I’m still waiting for my midcab bypass at papworth in Cambridge. I had an initial appointment 2 weeks ago to talk about the operation and had a blood and MRSA test. The consultant said 2 weeks before the operation I will go to the hospital to meet the team of doctors. Nurses , physios etc. but he can’t give me a date but said I would have my operation soon. Whatever that means. I’ve been waiting since December 19th 2023. He said to me unofficially if you get admitted you will be seen sooner as I live 2 hours away I would be admitted to my local hospital then transferred to Cambridge. I emailed the consultants secretary last week and she said I was on the urgent waiting list but what does this mean? I’m unable to work or do anything much I’m just so fed up. I’ll like to hear peoples experiences.
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Lemon31
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Hi - I had my triple CABG done by consultant from Papworth. I was told that often delays are down to securing availability of ITU beds as that would be required for minimum 2days.
Waiting is the worst and they cannot give you an exact time as they never really know themselves it could be down to lack of beds I even know anthesists have been short and they have not had enough at times
I was classed as urgent and it was 3 months when I had mine done after they had been in contact but every area etc can be different
They have not forgotten you mean while they will have you on all the right medications to help till your op
Try and keep yourself as distracted as you can knowing that this will happen and I hope it happens soon so you can start living your life again and you will just the waiting game at the moment which so many of us go through but we manage it and so will you to
Thank you so much for your reply. It’s so hard being off work and not being able to do anything. I hope you are doing ok. I will definitely keep you informed .
I am sorry that some days you feel so down that you feel you need to stay in bed this is how is how it can get us but that date will come when you get your operation try staying focused on that thought
I am glad you have some better days and eventually those better days will be most days even though I know while we are waiting it can feel so difficult but so many of us have been where you are now and then posting how well we are doing and eventually that will be you to x
It can take a while. I was told to go direct to Papworth as I urgently needed the operation. I was that bad I was confined to bed with monitoring 24x7.It still took me 3.5 weeks before I got the operation. Other priorities kick in so you keep dropping down the list
Are you able to get into the hospital as an outpatient?.
I was told in effect that out of sight out of mind. I was fortunately admitted after tests but it still took 10 days before I had surgery as other emergencies came in, primarily from tourists for which our local hospitals get no extra money or staff to cope with the influx.
Thank you for your reply I’ve had 2 999 calls where I went into hospital. I was discharged as the consultant said my anxiety was making my condition worse and she said she didn’t want to keep me in because i would get my operation soon and if I stayed in there would be a risk of infection.
What a sad indictment when the possibility of severe problems from an infection is greater than that for your medical condition!
Would your anxiety be managed better in a controlled medical environment or are you better worrying yourself sick at home and totally fed up?
I don't know anything about your local hospital and its reputation for infections but as an inpatient you are always on their mind as they want your bed and to see you better, so they are motivated to get you on to the hospital where the operation will be done.
I hope you get seen soon, it’s a little frustrating when you don’t know what’s going on. I’ve been told it will be a year for me and I was also told I was urgent, that was last December. You have to keep your self distracted by any means possible, one day at a time. ☺️
Oh heck, the mental side of all this is not good, my doctor offered me anti depressants but I really don’t want to go down that route. This site is always good for a bit of reassurance to now you are not alone in this. 👍
I was on the urgent list with Papworth for approximately 2 months. Thankfully in that time i was on the virtual Ward at the Norfolk and Norwich hospital right up until 19th Jan and my op was booked for next day at Papworth. That meant I was monitored everyday by nurses (as an in patient) but was at home. Although op was booked for 20th Jan it was cancelled as my surgeon had 2 emergency transplants. Finally had op 2 days later. Surgeon (Da Silva) was superb and kept me up to date with everything. Although the wait is the worst thing you're going to the best heart hospital. All the best!
Thank you for your reply. I was also on the virtual ward at the N&N in December/January and was told I was a inpatient and would have my operation sooner but then the consultant at papworth decided I wasn’t classed as a inpatient and said I had to classed as a outpatient even though I was still on the virtual ward.
Same as me but thankfully my consultant gave me an op date. There certainly was some communication problems between N&N and Papworth but it worked OK for me in the end. Papworth wanted me as out patient to keep the date and virtual Ward wouldn't release me until the day before so I was happy.
waiting is the worst. I was on the urgent list for 11 months at the same hospital. The lovely consultant’s secretary received a phone call every month. I just needed to know that I was still on the list. They talk about stress post op but although I’ve had stress (9 weeks post op) nothing like the waiting game.
They kept quoting 3 weeks notice (I was originally told op would be 3 months wait) but eventually I got a phone call 4 days out for which I am grateful.
They are an amazing team but even when admitted they couldn’t confirm they had a ICU bed and up to 30 minutes pre-op they were saying that they might need to cancel.
Hang in there. You have to believe it will happen sooner rather than later. Xx
Thank you for your reply. I can’t believe they say urgent and you had to wait 11 months. That’s not urgent ! I’m glad you got your operation eventually. I know I will get mine eventually but I’m just so anxious.
Hi,Hate to say this but I have had MRI and CT scans back last August and after chasing intently even though I was urgent, strikes got in the way I am told in November, finally seen Feb 24!
Good morning....though waiting lists were made horrendously worse with the 'C' virus that caused all sorts of problems for hospitals...followed by ongoing strike actions, operation cancellations, or having to wait for major surgery, is also down to ICU beds not being available or beds on wards being taken for longer periods than expected. This was explained to me after my long wait but I didn't fully understood until I finally had my op and saw gir myself. Because ICU is such specialist nursing the units do not tend to have many beds. When I had my op and was put into ICU, there were 2 emergency cases admitted which meant that any planned operations that needed that level of care afterwards would have been cancelled or delayed to accommodate the emergencies. Also the expected stay in the specialist nursing unit often has to unfortunately be extended for some patients who remain extremely poorly. This all has an effect on planned admissions. My own experience with waiting was not a good one but when I finally got the operation I could not fault the care and attention from ICU and afterwards in the ward with the cardiac care team. Even on the ward though, my planned 5 days stay in hospital was extended to 4 weeks so that was a hospital bed taken for an unscheduled amount of time. It only needs this to happen with a handful of patients and the waiting lists for ops snowballs. I know the waiting is awful but I would imagine if you've had your pre op assessment you will be at the top of the waitlist so I hope your wait is nearly at an end. Fingers crossed it will be sorted soon for you and you can then concentrate on your recovery xx
Thank you for your reply. I’m glad you got your operation. If I had the money I would definitely pay because I’m just so anxious and this is making my condition worse. This is the worse thing I have ever had to go through in my life,
I think so many of us totally understand how you feel and the waiting is the most stressful part of the process. I pestered the admission secretary frequently but if you are really unhappy and anxious with the wait you could also speak to PALS if you haven't done so already. I found them really helpful. I'm sure you won't be waiting much longer if you've had your pre op assessment. Keep us updated and take care x
That's a shame....I found them really helpful. Keep trying the admissions secretary but if they've said you are at the top of the waitlist I shouldn't think it will be long before you get yr date x
I’m really sorry to hear this. I have congenital heart disease and was told in January 2022 I needed a valve replacement, especially because I would like my own family in the future. I was on the waiting list, with symptoms for two years and I eventually had my surgery in February.
Like you I was very frustrated about the wait because I was at work but on light duties and just felt like I couldn’t get on with my life.
I got a phone call in December 2023 saying my case had been discussed, confirmed the procedure with me which I had been told about months previous. A lot of contacting both consultants receptionist on my behalf but in January I got my pre operation consultation but they wouldn’t commit to a date straight away I had to wait a few weeks for that.
Thanks for your reply. That is awful you have to wait that long as you said your life is on hold just waiting. I’m glad you got your surgery eventually. Hope you are on your way to recovery.
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Waiting for a by-pass. Advice needed please.
Lady's Operation
Tips for caring for a patient after heart operation. 
In hospital waiting for Papworth
Still no follow up appointment with cardiologist 
