Importance of seeing a Cardiology Consultant

[Daisypoppet]

Hi there

Relatively new to this and I am probably asking an incredibly stupid question. How important is it to see a consultant. I have been diagnosed with LBBB cardiomyopathy, there is mild dilation of LV and I have occasional ectopic's rather than frequent as I am on bisoprolol. I have just started to take Entresto low dose (which isn't agreeing with me had bad stomach all week) was on ramipril before that. Doctor going to put me on diuretic's in a few weeks time when I get back from holiday. He said not to worry about the consultant at the moment.

I have however just tried to make an appointment from my referral letter and like everyone else the waiting times are hideous and has to be triaged first yet I was referred in May!

What does the consultant do?

Apologies again for asking something so basic just interested to know if not seeing the consultant for a long period of time will make any difference?

Thanks for reading

Hayley

[Lowerfield_no_more]

A cardio consultant is far more experienced than your GP in investigating and hopefully treating any cardio vascular issues. He/she will be able to arrange for specialist investigations and tests that your GP does not have at their disposal. However in some hospitals there is a specialist triage system that is an intermediate step to you seeing a consultant. They may be able to arrange for tests which the consultant would require, before you see the consultant. You are in the NHS system by the sound of it. If you are down as urgent you will be seen/spoken to ahead of routine patients. You may be able to speed things up by offering yourself as a cancellation appointment at short notice. You will need to contacts the cardio appointments team to do this. But if you can afford it and want to see a consultant early then investigate the private medicine route. Your first consultation appointment will cost of the order of £250 but any tests and investigation will be extra and might be expensive. But if you do that go armed with a written note of your relevant medical history to present to the consultant rather than trying to remember everything at the time.

[Daisypoppet in reply to Lowerfield_no_more]

Thank you for your reply very helpful.

I have had an echo, CT and recently paid for MRI needed due to waiting times so do have copies of those reports. So looking a waiting times I think I may go for a private consultation, just feel grateful I am in a position to do that.

[Taviterry in reply to Lowerfield_no_more]

Good point about the cost of tests. A few years ago, I had an unsatisfactory NHS diagnosis for an eye problem (the senior consultant didn't even bother to examine it but jumped to a conclusion that turned out to be wrong). I thought £150 or £200 or whatever it was then was a fair price for a private consultation, but only afterwards was I presented with a "surprise" invoice from the hospital for the use of its equipment - it came to more than the consultant's fee.

[Jonathan_C]

I live in South Africa and have medical aid. I use private health care for all my health care needs from GPs (and mine is very competent) to my cardiologist (who is also very competent). When my GP picked up a-fib in an ECG he did he wouldn't say more than he thinks its a-fib and then he went out of his way to make sure I got an appointment with my cardiologist.

I know its not as easy for you, but that's my advice from my experience. Good luck.

[Gigi70]

hi Hayley

The main reason for seeing a specialist will be to find out why this heart issue occurred as you say you did not have high BP or any indication.

Yes and the specialists are fully aware and have access of the latest meds interventions etc.

you say the CT scan was negative but I had the same 10 years ago but after the angiogram I was diagnosed with tripple vessel disease.

It’s great to have such a smart GP but your diagnosis does need a very expert eye to be certain you are getting the best care available - you are a woman and we are undertreated in every way with heart disease. So get that appointment - hopefully a femail cardiologist.

Let me know how this goes - Michele

[Daisypoppet in reply to Gigi70]

Hi Michele

That's good advise thank you. I will let you know how I progress with it all

Hayley

[mozart27]

My wife has had episodes of very low BP and heart rate. After the last episode her GP ordered blood tests, an ECG and an echocardiogram. The GP also said she would refer her to a consultant. We knew that we were entitled to go to a hospital anywhere in the country so we looked at the published waiting lists. We found that waiting lists were shortest at a hospital a 3/4 hour drive away. We found the names of cardiologists at that hospital and a after a little more time on the computer, we found that one of them had a private practice and that he had a particular interest in syncope. We arranged an appointment with him within days at which another ECG was carried out - all in all the cost was £325 or so plus travel expenses: she stayed overnight with a friend who lives nearby. The consultant accepted her as an NHS patient for treatment and she has now had an ILR implanted at his NHS hospital with a view to possibly having a pacemaker in the future - all of this happened within the space of about a month from speaking to the GP. Incidentally, the echocardiogram was undertaken at our local hospital, quite quickly but we are still waiting for the result. We are very fortunate. We were able to pay for the private consultation and my wife had a friend she was able to stay with and who accompanied her to the consultation. But please remember that different hospitals have different waiting lists. The NHS allows you to go to any of its hospitals and provides the information to make a choice. Locally, in the south east, my wife would have faced an average waiting time of about 6 months to get a first appointment and then a further 6 months for treatment.

[Daisypoppet in reply to mozart27]

The more I am reading of the replies I am going to do a bit more research re cardiologists.

I also live in the South East and I was told when I spoke the hospital yesterday that the wait times can be up to a year for the first consultant's appointment depending how it is triaged. Its a minefield trying to get your own health sorted these days.

[Gigi70 in reply to Daisypoppet]

hi Hayley

I live in London and have just got into see a Thoracic surgeon - took 4 weeks. If you GP marks your referral URGENT the NHS must follow a 2 week pathway!

As soon as the referral has been sent call the consultants secretary - be demanding but polite - we have to push push push. Just been through this process and had to bring PALS in to support my referral - it’s all quite challenging when you are already unwell - but you need answers only a cardiologist can provide.

Let me know?

Best Michèle

[Lowerfield_no_more in reply to Gigi70]

The 2 week 'urgent' pathway certainly applies to suspected cancer cases, together with other time targets from referral to any treatment, as I know from my experience and that of others. Are you saying it applies to all urgent referrals from a GP, including those where cancer is not suspected? I ask because there is no reference to it here

nhs.uk/nhs-services/hospita...

[Gigi70 in reply to Lowerfield_no_more]

hi - yes that is what I understood. Certainly time is if the essence in cases of cancer but so it is with heart disease too.

Michèle

[Murderfan58]

It's vital you sees a cardiologist so ask your GP for a referral to see one. Where I used to live my GP did an in house ECG and diagnosised LVH. No heart medication.

Moved her 5 years ago my new GP sent me to see a cardiologist who did an echocardiogram then a bubble echocardiogram. And found out I was born with a hole in the side of my heart. I have PAF and on Flecainide and Apixaban and was told I should have been on heart medication for years. I am 66.

[Daisypoppet in reply to Murderfan58]

Thank you for replying - didn't realise how many different tests there were.

[Murderfan58]

I have had a MRI on my heart as well . There are a lot of heart tests I haven't had then all done but my brother has . One involves a treadmill and they make it harder and stepper as you do it until you can't do anymore. The BHF web page explains about the different tests plus you can always contact a heart nurse if you are worried or ask here if course.

[Paula233]

Just to add to the above....Once ypu see a cardiologist the good thing is that you are on his/her books so if anything changes with your health/new symptons etc, you can ususy contact them direct and not have to go back through your GP.

[Appleloveme]

Hi is anyone here knows when blood pressure is too high after 3 readings, when to go to the GP. Thank you.

[Lowerfield_no_more in reply to Appleloveme]

If you believe your BP reading is consistently high then I suggest you talk it through with 111 or make an an appointment with your GP. That is what they are there for. The link below might be helpful

nhs.uk/conditions/high-bloo...

[LuciaHJ]

I went private for consultations , didn’t fancy waiting list, preferred peace of mind , I googled and chose a consultant for my speciality, in my area who had a nhs practice as well as private. cost approx £200 but for me was worth it,