Echocardiogram results

[ArizonaUte]

Hello everyone, my first question! I had an Echocardiogram on 17 January as I have mitral valve problem, previously moderate, and still not had the results. I chased earlier last month and was told reports were taking up to 8 weeks, it’s now 10 weeks. Is this normal now? I am in Worcester and feeling quite stressed about it. Many thanks

[10gingercats]

This seems quite unacceptable. My cardio. arranges an echo. before each visit and checks it before I see her...the same morn. or afternoon..and then goes over it with me. My heart is fairly complex so |I am wondering why the long wait with your cardio. dept.I would ask your dept why the long wait. You need an explanation for this. Maybe others in your area may respong to your post? I am at the John Radcliffe in Oxford.

[paintbook in reply to 10gingercats]

MY echo last year took 4 months to get a result to me . 6 weeks for a CT Angiogram . Now waiting for pacemaker, and dread to think how long I shall have to wait. with all my results being slow I contacted PALS who did help, but now back waiting again. Good luck, try not to stress, we are learning patience anyway!

[Jackiesmith7777 in reply to 10gingercats]

Yes we had our results as soon as she measured his function which was 33%

[Zaj23]

Hi, I feel your pain I had my yearly check including echo and 2 week moniter Nov 1st, then MRI Jan 20th and despite chasing several times still waiting...

[Shabana1974 in reply to Zaj23]

MRI takes several weeks have you checked nhs app. My MRI was on 26th January but the results only became visible to me on 25th March

[Rosie0202 in reply to Shabana1974]

Hi Shabana, You mention the NHS app. Is this something that enables us to look at our test results? How do we access it. Many thanks.

[Shabana1974 in reply to Rosie0202]

nhs.uk/nhs-app/ yes all you GP records all hospital blood tests and scan, mri etc

[Rosie0202 in reply to Shabana1974]

Thank you for your quick and useful response. I'll check this out.

[Rosie0202 in reply to Shabana1974]

Hi again,

I tried the nhs app and its only for those in England and the Isle of Man. However I will contact NHS Wales and see if they have something similar.

Regards

[Shabana1974 in reply to Rosie0202]

I really sorry to hear its not available as its extremely useful

[Yumz199725]

It takes me a while to get my results for anything, I have to literally harras them with emails to get my results for anything. Took me nearly 5 months to get my results and then I spoke with my consultant in the November after having the echo in the August. So unless it's urgent or bad news then you have to wait ages for results.

[Alicant]

I am also in Worcester and had echo done on 22nd January …The results came in quick..because I found them on my GPs notes.There everything stopped..this was my first encounter and don’t really know what’s going on. Notes from this say Heart Failure ..very anxious

[Happyrosie]

this varies from hospital to hospital. Maybe your PALS is the best source of I formation?

[Lowerfield_no_more]

It is reasonable to say that 8 to 10 weeks for a simple ECG test result is unacceptable. So get the hospital PALS to investigate. If that doesn't do the job, formally complain in writing to the hospital.

[Blackcatsooty]

dear Arizona

Our NHS is partly broken. The staff in your part of England are currently too far behind. Not helped by dealing with patients who telephone and Email many times. A downwards spiral.

What I would say is that, if there is something seriously wrong, you would hear about it very soon indeed.

My consultant rang me at home, on a Sunday, to break the bad news. Fast forward three years to 2023 and the cardiology department runs beautifully. Results are now discussed immediately after routine scans. Before you leave for home. Brilliant. That’s the near future. It has happened where I live in the East of England and it must follow on to Worcester and everywhere else.

But please note…….before the revamped cardiology, when I was in urgent need, I did get quick notification.

Sooty

[Murderfan58]

Try not to stress about it. If they found anything important then you would have heard straight away..I heard within 2 weeks after my echocardiogram because they found a problem . It can take a couple of months before the letters are even written then a copy is sent to your GP and you. And if your cardiologist wants to see you that can delay matters as they sort out appointments.

I am afraid where you live it's a post code lottery. I used to live in the Black Country and moved to the north west nearly 5 years ago. The healthcare here is brilliant . My old GP never sent me to see a cardiologist and my neurologist never did the test that would have given me a diagnosis or put me on the tablet that stopped my limb jerks and seizures.

My new GP sent me to see my cardiologist that's how I found out I was born with a hole in the side of my heart. And on Flecainide and Apixaban and diagnosed with PAF.Also he sent me to see my neurologist who sent me blood to have my whole genome genetically tested and in 2022 finally found out what I was born with as I am disabled and it's rare. In 2020 he put my on a tablet and within 2 weeks after 32 years my limbs where still and no seizures since.

Hope you hear very soon .

[Farmer87]

I have the same problem, for the last 18 years (mitral valve and pvcs etc) I was sent for a scan 6 months ago and I've heard absolutely nothing. I have no faith in our system anymore or them looking after my health. This isn't the first time either.

[sandandkev]

I had an echo and bubble test 12th march and have had results,but also have been told if anything is drastically wrong they would get in touch immediately

[marypw]

I have annual (!) echos and that is about par for the course here.

[BusterMurphy]

I know it won't stop the worry, but, genuinely, no news is good news, in these cases.If there is anything that needs urgent attention you will be contacted immediately.

[Lupaal]

It's about a 10 week wait for results here. I was told I need an echo within 6 weeks, hadn't heard anything so called hospital and its a 6 month wait, so plus the result time it could be nearly 9 months before I get the results.

[PinkKizzie]

Good morning ArizonaUte, just reading your replies, it's shocking it takes so long for an echo result. As soon as my echo was finished I was asked to wait in the waiting room, 5 mins after I was in the consultant's room being told I had a serious heart problem. I am in Edinburgh. I'm sorry you are having to wait such a long time, I'd like to think you would be contacted sooner if there was a serious problem. Take care, keep well, and try not to get stressed too much x

[Xhouse]

Hi, this doesn't sound right. They told me the results o my echo 10 minutes after I'd had it. I'd chase this up.

[DinoCat]

Unfortunately, as others have implied, one has to keep chasing to get action! Presumably your echo was requested by a consultant cardiologist, so can you make direct contact with his/her secretary so they can also chase up, which often gets a quicker result! Finally, you could also put in a formal request from "Patient records" to get sent the results direct to yourself, which might help prompt action if the scan still hasn't been reported yet - the actual procedure for this varies from hospital to hospital, but typically can be done by submitting (bureaucratic!) online forms! Good luck

[dirtbox]

Hi i had an echo done at worcester last year and i got the results in a copy letter sent to my Doctor after about 3 weeks but have to say since then things have just seemed to come to a stop .

[Alicant in reply to dirtbox]

Worcester also.. have you seen a Cardiologist? Have you managed to contact anyone? I haven’t even seen a doctor..Physicians Assistants! Do you know if there is any specialist heart clinics in Worcester? Apologies for questions! Thinking of trying to see private Cardiologist

[dirtbox in reply to Alicant]

i have not seen my cardiologist in four years only had a couple of brief phone appt my next 6month appt has been nearly a year now and have heard nothing ,i am under worcester royal, my heart failure nurse has gone of the radar,i was in the Alex in Redditch over night last Thursday after a unstable Angina attack so i am hoping i am back on the radar now but as yet heard nothing ,there are a couple of private cardiologists in Worcester and one in Drotwich ,its very tough out there at the moment .

[ArizonaUte in reply to dirtbox]

I hope you’re ok. I haven’t seen my cardiologist at Worcester Royal for four years either. Phone consultation lasting 3 minutes two years ago. It’s really appalling. Hope you’re back on the radar now.

[Sazznyre]

I chased mine once a week with the Cardiologist Secretarys and told the report was done and letter but just had to be approved. If it was negative then they would be calling you back in so that's positive. Just keep chasing them.

[Ersilia2]

We get our results of the Echo on the same day as our appointment with the Cardiologist.I’m in Australia.Must be nerve wracking waiting that long.Hope you get your results soon.

[Shabana1974]

I would say if everything is okay they can delay if something wrong they usually call you the next day so I would take it as a good sign

[Rosie0202]

It's just as slow in Wales. I have been trying to contact the cardiology department about my CT perfusion scans taken a few weeks ago. Nobody picks up the phone . I can't email them because there is no email address and when I try the Cardiologist's medical secretary I get no telephone response. As others have said though, if it was critical that they contact you they probably would. I would like to see a complete overhaul of the NHS systems because they are no fit for the 21st century. Even my GP practice has not received the copies of scans done last July and December 2023. Even when it's routine blood test results , we have to send an email to the practice and then the request is considered at a meeting of the partners. According to one of our GP's, this is because of a European directive. How crazy is that?

[Judithdalston]

It’s a post code lottery sadly…I’m awaiting the results of a simple 24 hour BP test from my local cardio dept requested 3 months ago by syncope consultant ( post tilt table test) from another trust, and done 5 weeks ago, before treatment can even be considered. So been left unable to stand up for ten minutes before fainting and vomiting!

[RailRover]

My true life experience with tests is that they are carried out, the radiographer, pathologist, or whoever, interprets them, then they go to the consultant who reports on them and decides on any action required, which he dictates into a recorder. This all happens within 2 to 5 days. Then they go into a pile of stuff on some admin person's desk and it takes another month for somebody to type them up and send them to you and your GP. During that month the information has descended into an impenetrable black hole that apparently nobody, not even the GP, can penetrate. This has happened time and again. Helpfully, they even put the date it was dictated (couple of days after your test) and the date it was typed (4 or 5 weeks later) on top of the letter they send out, so clearly they see nothing odd about this nonsense. Quite incredible really.

[GalwayBay]

it’s part of the norm nowadays with the NHS in chaos. I waited 4 months for my last echocardiogram. The ongoing junior doctors strikes and shortage of staff doesn’t help. I’m not employed by the NHS in case you are wondering. I successfully had open heart surgery eighteen months ago to replace my aortic valve, very successful thankfully, all the hospital staff were absolutely amazing. Hang in there, hopefully you will get your results soon. All good wishes, Tom

[Highlandmist]

Hi I had an ECHO at the end of Jan (just a check my doctor arranged and she sent the results to the cardio surgeon for a check). I got the results back in 9 days. Can you check with your doctor?

[TAVIshock]

Sounds like the new normal: be cheered that evidently the resuts have not put you in the "urgent" category

best wishes

Tavishock

[NLGA]

I had my echo first week of December

I had to go to PALS then the medical board to get my results which I finally got the 8th of March I had a 24 monitor I got them result the same day as the echo so 4 months

I think if I had not pushed i would still be waiting

All that arrived was the records so then you have to google everything a brief letter came 2 weeks after from the cardiologist

[ArizonaUte]

A huge thank you to everyone who has replied to my post. It’s reassuring to know you’re out there and I’m fairly sure if the condition had worsened I would have been told by now. I will keep pestering GP surgery and consultant at Worcester Royal. I hope everyone who has replied gets the best treatment possible and soon. Many thanks again

[Petercat1]

I was told that the hospital relies on the patient phoning to ask about their results before they are looked at. I always thought that if there was anything found they would contact me asap, but when I phoned about my results, I was told they would get the Consultant to look at them and get back to me, so the Consultant hadn't even looked at them before I phoned, two weeks after the CT scan! I do presume though that the person doing the CT scan would bring the Consultants attention to it if they noticed any abnormalities.

Try phoning the Consultants secretary and asking them about the results.

D

[Cocokiwi]

Typical UK. I waited almost 6 months when my cardiologist did a telephone consultation. I always have to wait a while and all the while keeps you in suspense!