Sorry, need to vent! So my mum was diagnosed with AF last year in May, she had a follow up appointment in November but was very ill so I had to cancel appointment and got told earliest available appointment would be April this year. We were given the option of going on a cancellation list which I took as I wanted mum to be seen asap as I had so many questions and concerns and wanted to know how her heart is after taking all the new meds. This morning I’ve just received a letter saying unfortunately, the appointment we have next week will be cancelled and the earliest appointment available is in August! I am so angry, this is ridiculous, since mums diagnosis, she has not been seen. I’m trying to calm down before I call them to discuss things.
Sorry to go on, but understandably I’m raging!
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Nickybhf
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This has happened to me ,sort of. I have gone to the hospital to the dept and very politely (it is essential to remain calm)which can be difficult...I have asked for another appointment ....in this case for your mother and it must be soon and before August. They often have a bunch oif appoint. waiting...yes they do...and you may be offered one. It has worked for me.
Thanks for your reply, I called them yesterday afternoon and was told by secretary that the best she could do was put mums name on a cancellation list. I said I’ll call back in a month or so to check.
Hi, I can totally sympathise with you. At the moment it feels like the NHS can only patch you up and send you on your way. I was diagnosed with AFib at the beginning of February after 4 episodes that turned out to be TIAs. I’ve had some support from a Stroke Nurse but been waiting 8 weeks for the results of an Echo Cardiogram. Not had any follow up from the Consultant and now struggling to get the process underway to get my driving licence back. GP not interested in medication side effect issues telling me to speak to Stroke Nurse. Just feel passed from pillar to post. All we need is some reassurance.
I understand your enraged it sucks when they cancel your appointment this used to happen to me all the time. Worse when its your mum being treated like this, can't believe she hasn't been seen yet by a cardiologist 💔😢.
It's beyond frustrating I, and most of us on here know this scenario only too well, but it happens . . Please try and calm down as your stress won't help your mum any.
Although it may feel like it, it's nothing personal. Your mum's consultant has to make difficult choices, day in, day out. I might suggest that although her follow up is of course important, her consultant has medically assessed that it is safe for her to wait a little longer.
Not what you want to hear of course. You might want to contact your the Consultant's secretary, sometimes they can be very helpful in getting appointments brought forward, if your mum's circumstances change.
Other than that, you could request the Pharmacist at your mum's GP surgery, to have an appointment for a medication review. Especially, if there are specific medications your mum wishes to discuss
Sorry its not better news, try and keep your mum as stress free as is possible in this crazy world and
Thanks for your reply, I did get in touch with secretary, she’s agreed to put mums name on cancellation list but I’ve got a feeling we’ll be waiting till August.
Hi Nicky. As long as Mum remains stable, with no negative changes, I'm sure she'll do just fine.I also have A Fib, amongst other issues, and I've had to wait too.
Controlling my response to stress triggers, along with the meds. really helps keep it in check.
Fingers crossed they'll find mum a cancellation slot, they do come up.
Usually £200-250 , give or take. Plus any tests extra. . I know it is so frustrating, I had mine cancelled last month, but got a replacement in couple of weeks. Hope that happens! They are so busy, and heart things give such anxiety. Hope you get sorted soon.
Yes we had massive problems for my husband to get seen, he was referred urgently only to find out they were only clearing the backlog of patients they had already and were not dealing with new referrals so we were told the wait would be 18 months. So we went private and the consultant then did my husband on the NHS. He had had stents in 2007 and they were 99% blocked so he needed more stents, which is what happened thank goodness. I do not blame you for being annoyed and frustrated it appears the NHS is good in emergencies but if you have a chronic condition you have to wait until it does become an emergency. It cost us about £200 to have an initial consultation but it was well worth the money and saved my husbands life as he was getting heart pains etc', and although he was on meds they were not controlling it.
Thank you for your response my, that’s terrible- the 18 month wait! To be honest, if we get seen in August, that will be almost 18 months since mum was diagnosed!
My friend's husband in his 80s was told he urgently needed a pacemaker, They are not the sort of people to question doctors so they waited----- 2 years.
I could well believe it they usually leave things until they become an absolute emergency we knew my husband had problems but to find he had 99% stenosis and needed stents was not good. The meds would not have worked controlling that. You don't think of questioning doctors but sometimes you have to. If he had waited he probably would have had another heart attack in fact his condition was going down hill fast so it was good job we went private as he had the procedure just in time.
I agree. I've started having really bad breathlessness. I know i had two blockages at 64% almost 5 yrs ago after my HA and two stents. They said they weren't bad enough to do but who knows how bad they are now? But there's no way I can get to see anyone.
I've never been seen by a cardiologist, he even discharged me from his books while I was in A and E with a heart rate of 190. Just put under GP care, who I also never see!
Sadly it seems the system is being is dismantled by deliberate underfunding. The amount of private health ads on tv is indicative of the direction it is heading.
If we end up with a US style health system, the inequalities in society are going to become worse. There will be the those who can easily afford the best health care, those who just about afford adequate care and those who cannot remotely afford. We have it , more or less, already with dental care/treatment and it’s shocking. As, in this country, we are not generally militantly political (unlike eg France), on the whole the Govt is getting away with policies which in a more volatile society would be causing national anxiety.
I hope you manage a conversation with the relevant person to ask for a cancellation /appointment sooner than August. It isn’t the fault of the consultant or the staff and it isn’t because your mother isn’t as important as any one else ( maybe jot some notes down to have an outline of what to say so that you don’t get upset or cross when you do speak to the Dept)
Ps I acknowledge that the task of funding and maintaining such a massive system needs a rethink but I’m so sad that it seems the desired profit driven approach is going to mean it will go the way of water and rail companies-no improvement and investment companies/pension funds just draining profit away with resulting worsening services.
Agree with everything you say. In 2009 patient satisfaction with the NHS was at all time high. Now we all know it is coming apart. When I worked in South Africa I was told that if I was in a car accident I should insist that the mergency responders took me to a private hospital and not a government one, even if the that was a long way away. Our NHS is going that route too due to lack of investment and decent pay for staff.
Thank you, I waited till the afternoon yesterday to call the dept. as I wanted to try and speak calmly, the secretary has put us on a cancellation list, although I’m certain we will not hear back from them.
The system just isn’t working, you’re absolutely right.
I also agree with what you say. We are all on long waiting lists or cannot access a doctor dentist ,tests or investigations readily. People are suffering, health worsening and indeed .people are dying unnecessarily
We shouldn't criticise the medics. They are doing their best.It is underfunding not doctors that are causing the problem. A recent Government commissioned report concluded " A decade of neglect has weakened the NHS to the point that it will not be able to tackle the 7 million backlog of care ......There has been a failure to address the growing workforce crisis, too few staff , too little equipment and too many out of date buildings"
We will get privatisation by stealth unless we encourage our politicians to address the deficiencies that the recent industrial action by health care workers is highlighting.
It can be really frustrating can't it? My cardiologist is fab and I've had great care over the last couple of years. I've had 5 hospital procedures last year, with appropriate follow up, good hospital care and timely appointments etc.My husband, on he other hand, with a newer and less life impacting presentation of arrhythmia had to wait 18 months for first appointment.
My advice would be to take solace that this is probably a sign that they are not too worried about your mum but to also calmly pursue getting her an earlier appointment if you can. Unfortunately you will be seeing this differently to them. For you, understandably, it's scary but for them AF is a very common, non life threatening heart condition, particularly common in elder population. So, you may be coming from different perspectives, but there could be a meeting point somewhere if you gently persist and raise your concerns.
Wishing you luck in pursuing a more timely response. 🌸
Thank you for your kind reply. I have been in touch with secretary, I think I will possibly call every few weeks to see if there’s any cancellations. You’re absolutely right, I guess AF is something they deal with all the time but as a patient and carer, it’s constant worry .
I understand your concern, it's so frustrating. One thing I would like to say is that your mum has you to advocate for her, it's a lot easier to do that than argue for yourself.Have you contacted your local PALS? I think I'm on first name terms with mine. They are very helpful, as are the cardiac nurses at the BHF, telephone number is 0300 330 3311.
I can definitely relate, it’s so worrying because it’s a heart condition.
Sorry to hear that. I had a Letter only last week to say that mine is cancelled with my Consultant until October. Supposed to have been this week coming!! Unfortunatly though, at the moment, this is what we are ALL faced with owing to the current NHS problems!
Oh yes. If you watch the News, you will find out. Last time I heard it, there had been roughly 300,000 Operations and Appointments cancelled!! Mainly owing to the Strikes, lack of Staff as they are leaving the NHS in droves, plus Staff are absolutely burned out. They are Human after all! I personally find it ALL very sad! 😔
Possibly, but I explained that mum was extremely ill, she said bring her in and you can speak on her behalf. Mum was too bad though and we were gutted that we had to cancel.
Hi. Sadly, cancelling appointments (sometimes several times) has become a common occurence. Two things that seem to work in the vast majority of cases : (1) find out the secretary of the clinician, and very politely plead your case (this works quite well), and you have no joy then (2) contact PALS ( Patient Advice and Liaison Service) and plead you case; sometimes appointments can be re-instated, schedule the next day or the same week. Good luck
I understand your concern and frustration. I was re referred and saw great consultant in Sep 21. he said he'd see me again in 3 months after increasing pills. I thought I must be dying! Finally got follow up Feb this year 2023 after phoning sec ( I'd felt ok as it happened). Made rooky error of saying I felt better than when I last saw him and was told echo "more or less normal" and discharged!
Husband had vacant episode Feb 11th( 3 separate cardiac issues we know of inc. permanent AF. )ok but I rang 111. waited 15 hours for doctor to ring back at 2am. Had seen paramedic in the meantime at minor injuries and out of hours, no doctor in attendance. He was great. Saw GP next day urgent referral to his cardio, pulse still 43.
has had echo and next week 24hour cardiac monitor. Cons appt cancelled twice, now end of June so seeing same guy privately, ironically first appt May 10th am the day his NHS appt was cancelled pm.
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What more can possibly go wrong!!
Cardiology appointment 
Cancelled Appointment 
