I was diagnosed with Coronary Artery Spasm by a cardiologist in August 2018 after seven years of symptoms and having to fight for a referral. This was my second attempt at a referral. The first had ended in discharge following a clear myocardial perfusion scan and the advice that there was nothing wrong with me. The second ended in a diagnosis of exclusion with no further testing and discharge back to the care of my GP. I was assured by the cardiologist that this condition could be well managed in primary care.
The hospital had previously given me a GTN spray and the GP continued this and has done to date. This works well and generally symptoms are well controlled.
In May 2019, a locum GP prescribed triptans for migraine. Discrepancies between the doctor's instructions and those on the box sent me to the BNF and the information that these tablets were absolutely contraindicated! A phone call to the surgery revealed that my diagnosis had never been added to my record. I was told this would be rectified.
In March 2020, I was on high dose steroids and having episodes on a daily basis so asked for a referral back to the hospital. There I was assured that the escalation in my symptoms was nothing to do with the steroids. I was also told I needed to be on Diltiazem, which would have the added benefit of lowering my BP. As my BP is generally around 110/60, and often lower, I queried this and was advised to ask my GP for 24 hour BP monitoring so we could see how low it actually goes. The GP refused.
Since then there has been no interaction with the GP surgery at all other than my annual thyroid test and medication review.
I have recently discovered from their revamped website that the surgery runs a separate clinic for people with heart conditions. The website actually says that people who don't attend cannot be looked after safely and must find another doctor. As I have never been invited, I raised this with the pharmacist who was doing my recent medication review and she told me that I am not on 'the cardiac register'. She said she would speak to one of the doctors to see if I could be added, but I have heard no more. I cannot find out what this cardiac register is and what the criteria are for inclusion.
I'm now trying to get my ducks in a row before I try to speak to the Practice Manager. I have looked online, but can't see anything that defines what their obligations to me are, what they should be doing and whether there is anything I can quote when I speak to him.
Can anyone help please?
