Cross border healthcare UK

[Elguajiro]

I have undergone many procedures at the Countess of Chester Hospital over the last 30 years and had a pacemaker fitted nearly 3 years ago. Now after numerous tests over the last 4 weeks they have informed me I need another heart procedure which lifted my spirits as I may get my health back to near normal. Yeah Right!

After a phone call from one of the cardiac doctors on Thursday, they have put me down. How can they build my hopes up of living a near normal life to just kick me in the teeth and brush me under the carpet so to say.

They built my hopes up and now want to wash their hands of me.

They want to give the responsibility to another health service for which I will now have to go on their waiting list and undergo the same tests yet again (more wasted money and resources for the NHS) , just because I live in Wales, which has never been a problem with you before.

Funny thing is all my new problems started after I had my pacemaker fitted over 2 years ago

[BeKind28-]

Hello

I am so sorry to read this you must or I know I would feel rejected and to build your hopes up to let you down just is another blow

I really hope you get an appointment soon where you have been referred to and lets try and stay positive you could even get better care and it all works out for the best x

[Elguajiro in reply to BeKind28-]

Thank you BeKind28,

I now feel that I am back to square 1 and have to go through all the tests again in another hospital, and wait for an appointment to be seen, then be put on their list for tests, then wait for an appointment with their cardiologist and see if they will refer me to another hospital to have the procedure done as they dont do it there.

I was even talked through the procedure with diagrams in Chester, and would have been done in Liverpool Heart Hospital. I even talked it through with my children and then had to tell then again what had happened. So you can imagine how I felt when they rang and told me it wasn't being done.

[BeKind28- in reply to Elguajiro]

Hello

Did they give you a full explanation why they had done this ?

I can only imagine how this has left you feeling then the thought of starting everything again

Try an stay positive I know not easy when you have been let down but it will come good again and chase it up if you have not heard anything in a few weeks

I am hoping you hear something sooner than you expect to x

[Elguajiro in reply to BeKind28-]

Just a 'by-the-way' because I live in Wales, although my postcode is a Chester code as I live just over the border.

I am under a gastroenterologist there as well because I had my colon removed in the same hospital 10 years ago ( I wonder if they will move me for that as well)

I have sent an email to the PALS dept at the hospital outlining my dismay and concern so will await their reply

[BeKind28- in reply to Elguajiro]

Hello

Yes we have the same issues here with postcodes

I was going to suggest you contacted pals and glad to see you have

I hope they treat you with the respect you deserve when they get back to you

You could also contact your local MP some can be helpful and like to hear what is happening and if we dont tell them they do not know x

[sturon]

Hi.

One UK, but two health systems - we saw lots of this during the pandemic. In England the NHS, at government level, is run by NHS England. In Wales it is the responsibility of the devolved administration.

What you describe is a broken health system. I would write to the Chief Executive of the two hospitals involved and ask why the test must be run again. As you say this is not only a waste of public money but also unnecessary to put you through more investigations. As for the waiting list I can understand why they may say you need to join the 'new' waiting list as each hospital runs its own list. I worked for 40 years in the NHS and it is now nearing total collapse.

I hope you can get this situation sorted. Good luck.

[MoretonCross in reply to sturon]

There are more than two health systems in the UK. Don't forget Scotland and Northern Ireland too. The people voted for devolution, and so they got it! Postcodes don't come into it, they only indicate which main post office deals with your mail.

[Elguajiro in reply to MoretonCross]

Nobody has said anything about how many health systems there are in the UK . I live on the border of the 2 countries in question! Not Scotland or Northern Ireland but England and Wales.

[MoretonCross in reply to Elguajiro]

I replied to sturon who did say there were two health systems in the UK...

[Elguajiro in reply to MoretonCross]

You are trying to make it political with you comments about devolution, we know that each country's healthcare or benefit system couldn't survive on their own if they went independent.

[Shmc]

I have had the same issue. My dad was treated in Liverpool heart hospital and they advised his children be checked over for possible genetic heart issues. They suggested my brother and I be seen at the clinic in Liverpool . Gave a letter to my gp as did my brother. (He lives in England and I in Wales)

My gp told me for me to be referred to Liverpool would be too expensive as England would bill wales. My brother was seen over 12 months earlier in England than I was here in Wales. . I was diagnosed with heart failure and placed on medication. The care I’ve had here has been good but I’m obviously disappointed that it wasn’t found earlier by my appointment being so much more delayed. Im living right on the border and it’s not always easy.

[Scho1]

I’m so sorry this has happened as we all like to think one UK one health service but unfortunately it doesn’t seem to be the case anymore with devolved governments it seems.

It could possibly be though that the hospitals are struggling with the amount of patients within their own areas. I say this because although I’m under Manchester Royal cardiology I do see a pericarditis specialist cardiologist at Arrowe Park albeit once annually. I do know if I hadn’t already been on their books they would not have even put me on their waiting list.

I was told this was a local trust decision due to the amount of patients they serve.

I know this doesn’t help you but it may cast some light.

I know from experience that Wales and Scotland have different practices due to devolution and maybe matters of cross borders will worsen.

We have a static caravan on the Wales/Shropshire borders and was advised by an out of hours GP in Wales to go home to England and seek care.

Crazy.

[Elguajiro in reply to Scho1]

My son lives in Chester and I was thinking of telling the hospital that as I cant cope on my own I will move in with him and use his address

[Ewloe]

I must live around the same boarder as you. My heart attack was treated in Glan Clwyd. But they referred me to Liverpool heart hospital to see an electrophysiologist. He referred me back for them to keep an eye on. But having worked in one of the other Welsh hospitals on the same boarder for years before my heart attack I know that it’s politically/funding calling the shots. It’s such a awful system. I’m taking it the hospital they’ve referred you to definitely do the procedure recommended?

[Elguajiro in reply to Ewloe]

No idea if they do, I was told it would be done in Liverpool heart hospital, I will be referred to Wrexham and wherever they send me from there is anyone's guess

[Ewloe in reply to Elguajiro]

It will be glan Clwyd/boddelwyddan. its the centre for heart treatments in north wales. But anything above their pay grade gets transferred elsewhere like Liverpool. But going through the Welsh system means Liverpool can claim the money for your treatment from Wales 🤷🏼‍♀️🤷🏼‍♀️🙈.

[Elguajiro in reply to Ewloe]

And when and if I go on their waiting list they will do the same tests the Countess did it will take more time. I would have had it done in Liverpool within 3 months from the Countess. They would also claim the money back

[Mentdent]

I live in Oswestry. My parents in law lived in Whittington on the English side of the border and their GPs were for historical reasons in Chirk on the Welsh side. Not a problem until devolution and after that it became more and more difficult to reconcile health care services between Wales and England. I live in Gobowen just on the English side of the border but have to travel 25 miles to Shrewsbury for the nearest A&E rather than Wrexham which is only 15 miles. Devolution hasn’t helped health care at all.

[Elguajiro in reply to Mentdent]

A&E have to treat you no matter where you live, they can't tell you to go elsewhere.

[MoretonCross in reply to Elguajiro]

But if you call an ambulance in England it will take you to an English A&E. If in Wales, to a Welsh A&E. If in Scotland, etc,etc. That's devolution for you! Voted for by the people...

[Elguajiro in reply to MoretonCross]

As I said I live on the border and the ambulance service covers 2 countries. If I have an ambulance they take me to Chester. If you call into Any A&E no matter where you live the have to see you