NHS wait list

[Sha22]

I have been waiting for an angiogram for 2 years and feel that my symptoms are worse…unfortunately my gp has said she is unable to push the referral process and il have to wait. I have contacted the hospital who have also said I will have to continue to wait but if the chest pain is worse to go straight to A&E.

I am so concerned with my situation that I am now considering going private but I’m not sure where to begin ie finding the right consultant, prices and payment plans etc

I would appreciate any advice and information this community may have so that I can move forward from my current situation which is increasingly worrying!

thank you.

Sharon.

[10gingercats]

Two years is completely unreasonable whatever your GP or the hospital say about it. I would contact PALS at the hospital and see what they say about it and also write to your MP who may intervene. Are you on the dept. cancellation list? That is something you can do .I have had quite a lot of success with this method .It has worked for me and husband about 50% of the time.

[Cavalierrubie]

l agree with gingercats that this is unacceptable. There is no reason why yourGP cannot request this test as “urgent.” I have had various tests and my GP said l will put urgent otherwise you will be waiting months - NOT years. I think this is appalling and think you have some complaining to do. Don’t be fobbed off any longer. Good luck. 🥰

[Sha22 in reply to Cavalierrubie]

Thanks I appreciate the support and advice!

Best wishes to you 😊

[Tos92]

Hi Sha22

I completely agree with others on here, 2 years is absolutely unacceptable. Please contact your PALS at your local hospital. You should be able to locate their email on your local hospital site.

Unless you have health insurance that is willing to cover you for an angiogram, I believe you will be looking at costs around £2,000 and upwards if you want to do it privately. I personally paid over £2k for a CMR with perfusion, so this isn’t a route you want to go down until you’ve exhausted other options first. I personally, didn’t have a choice in the end but I really hope that isn’t the case for you.

Good luck.

Tos

[Sha22 in reply to Tos92]

Thanks for sharing your thoughts I appreciate it and I will definitely push harder and be contacting PALs! It’s such a shame though that it has come to this in our NHS 😔

[Babyelephant-]

Hello. I can’t help with going private but I’m so sorry you’ve had to wait so long for an angiogram. I always try to be positive but that’s a ridiculous length of time. When my husband was told he needed a stress ct they said he’d be waiting up to a year but got a cancellation appointment after just a few months but we have been waiting since February to hear from the hospital about what the results mean. Luckily for us he’s doing really well but it would be good to know what is actually going on. When he called to ask they just said they’re very busy and he’s on the list for a phone call. I think you need to speak up and make a nuisance of yourself to get anywhere. I hope it’s soon sorted for you.

[Flossrudy]

I have just gone privately. Travelling the width of South Wales from West to East. I was diagnosed with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy in 2018 and I occasionally get an episode which I usually totally recover from in 24 -36hours. Bad episode in April which left me feeling very poorly. GP said I would wait months to see cardiologist. So private without insurance. We looked on line and chose a private hospital in Newport. We live in Carmarthen. Was seen by a cardiologist who specialises in cardiomyopathy in less than 2 weeks. Had ECG, which resulted in cardiologist doubling my bisoprolol dose immediately. I was sent a copy of letter sent to GP which had an analysis of my ecg which had never been discussed with me before. Had an echocardiogram and monitor for last 7 days. Seeing cardiologist on Monday to discuss results. It is expensive and travelling 100s of miles. The hospital has all costs listed on its web site clearly. I am 74 and feel sad that I have needed to go privately but I need answers as to why my condition has deteriorated and if there is anything I can do.

I have just checked with the hospital I am visiting and an angiogram is priced at £850

[wischo in reply to Flossrudy]

National health insurance is a hit and miss affair for now and probably into the future. I live in Ireland and 68% of people have private health insurance as standard and hence a couple of weeks gets me in for most procedures. I think that is the way the NHS is heading in the UK as health costs and salaries soar. Even the enviable health models like the Dutch, Swiss etc pay a huge amount of their salary towards healthcare. We have the same public health system here with exactly the same problems for example if you have an event you will be seen immediately but any diagnostic tests are taking so long they are virtually of no benefit to you as the damage has been done before they find it. Nurses are university trained now so gone are the days of nurses serving meals or sweeping floors, making beds etc and they are still underpaid. I hope you get your angiogram soon and get sorted out as this must be horrible for you.

[Sha22 in reply to Flossrudy]

Thank you for sharing your experience…sounds very stressful on top of what is a very worrying condition I’m sure! I hope you are able to find a satisfactory solution soon! I appreciate the info and shall look into it! What’s the name of the private hospital please?

Thanks again! Take care! 🙂

[Flossrudy in reply to Sha22]

St Josephs Newport

[roughquest]

Have a consultation with a private consultant, go to your closest Spire/BUPA/Nuffield and ask to see a consultant who is also an NHS practitioner. You have a high chance of quickly being referred back into the system.

[Sha22 in reply to roughquest]

Thank you for your reply I shall be looking into it!

Best wishes 😊

[Doodlegurl]

I went private as I suffered from episodes of VT and wasn’t getting anywhere with my local hospital. I looked at all Cardiologists at my nearest private hospital, then picked one that specialised in arrhythmias. He also worked for the NHS at my nearest teaching hospital. When I saw him I asked him if I could be referred to him on the NHS. There was no problem, just got my Dr to refer me to him and since then I’ve seen him for regular check ups. He referred me for a pacemaker and also an ablation both were done on the NHS and both were done within weeks of referral. Once I was in the system things seemed easier.

If you pick a hospital you can check all the Consultants credentials on the internet, see what their specialities are and see what their stats are etc. it will also tell you if they have a local NHS clinic. Good luck x

[Sha22 in reply to Doodlegurl]

Thank you! That’s very helpful and I shall check at my local hospital asap!

Best wishes! 🙂

[LaceyLady]

check out NICE site for their guidelines

[Sha22 in reply to LaceyLady]

Thanks I will! 😉👍🏼

[FernCottage]

I have been offered an angiogram in London within 2-4 months by my local NHS because they are unable to give me a date to have it in the local area. I live in the South West. I would check to see whether you are still on a waiting list and I would call your consultant's secretary and ask them to follow it up. I would definitely not rely on the GP to deal with it , unless they made the referral, as from their point of view you are now under the hospital and they are unable to influence it. Wishing you well.

[Sha22 in reply to FernCottage]

Thanks I appreciate the advice and I will look into it! 😉👍🏼

[dnsblr]

If you are going for Private. Before doing so, please also explore the possibilities of going to other countries where medical infra is comparatively better and cheaper. You would be able to find a cheaper and yet qualitative alternative.