Hi,
My husband has been diagnosed with suspected angina in July and has been given various medication.
We we’re told in September that there is an eight month wait on the NHS for this!
We are in Cornwall I’d this as bad else where or just here?
many thanks
You haven't told us what you are waiting for. For some, medication may well be all that is needed to treat angina. However angina is a a symptom that there are heart issues that may need to be investigated. Perhaps that is what you are waiting for.
sorry!! It’s the wait for a CT scan to actually diagnose that he has angina that we are waiting for
Your wait time will be determined by whether your husband has been classified as routine or urgent. Since its an 8 month wait it suggest its routine. Wait times on the NHS for anything seem to be a lottery dependant on where you are and what medical condition you have. If you can afford it and think it necessary you could bring the scan forward by having it carried out by private medicine but that, including the cardiologists fees, is likely to cost over £1000.
Thank you, but we don’t know for definite if he even has angina to have to wait so long for a diagnostic scan is crazy! We can’t afford to go private
As Hidden has said keep monitoring and if things deteriorate do not hesitate to get back to the medical team you are dealing with, or 999 if you deem it an emergency.
With regards to the uncertainty whether its angina or not, that's exactly the situation I was in earlier this year. I had a period of chest pains which, after A&E visits, was provisionally diagnosed as angina mostly based on my earlier medical record, but after no symptoms for some time, even after dropping off the additional angina treatment meds I was given, and finally an angiogram to compare with one I had a few years ago, the conclusion was my episode was most likely gastro related, as in a possible hiatus hernia.
It isn't just the wait for the scan that is worrying, a friend of mine waited weeks for the result of hers.
That's unfortunate, but I suggest that anyone who has waited for a reasonable length of time for test results to be issued, but has not received them, should be chasing up those responsible to find out where they are. Waiting for weeks without doing anything yet at the same time worrying do not seem to be compatible in my view.
Believe me LF, this lady isn't stupid as you seem to imply. She made every effort to chase it up. So did her daughter, son and GP and the result was always the same..."we haven't got the result yet". Eventually, repeated phone calls to the consultant's secretary bore fruit.
Dear me. Did I say or imply your friend was stupid? I don't think so. Nor was I rude about her.
The fact is that there are people who will wait weeks for medical outcomes without doing anything about it. We get the occasional post about that on here. The usual advice is to encourage them to talk to people to expedite a result. But their inactivity doesn't make them stupid.
And the fact that your friend did chase things up and seems to have had a very poor experience, must have been very frustrating and, as I said, unfortunate for her.
More than unfortunate; the news was not good, but earlier diagnosis could have made a difference to the eventual outcome.
Yes, agreed. that does indeed sound more than unfortunate. I am afraid many of us are subject to the machinations of an overburdened bureaucratic NHS. Whilst front line staff are usually first class, they are often let down by what follows on from their work. And things are not going to improve anytime soon, if ever. So all you can do when it affects you personally is to try to oil the wheels, although sadly sometimes that does little. Anyway after all that I do hope that your friend is not too seriously compromised by the late issue of the report she was waiting for.
As Mountwood has just replied to you, no amount of chasing up, whether contacting GP , relevant department or consultant has any effect most of the time, believe me. "No, we don't have your results yet", " Your scan hasn't been read yet" "The consultant hasn't looked at the information yet", these are all common replies to any query you make. Even when the results are available, you face another battle getting them communicated to you!! Speaking from personal experience of what is becoming years of lack of communication between patient and consultants, unfortunately. Tests and scans here can be done fairly quickly when necessary, it's the results that take so long!
My experience is clearly different to yours. Whilst chasing up medical services is never guaranteed to bring forward a satisfactory outcome, it usually does manage to achieve something however small. Most people at the other end of the telephone will try to be helpful, even though they are constrained by the overall systems they are working under. For example I have a really good relationship with a urology medical secretary who will always do her utmost to help if I need assistance of some sort or another. I assume she does the same for others. But in the end if I get get nowhere talking to people at least I have the satisfaction of knowing I have done all I can under the circumstances.
You have indeed been fortunate in your interactions with the medical profession!
I am having the same problem with an MRI scan done on my knee from early summer…trying to chase it up and just get being told ‘waiting time for consultant to even look at scan 12-14 weeks’, etc etc…now 16 + weeks on, but knee was actually damaged back in Feb.from a headlong fall, that was triaged by senior musculoskeletal physio as needed urgent surgery and recommended it was done ‘blind’ without an MRI scan. Seems the NHS has a total mismatch of what different depts., and staff, are able to provide; I am sceptical thinking it’s largely a means of massaging waiting lists times.
Unfortunately not every case of angina will be diagnosed by a CT scan. It depends on the cause. If it is a blockage in one of the major arteries that should be picked up but if it is related to the micro-arteries in the heart the scan will come out all clear. In fact I think about 40% of all cases of angina are related to the latter (microvascular angina) , not the former.
Not just microvascular angina also Vasospastic angina too.
Vasospastic angina is thought to be the cause of 2% of angina cases. Even more uncommon and easily overlooked.
I have microvascular angina. Two cardiologists I've dealt with have diagnosed it, yet the last cardiologist shrugged his shoulders when I asked about it. I had a nuclear perfusion scan which was normal, just showing a small area of scarring, and my known LBBB. My medications are controlling it pretty well anyway.
hi
Are there any other diagnostic tools they can use to assist? My CT was normal and nothing popped up on bloods; ecg; telemetry monitoring.
exactly… 2 years ago i had an angiogram… minimal furring of LAD.. was told to stop anti angina meds apart from aspirin and simvastatin.. also had a CT angiogram 6 months before the invasive procedure.. again mild furring of LAD.. advised to keep taking anti anginal meds. lol.. no test was done to check for MVA.. original diagnosis was ‘probable MVA’.. but after invasive angiogram the Cardiologist asked if test for MVA had been during angiogram.. he muttered’m mmm no it wasn’t’.. and that was that lol
hi I would keep monitoring and if any increase / change in pain either get immediate help and / or go back to GP / cardiologist and make them aware so they can see if more urgent or not. If the meds are controlling it and you’re happy with that for now then I guess best to get on with life and enjoy, try not to worry and hopefully appointment will come soon. Very easily said though than done. Good luck.
Thank you so much, it is so worrying, but we we do our best. He’s retiring today so we will start having our adventures now.
We must be lucky round here in Essex I only had about an 8 week wait for angiogram. That was followed by a angiography fairly soon after that, which had to be postponed as tripped over in our local park and broke my arm near the shoulder, so had to postpone until I felt able to cope.
Hi. After reading some of the Comments on here on different Threads, I am amazed at the 'Waiting Times'. I have to say I am in Wales and have been very lucky too with my Doctor and the Hospital Appointments! 
when I had mine the CT scan was done within 4 weeks at beta suit Colchester hospital, then 3 weeks later at the turner centre at Colchester hospital. Then I had a 12 week wait to have a coronary angiogram at the Essex cardiac centre at basildon.
Well that's not to bad at all is it? Great!!
that’s amazing, just shows that it’s a postcode lottery. Wishing you all the best, you’re lucky you’re not in Cornwall!
Hi Mermaids80I too am waiting for a CT scan (calcium & dye) and live in Cornwall. I have now had 8 A&E visits (5 via ambulance) with unstable angina. My last one was 2 weeks ago. I have asked about getting the scan done sooner so that I stop ending up in A&E, through my surgery and the heart nurse team at Truro, but to no avail, and not through any ones lack of trying.
I have made enquiries about a private scan but there is no facility either in Cornwall or Devon, so it is a case of just waiting for our respective turn.
Meanwhile I am having the best care possible and suitable medication. I am in a better position than at the beginning of this journey - (Nov '21) and hope to be seen sometime around March/April. I was put forward in August.
This forum is a great place for advice and I have also spoken to a BHF nurse who was excellent when I was unsure what to do after yet another Trelisk outing.
Best wishes Laura101
Exeter Hospital do CT scans (private and non private). Perhaps your GP or cardiologist could refer you.
Hi Laura, so sorry to hear about your experiences. We also had a visit to Treliske a & e, six hour wait absolute nightmare!!
As antique 50 has already said Exeter do private CT scans as well as Bristol if you can afford that. Surely you could be referred to Exeter under the NHS?
We have paid for two ECGs at the Duchy hospital but can’t afford the CT scan privately as well.
We were told that the wait privately for a CT scan is two weeks!
Interestingly apparently before COVID private CT scans were being carried out at Treliske in the evenings. Apparently that now isn’t an option!!
Fortunately my husband is ok at present but we will see how it goes.
I would certainly say to you to make enquiries at the duchy hospital in Truro.
It’s a terrible situation, let me know how you get on, I wish you well x
Hi Mermaids80, the waiting times are similar in Hampshire where I live. I waited about 5 months for a CT scan earlier this year but I have now been waiting 6 months for an MRI scan and was just told its going to be another 3 months at least. Have decided to go private and am now getting the scan done in two weeks.
Just noticed an article on the BBC news website this morning about the long waiting NHS lists for cardiac patients. Hope when your husband gets his scan done soon and all is OK.
I’m Hampshire too and waited months at QA. When I rang to check they had forgotten me! 10 days in on a Saturday morning
That's terrible that they forgot you! Glad you managed to be seen quickly once they realised. Sadly, in my case they have not forgotten me it's just that the waiting list is huge, everytime I call my potential appointment just kept getting pushed back by a few months.
my open mri scan has been pushed back so far now can’t have it as just been fitted with pacemakers! 🙄
Thank you ❤️
Join benenden health care. Its only £11 a month, in 6 months you can access diagnostics and surgery's. Probably work out quicker, it's very good system
can you still join if you have a heart condition?
Absolutely, I've just put my dad who is 81 on benenden, same price as an 18 year old, has heart problems since age 55
great I’ll have a look, thank you!
I don’t think they’d cover a suspected pre existing heart condition would they?
Yes they do, same price regardless of age or pre existing conditions , they will do private diagnostics, ct scan, heart monitors, I've had done, if the waiting list is more than 3 weeks with the nhs, and treatment and surgeries if the list is more than 5 weeks. I've used it many times,
hi. I don’t mean to alarm you but my brother had suspected angina was referred to the rapid action chest pain clinic at city hospital Nottingham in March. The only test he had was a ecg. He was fobbed off with medication that didn’t work which I told them. Then we were informed he would probably need a stent. Sadley he passed away on the 27th April aged 57. I feel this could have all been prevented if only he had had ct scan.
so sorry to hear this, what a terrible state of affairs things are
Hi.Im in Northern Ireland. Been referred for a stress echo and its an 18month waiting list. To go private is £800 so i guess im waiting lol
What is the wait for? To see a Cardiologist, for a stress test, for an initial appointment for an angiogram?
is there any way your Dr could refer you to a different NHS Trust to get this done sooner? Maybe Exeter? Bristol.
I would deffo ask.
'In the South their NHS service is better than going private'........!!!
Well I live in the South of England, and have recent experience of both private health care and the NHS and am really surprised if you seriously believe that comment. Typically I can book an appointment with a private consultant within a few days , whereas its weeks or even months ahead for the equivalent on the NHS. And I have organised a private MRI within two days yet the same on the NHS would be weeks away if I was lucky. My recent NHS angiogram which was originally to be six weeks away turned out to be six months. Finally I had a private surgical procedure last year organised within two weeks. The same on the NHS would have been 20 weeks and counting. I think you have been seriously misinformed if my experience is anything to go by.
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