. Even without covid the stats would be deplorable by now and always the case under Tory governments

I have been waiting months for a CRT pacemaker cardiac implant and urgent. Last year was waiting endlessly for a holter device too that I never got yet despite chasing like a cheetah

[Kristin1812 Heart Star]

Very frightening for all of us who always used to felt confident the NHS was our safety net. It just isn’t any more. A recent wait for an Ambulance of well over an hour, with a suspected Heart Attack (Category 1 call) was extremely scary. Good the BHF are picking the issue up again.

[Coxtribe]

It is a worry and although not mentioned in the article, I suspect there are regional variations and it also depends on the type of referral. I received emergency treatment and therefore had an angiogram and echocardiogram within days. If I'd been referred via my GP, I would still be waiting.

I'm still waiting for the cardiac rehab team to contact me (after 6 weeks) yet have an appt for a cardiac MRI next week (after being advised it would be 2 to 3 months).

These are difficult times.

[Larneybuds]

It's a great worry for patients waiting fir appointments or surgery. I have severe mitral valve regurgitation and my urgent surgery was cancelled the night before due to no ICU bed available. I am still waiting six months down the line....no communication unless I have contacted them. I was told 2 months ago I was number six on the surgeons list....have had my pre op assessment again 3 weeks ago so thought surgery was imminent. After phoning this week I have been told they don't know when it will be. Life has been on almost complete hold, not just fir me but my partner too. I thought by now at least I might be in recovery over the summer but still can't plan or do much at all. My mobility is really suffering as i can't exercise as I would like to. Mt condition is going to worsen, not get better. Whenever I phone nobody seems very concerned and i feel like I get fobbed off. I have been as positive as i can be but have days now when I feel so flat not knowing what is going to happen. This is just my story....there will be people worse than me . The waiting times are so scary and it seems that heart and cancer patients are suffering some of the longest waits. It really is a system on its knees. My thoughts go out to everyone on here waiting to be seen or waiting for some kind of action. Thanks to BHF or any organisation who keep it in the spotlight xx

[bridgeit in reply to Larneybuds]

This must be extremely worrying for you and you have my sympathy.I've just seen a BBC Panorama documentary on the crisis in UK GP practices as well; private American companies buying up UK GP practices across the country and running them on the basis of profit instead of patient safety. A novel approach to England's NHS service.

Back to your issue. My contribution might not be of any use to you, but I suggest three things which will at least keep you occupied and perhaps reduce the feeling of inability to take any action.

First, write (email) your Clinical Commissioning Group, pointing out the excessive waiting time you've had and risks that it brings. Here's a web ref to the CCGs england.nhs.uk/ccgs/

and here's one to the Government website directing complaints to the CCGs

gov.uk/government/publicati...

Second, write to your MP. You'd be surprised how an MPs letter can alter outcomes and generate interest from delivery agents who previously showed disinterest and disengagement.

Third, keep a clear, written record of every conversation, every letter, every phone call, notification, appointment, consultation outcome - everything to do with your condition and progress (or lack of it). Note dates, times, names and content and keep the order chronological. It's a chore, but this is a powerful tool and it may serve you well in due course, particularly if you ever wish to engage medico-legal services.

I'm assuming you have not already been down these routes; my apologies if you have.

At least this might be something productive that you can do rather than sit and fret and wait, which seems to be the expectation from patients needing urgent treatment these days.

Good luck!

[Larneybuds in reply to bridgeit]

Thank you so much for your reply and for the advice. I am waiting until early next week to see if there is any news and if not I will look into what you have sent. It is extremely worrying but I am not only concerned for myself but others too....some who are much worse than me who are just in limbo on these waiting lists. The last thing I said to the surgeon when he cancelled my op was that I was worried I would now be put on the back burner.....he told me that would not happen and I would be a priority. In a couple of weeks it will be 7 months. The patients charter says you should be offered an alternative date within 28 days. I know all about the delays that Covid had brought but another date has never been discussed up to press. I thank you again for your very kind reply....really appreciate the advice xx

[Fair1]

It truly is a shame not on the staff but the people and government who have allowed this mismanagement to slide they fail constantly to invest in English doctors English students are blocked and denied opportunity so they ditch there studies and become bankers or lawyers After my hart attack last April2021 the specialist phoned me four months later to apologise to me saying that they had lost my file and no. One even knew about my condition he a shored me that he would get me back in and get me fitted with a hart starter seeing that I only have one hart valve working as the other three are severely damaged but we are now in June 2022 and no one knows anything when I ask so yes this report those not bear well try and keep chipper everyone and enjoy ever day with your loved ones as I do

[Jetcat]

I think we’ve seen the better days.? And I don’t think they will re appear anytime soon or if at all.!!!Everything everywhere is in a mess and seems to be just scraping by.

My elderly neighbour fell in the garden last week and was in great pain, the ambulance waiting time was 1 hour minimum.!!

Her daughter and friends managed to lay her down in the car to take her to hospital.

She needed surgery the day after and is still in hospital recovering from a broken pelvis .!!!

[Puffin1963]

This is shameful....trying to stay off politics but I think we know who' s to blame ...I too was told I would have to wait , and wait ...and wait....I said I would take any cancellation anywhere, I also informed my MP and copied her into every email sent ...she was on the verge of contacting the CCG for me when I was offered a cancellation with 48 hours notice as long as rapid return covid test was negative.

[Thingyyy]

I'm affected by this. I've fallen between hospitals (the referral system is atrocious) and now finally referred to a specialist heart surgery. The guy on the phone said the usual wait is 32 weeks, but it's so long now that they are not giving time frames at all. I had a bit of a cry because I also have an unrelated issue that needs surgery, but they won't do that until I've had all the tests because of worries about general anesthetic.

My family are saying I should go private but that would be £35k. I'd go into debt.

We're at the point where people are forced into private healthcare and debt because of the long term underfunding of the NHS. It's shameful.

[DasyB]

Yes I am affectd by this too - referral last November, for open heart AVR and in May a CT scan showed I also need bypass surgery, no clues as to when they might operate, was told they could not even say if it would be this year. Life on hold, having to cancel work as not able to know if I would be able to complete things, got a pre-op appointment for 30th of June and tested positive for Covid that morning, so 7 months and counting, living on borrowed time. Also I have been putting off getting some dodgy moles checked out, and now growths in my sinus. I already know they will not give me a general anaesthetic because of my heart. It is scary really. I wish they would take some time to talk to us about these things, surely mental care is as important as the physical. So glad we have this forum at least.