How to contact the admin in Cardiology?

[Sundodger]

Hello, my name is Rick, firstly, I was diagnosed about 8 years ago with Bicuspid valve,aortic stenosis.

Sorry about the title, wasn’t sure how to word it to be honest.

I was under the same cardiologist for 8 years and she sort of got to know me!

Then I moved 10 miles away, but the hospital is under the same trust in Sussex.

But getting hold of anyone is a nightmare, answerphones, but no-one answers back.

A few days ago I had an appointment with a brand new cardiologist, in the hospital nearer to me.

But I just didn’t connect the same and my wife also picked up on this.

I would like if possible to go back to the original doctor, but finding the actual details to write to the manager (is that even correct) is not easy to find.

in admin terms what do you have in a cardiac team to get hold of someone? I can only think of manager!

The actual doctor I saw a few days ago, he isn’t on the hospitals consultants list, which they advertised on the website.

Can you put the name of the hospital on Healthunlocked?

Many thanks

Rick

[Ageingfast]

dear Sundodger

I am your age and I was bicuspid, with stenosis. The stenosis was mild, then moderate then urgent then critical. At the urgent/ critical stage I got the op.

My hospital cardiac dept is now fantastic. So well organized. A senior nurse organizes all the routine stuff, so I have a contact. Then she will call for my consultant if she thinks it is relevant.

My hospital doesn’t do the ops, that’s a different hospital 25 miles away.

Hope the above gives you a clue about how the regime ought to work. Your GP surgery can supply the contacts, don’t even need a GP appointment. Or you can go back to stage one, which is a GP appointment.

BTW my op was just fabulous. I now have a new valve. And after a long recovery period I got my life back. No problems with the valve. Just a yearly check, with two scans.

I had the OHS, offered the option of TAVi, but I went for OHS. Success rate for the op is better than 99%.

Hope this helps

Sooty.

[Sundodger in reply to Ageingfast]

Thanks for your quick reply, 2 years ago a member of the cardiac team I think a registrar, met with me and said apart from 1x 20mg of Furosemide we are removing the other heart meds!

On echocardiogram I was told I had a good LV, so thought well they must know what they are doing. Then in November 2023, I went for an echo and it came back that my LV wasn’t as good?

The LV ejection fraction was now 45, fortunately no symptoms.

But they wrote to my GP and said to put me on 3 new meds!

One is Dapagliflozin at 10mg, it’s actually a diabetic medication. Eplerenone a diuretic and Bisoprolol at 2.5mg. Now what happened my heart rate plummeted to 32 bpm and I went unconscious. They took me off the Bisoprolol immediately, very scary more for my wife really.

So now another appointment with the new cardiologist, I found out he does cover between hospitals, but very untraceable.

He has mentioned a TAVI, I was offered this last March but declined, maybe I shouldn’t have if my LV function is less now.

Sorry a ramble🥴

Thanks again for getting back and glad you’re doing well, I couldn’t have open heart as other problems so I’m not suitable.

[Fanfab1]

hi I’m having a similar problem at present but I’ve only been under this cardiologist for seven months then haven’t seen them for a few months and I’m trying to get back to them. Trouble is I don’t live where the cardiologist is based but was originally referred by my local hospital.

You could try the secretary of the cardiologist- if you have any old letters you may find secretary details or a direct number but these can change. You could if you haven’t already go through the hospital operator and ask to speak to the secretary of that cardiologist.

A member here was great in finding me the direct email for my cardiologist and so I have emailed them but that was only last Friday. Once I was given the email address I googled it and found their web page but I wouldn’t have found it myself if that makes sense.

Have you googled their name see what pages come up?

Maybe asking if your GP will do a direct referral?

If I don’t get a response through email I will be resorting to an old fashioned method of sending a letter but by recorded delivery. Might ensure it reaches there this century!!!!

Then if no go i will try GP route.

Sorry if you’ve tried some of the above, it’s very frustrating but it’s needs some perserverance. And totally understand why you’d want to see them, it’s hard to find doctors we are comfortable with / trust.

Also I know we can’t name cardiologists but I have seen people state names of hospitals. Someone who sees it may be able to help via chat because you can name in personal messages if you choose to.

Oh another way would be to contact the PALS service for that hospital - I might be trying this soon.

Good luck

[Sundodger in reply to Fanfab1]

Hi Fanfab1

Well my wife is brilliant on the net and she has tried to find more information about the doctor I saw, but he isn’t on any consultant list at the hospitals?

I phoned outpatients and they said he covers from the other hospital where the cardiologist I had for years is based.

I need the admin team address, no longer have the secretaries details, she may refuse if they have removed me from the doctor’s list.

He is difficult to locate (new cardiologist) no mention of him on the hospital’s list of cardio doctors? Wondering if he is a locum doing cover.

Thank you for getting back to me

[Fanfab1 in reply to Sundodger]

Can only suggest PALS then, good luck.

[Rhinos67]

HiWe have a team of valve nurses and it was one of them who was my go between and made sure that I wasn't left on limbo. May be worth asking if your hospital has a similar team.

Joanne

😊

[Sundodger in reply to Rhinos67]

Hi Joanne

That’s a good idea if I can locate them at the hospital (s) would have been great if they hadn’t moved me from the original consultant, as you have the continuity etc.

Rick

[Livelovelife56]

Good morning I believe you can request to have your care under any NHS hospital. Have you got any reports, appointment letters from your previous consultant which have contact details on. Ask your GP to refer you back to her or speak to tye hospital PALs team who might be able to help.

Have a look at this website. Good luck Rick

nhs.uk/using-the-nhs/about-...

[Sundodger in reply to Livelovelife56]

Hi, thank you for the information and the NHS link. That is very useful, I will ask my GP too. Takes 2-3 weeks to see him.

Rick

[Livelovelife56 in reply to Sundodger]

Yes I hear you but try contacting your old consultant as well

[fixedrider]

How about trying the patient advice and liaison service at the hospital? I had a scan last year, as part of looking into some minor issues (I'm almost five years post-bypass). No results came back. I took that to mean they'd found nothing terrifying, which turned out to be correct. However, they seemingly lost track of the need to call me, give me the results, and discuss next steps. One call to PALS and I got an appointment for a telephone consultation.

[Hel52]

Hi Blackcatsooty

So sorry your having so much trouble not getting answers.

The practice manager is the person you contact with any doctors surgery it’s best to call or send a letter with hospital consultants call the switch board and ask to speak too the consultants secretary it’s the only way of being heard wishing you the best of luck.

Hele52 x

[Kelling]

I fully understand your predicament and occasionally, just to seek total clarity I as for information (in your case the specialist and contact details "from your health records) ask for the information I seek and quote the Freedom of Information Act - the link for my hospital is uhcw.secure-forms.co.uk/for... however each health trust will have a FOI officer and such a link as I have given you. I have also asked for copies of scans and x-rays in the past, including the x-ray specialists report that would have accompanied the slides for my specialist. Not only do they give me information, they allow me to quote specifics when talking to DHS/PIP etc. FOOI is usually free and personally have never had to pay, It is a long winded process however it is infallible. If I do know the specialists name, I have rang the hospital in question and asked to speak to Mr So & So Secretary - that has also worked.