Cardiologist secretary

[Gooner1947]

Rang the secretary of the cardiologist on Monday. Left message on answerphone.

She rang me back this morning. The cardiologist is on call for two weeks and doesn't call into office. But she assured me that she has emailed him my concerns re when coronary angiogram might be done. She said he definitely picks up his emails.

She then rang me again after speaking with Cardiologist and told me to contact her once I receive a confirmation letter of appointment for angiogram.

There's currently a 4 month waiting list. I went on list 6th August.

What baffles me now is why I need to ring once an appointment received.

[SandraLlew]

I hope that it is because she is actively tracking your case to ensure that it gets done on time. This worked for me, the secretaries often acted as liaison officers; especially between services/departments. Make a note in your diary, if you have not got an appointment by the due date ring her again.

You are already almost half way through the waiting time, is this the first appointment with the surgeon?

[Gooner1947 in reply to SandraLlew]

I assume it is. It's the date I hope the coronary angiogram will be carried out. In all honesty I was thinking that the cardiologist would be doing the procedure.

[SandraLlew in reply to Gooner1947]

There was a cardiologist there for mine because they have to administer drugs and monitor your heart while the CT scan is underway. Are you having the CT angiogram or the femoral artery one?

[Gooner1947 in reply to SandraLlew]

I just don't know. All I remember the cardiologist saying to me is that it's done entering vein in groin. And that it's day surgery

[SandraLlew in reply to Gooner1947]

That's the type where they pass a wire through the Femoral Artery then, not a thing to worry about, pain free procedure

[Silvertail]

I'd say it's to confirm you will accept the appointment for that time. We have to confirm appointments for everything, all the time here. They know if you can't keep the appointment they can offer it to someone else.

[Qualipop in reply to Silvertail]

I get texts asking me to confirm every appointment online but I 've been waiting to see a cardiologist about the possibility of a CT angiogram since last October - only the possibility mind you. That's after 2 referrals and two GPs chasing it up.

[Silvertail in reply to Qualipop]

We really have to advocate for ourselves these days, don't we?

[Qualipop in reply to Silvertail]

I dread being in a position where I need an advocate and don't have one.

[Silvertail in reply to Qualipop]

Same.😒

[sandandkev]

Perhaps so they can make an appointment for you and discuss results?

[Robinface]

Best of luck! My husband has been waiting since January for his , was supposed to be today but got a call yesterday cancelling it as too many urgent cases needing priority! No new date yet! Hope you hear soon x

[bee2]

Hopefully it's to track your results. I had an angiogram last August. Last week I got a call from my GP surgery to say the had a letter from the Golden Jubilee the GP wanted to discuss with me. For once a telephone consultation was available that afternoon. After worrying all morning he told me they had just recieved the results of that angiogram ! Over a year later!

[Hidden]

When you talk to the receptionist again, ask if they can send you some written information about the procedure (angiography) you are to have. Then at least you can feel you have some control in preparing for it...

[Gooner1947 in reply to Hidden]

Yes I did that earlier this morning. I left a message asking if some sort of print out of the diagnosis and proposed treatment be sent to me so that I can have a better understanding of everything. Hope it's possible. I expect she will ring me and let me know if it's possible.

[Straitman]

Gooner, as someone else born in the vintage year of 1947, I have to say that I do follow with consultants and GPs. Sadly, when it comes to appointments, test results etc, it is easy to ‘fall down the cracks’. As such, if I don’t hear anything in a reasonable time frame (Maximum 4 to 6 weeks) I either call, email or write a letter asking what is happening. Inevitably, this produces a quick response (Generally 3 working days) in every instance.

I’m not critical of the NHS. Rather, I recognise that they are often busy and things slip down the ‘To Do List’. I’ve never been criticised for my approach. In fact, I’ve had apologies. Not that I need any of those. It’s my health and I need to do everything in my power to promote that.

[Gooner1947 in reply to Straitman]

Yes, you're right and very sound advice indeed.I did contact the secretary this morning again yo leave a message requesting a print out of the cardiologist's diagnosis and proposed treatment etc. Just so I can understand it all better. Hope she can do that