Hi
I wanted to ask if telephone appointments are normal now in Cardiology?
My first appointment is not face to face as first thought but by telephone. I guess it’s a lot of questioning but seems odd as there is no scope for the clinician to examine the patient.
Yes, I've had several telephone appointments but many face to face too when needed
I've had about three all telephone and it's difficult to understand it hear some of them.
It is likely to depend on what medical conditions initiated your need to see the cardiologist in the first place, the protocols that the local cardio team now follow regarding face to face vs. telephone consultations and what is planned for you. In my experience the norm seems to be telephone for most things since Mar 2020. That said I did see a cardiologist earlier this year as a follow up to short stays in hospital with probable heart issues and that was face to face but I was given an ECG a few minutes before I met the cardiologist.
Yes I had several telephone appointments too before seeing the Consultant. Make a list of the sequence of events to explain to the Cardiologist, and a list of questions that you want answered. Its hard enough to get any kind of appointment these days so make the best use of this one. Good Luck.
Hi TheBoys For the last two years I have had 2 minute telephone calls, no face to face.
had the telephone appointment and went well. Very nice, thorough and professional. Interesting that he could not see my notes- I thought Hospitals could see all the patients details.
Medway and Maidstone where we live are 10 miles apart but they do not share records at all.Frustrating when you are sent by Medway or visa versa.
hi I think that a telephone call is now way the cardiologist prefers as I had a phone consultation just the other week .it went really well and he asked if I was concerned with anything and if so he would see me face to face .hope all goes well for you
I usually have my Cardiology appointments face to face. I was admitted from my May appointment.
F2F in July, next appointment end of November is again F2F.
Neurology mixed, alternate face to face or by phone.
I am surprised the Cardiologist didn'thave access to your notes. At the RF all the notes are now electronically kept on the hospital's electronic patient records system.
You can ask for a face to face appointment. Contact the Cardiologist's medical secretary or Patient Advisory Liaison Service PALS.
I was surprised he had no notes at all. But he listened to my recent past and it looks like he will get a copy of my discharge letter from the GP. I explained what the RF had done and their next steps so I think his hospital will bow out and avoid duplicating.
I go next week to get a 24 hour ECG fitted.
I just long to have an answer.
Hi. I have a Follow-Up Appointment with the Cardiologist at the Local Hospital next Week (Face to Face)! Maybe it is different wherever you are. Postcode Lottery and all that 
I have had two years now of myocarditis and heart failure. I saw my cardiologist for 10 minutes one and a half years ago, all the rest of the appointments have been telephone appointments. Both my diagnosis of heart failure and myocarditis happened through me dragging myself into A&E. All my care have been through me dragging my self to A&E when needed. None of the hospitals communicate with my cardiologist. So all communication between the various medics has been because I have made sure the files have been sent around, and I have basically been acting as a secretary for the various people.
The A&E people at St Mary’s in London basically told me I would have gotten better care in Syria. The system is completely broken in Ealing at least (not sure it is better anywhere else).
So what I found is that find out what hospital has the best A&E in you area, stick to going to the same one each time so your file is cohesive, and make sure your GP’s are good.
hi I had a phone appointment a few weeks a go but the week before I went to the hospital to see the heart failure nurses
I have had telephone appts with my cardiologist since my ablation in 2018, some appts lasting up to 40 mins. As he says he gains everything from test results and gains nothing by seeing patients, plus less impact on the environment from no travelling (his words not mine).
Yes in Nottingham University Hospitals they are face to face appointments. Long waiting times for investigations and it's been 4 months since I saw the cardiology recommending investigations and I've had an Echo, ECG, 6 day heart monitor and MRI scan of kidneys but not yet got an appointment to follow up on these. May be after Xmas? So if you have an appointment keep it!
my Cardiology appointments have all been telephone appointments. The only time I saw cardiologist or EP in person was when I attended A&E twice and before, during and after my Ablation procedure. In my area Cardiology Dept is stretched and it’s quicker to speak to patients over the telephone.
I had my pacemaker checked at the hospital about 3 months ago
Got a telephone appointment next week
I will do what someone suggested and make a few note before hand
hi TheBoys. I have a telephone appointment scheduled for December. I’m very disappointed that it’s not face to face. I was hoping for an ECG at least. They can’t do tests on the phone.
My initial appointments were all face to face , but that was pre COVID, since then I have had several appointments by phone but these were only as follow ups which have helped me get tests organised via the GP.
I completely understand your concern , when it comes to a new condition how can they properly diagnose without a face to face and physical examination . Even if they assume you have a non urgent problem , it is only an assumption based on the GP findings, and it wouldn't be the first time for someone to go to a Consultant expecting to be told they have one thing , only to discover after that doctor has spotted extra symptoms that they need something else.
I'd prepare really well for the call with a list of symptoms and questions you want answering. You could also contact the Consultants office to see if there are any blood tests , x-rays or other tests that you could have prior to the call so you have the results to discuss. These tests can then be requested from your GP Surgery either by you or the Consultants office by phone. You can even ring up and ask your GP surgery to arrange for you to have your heart rate , blood pressure and an ECG done at the surgery the day prior to your appointment and then email those results to your Consultant to look at during your phone appointment.
Get a copy of all your recent test results to refer too which you have the right to request from the GP, it wouldn't be the first time that a Consultant hadn't looked at results yet and they need reminding of what your tests show. It's best to keep a file of all your test results and request to be sent copies of hospital letters to keep in a file you can take with you to any appointments with a doctor.
When you have your call , you can politely voice your concerns and request that you receive a face to face appointment as you would prefer a physical examination so that you can be confident with your diagnosis and sure that something hasn't been missed that you may not have realised was crucial on the phone.
If they refuse , you can always contact the Department or make a request via the Chief Executive Office.
Good Luck
I have had phone consultations from my referring cardiologist, but face to face with the ones who were going to operate on me.
I have had both telephone and face to face. Both equally good seem to be able to give you more time this way. By doing telephone they can help.more people and the calls are always very focused and a two way conversation. I always plan what i want out of appointment have questions written down and have information for them written down. The most important thing they need to help get to bottom of what is going on is a clear detailed history of what you are experiencing
Mine was face to face a few weeks back. She checked heart and had an ecg. Impossible to give a proper consultation unless you’ve had prior tests or that’s what they want to do first.
Hi I had a heart attack and two cardiac arrests in July and have had no face to face appointments. Only had one 5-10 min phone call with a cardiac nurse and then told I was discharged with no follow up appointments unless I had more issues. I asked her if this was normal procedure which she stated it was for our trust (Northumbria).
Thats a bloody disgrace.
I’m afraid that - in my experience- since Covid a lot more has been happening via phone and video calls.
I have two like this next week!
They carry out telephone appointments more frequently since Covid and is going to be the norm from now on I would say. They can not do any tests or visual assessments on the phone and in my opinion is just a lazy handy way of going about your profession. Results from tests etc are fine by phone but not annual physical checks, this is my honest opinion. Makes life much easier for them.
Hi i had a telephone appt. He asked me loads of questions and then said i needed to have an angiogram/angioplasty and an echocardiogram etc. Its quicker than parking and then waiting in the clinic for ages to see the specialist but as you say, there is no opportunity for them to examine you. I preferred the telephone consultation to be honest.
I completely understand your concern because I am a cardiac patient. Telephone consultation far from the features of Hippocrates oath. How can you judge a patient just by his voice and the contents of the vocal interaction. Leave aside othere things like palpation, auscultation and different ways of examination depending on the age, type of illness. BODY LANGUAGE AND THE WAY HE WALKS ON TO MEET YOU. The problem is the NHS system is controlled by mangers and not by clinicians and these are the people who matters more.
two years ago I had cardiologist phone call, had to tap out my heartbeat on the table, !!!!!!
lol - that’s incredible. I m surprised they don’t get you to put the handset to your chest. I have a lot of rheumatology appts by phone but at least they are working off my latest bloods; breathing tests and anything else they might have ordered up.
yes seems half or more are being done by phone,i guess he is assessing you before you have a f2f appt,ive waited 3yrs for my mnthly appt with cardioogist,this was 1st one with him since b4covid,,all the rest have been tel appts,but from consultants that dont know my case and who were ringing from birmingham,cambridge etc etc
I have asked for face to face a few times and been seen. Try asking . It is esp. important if you have hearing loss.I do not. Husband does and always geta face to face.
Absolutely spot on, Ask for a F2F if you want one. In my opinion/experience, these days you have to help manage your care and politely prompt things along at times. I'm happy to do this and thus far it has been successful.
it seems that way. I felt reassured by my telephone appt yesterday so ventured out this afternoon for first time in weeks and now feel stressed. With pulse level up.
Good on you for getting out, keep going with that. Short successful, regular, outings should help put your mind at rest whilst further tests and results are gained. Anxiety levels you mention should reduce as your confidence improves.Go for it.......
after the anxiety of going out I slept really well and today feel great. There is still a nice world out there!
Most definitely, get out and enjoy it as much as you can. It really is the place to be when anxiety comes a knocking. Helps the physical goals aswell.Enjoy.......
Obviously a lot depends on resources where you live. A relative who lives in the dales has had several months of home visits by cardiac nurses following diagnosis and a recent f2f follow appt with a cardiologist who did an echo gram. I also think it depends on what tests you have already had and if the appt is to review them - or to request them
I guess it depends. Personally, my initial appointment was face to face and I was then referred for further tests. The results were then communicated by letter and, as it happens, the cardiologist called earlier today to advise on next steps, which include discharging me back to the care of my GP.
I was diagnosed with a heart condition in November 2019, GP handled it at first. Referred to cardiologist April 2020 after an A&E visit, three telephone consultations since, he upped one medication and added another. This resulted in my blood pressure plummeting, constant passing out, no longer able to drive, loss of job, numerous head injuries and two chipped teeth. Insist on a face to face!
My appointments with both Cardiology and Rheumatology are all over the phone now, which I think is pretty poor, especially when someone you've never met starts changing your medication.And I still haven't had any results from an echocardiogram in June - the cardiology secretary told me last week they had just started typing letters from June.
The NHS is in a sad state!
Hi since having my original AF episode in 2017 I have not been allocated a cardiologist or received any communication directly from Cardiology. Following an episode last Xmas eve, resulting in me attending A&E, I eventually received a telephone appointment from Cardiology, where basically I was told by the consultant "AF is just an annoyance", with little or no explanation for the issue or what I should do if another happens in the future.
Hi theboys yeah it's really strange they do it over the phone because how can they examine you over the phone I have an appointment over the phone on 28th not looking forward to that. Do you have one coming up I've made a note of what I want to talk about with my consultant and I've been keeping notes of how I been feeling aswell so I can mention that.
Hi Yumz, Given your history I'm surprised that your upcoming appt isn't F2F. Bar two phone appts due to the pandemic, I've only had F2F in 35years and been examined each time. I would expect nothing less. I hope your appt goes well.
Yeah I think they do it over the phone for my benefit when covid is higher than usual well I choose to believe that 😅😂 and sometimes it is better to not go in person since I live in Essex and the hospital I go to is in London lol. 🏥😅😉
Yeah when you put it like that fair point.
It’s normal . I’ve been with a new cardiologist for a year but have never had a Face to Face appointment . I have asked him and requested a Face to Face appointment . You could do the same ? X I’ve just come out of hospital and was not examined even once when admitted into hospital . Lol!
sorry I know it's not a laughing matter but honestly after a diagnosis in 2009 for small hole in ventricle chamber and being told, it's a very normal condition of 1 in 5? People having it and just change your lifestyle to accommodate the symptoms??, and in dec 2019 attending my GP (new one, old retired) with non heart related issue and being asked if I'm under private care for my regular care plan for the heart condition??? Which I wasn't unaware this was even a required medical procedure, was instructed to attend hospital asap and then to be told I had aortic valve failure and that they were surprised i was still here lol, and basically it was a birth defect and should have been picked up by a doctor or any type years ago, as the symptoms were that apparent and basically that obvious that possible even a vet could have suspected that something wasn't right and diet or general lifestyle was nowt to do with it,, so critical surgery was needed asap and got fast tracked to the priority waiting list in early 2020 and 4wks from the D day, covid kicked in and i was kick out of priority care and still here we are almost 3 years on, still no surgery lol....
So excuse my lack of empathy for these so called professionals but even with f2f is not much reassurance for me that they even know what they are doing I'm afraid.
Honestly my faith in the nhs and these so called experts is shot to pieces now, there's more politics and red tape within this system than there is of any concern of care for patients emotionally or physically wellbeing, it's about money to be frank, telephone appointments, f2f appointments it all generates money for someone with no real concern for the patients, multiple appointments made randomly in same weeks to be attended and traveling back and forth for really 35 mins in there and £3.50 parking each time is seriously frustrating as the arse and elbows don't connect with each other at all.
If these appointments are so important and required for people struggling to live in normal life, like me at 46 and now unable to work since April, so monies tight, surely a little communication between each department for just 1 visits and multiple appointments in same time surely makes perfect sense but no, you're thrown between departments like a rag doll, little information given and just basically order to do as required or possible discharge from the waiting list, only to find that near the d day of going into surgery, you're frequently just cancelled like your not a concern...
The mental anxiety and the pressures of physically feeling like you're failing gradually as the weeks pass is beyond comprehension it really is...
I'm almost at the point of thinking this really can't be the only avenue to sorting my health problems and am now searching and discussing with alternative sources of medical trails of private institutions because this system is seriously flawed.
So if you are in the early diagnoses stages and you have been lucky enough to have had someone with half an ounce of medical knowledge that has seen the symptoms early then I honestly will say to you, don't just rely on the nhs, do some research yourself and talk to others outside the box because it saves a lot of wasted time on your side if you're are unfortunate to get the same idiots I've had in the last 15 years lol...
sorry shouldn't laugh as it's not funny by any means but that's my copping mechanism now or I could lose, breakdown, give up or something if I don't find some fated humour in this journey as it can only be fate that's responsible to make me stronger in life im guessing, like I'm being tested lol, as there's just mo rational reasoning to it being this bad of a service 🤷🏼♂️🤣🤣.
Pets get treated better by vets than we do by the nhs, but then of course we pay vets to care??... private medical doesn't seem such a bad option these days as this free for all nhs service doesn't seem to work as it should now in my opinion...
I'm aware many have had great experience and success in this medical service so I'm of the opinion that I'm just an unlucky person and possibly not having a face suitable for this people to bother helping with my health issues...
but if you feel like you are not getting the best treatment then honestly seek outside the box, they are not the only help out there and as much as they try to discourage that, don't listen and research yourself coz in my opinio, they ain't all that they claim to be, infact id say they've caused some serious harm to my wellbeing in the last 15 years and im literally at the last knocking of telling them to poke it and ill take my chances on my own, even if i have to crowd fund to get and pay for decent medical help 😉👍🏻🏴
Cardiology follow up
Latest cardiology letter
Follow up appointments - Covid 19
Incompetent people who have not got a clue about Deaf awareness or how to relate to them. 
