Pacemaker and Cardio in Lymington area?

[Bobkins99]

A bit left field, but I currently live near Basingstoke and have both a pacemaker and have had OHS. I know that I have access to great services at North Hants Hospital in Basingstoke, but we are imminently retiring to the South coast somewhere between Highcliffe and Lymington. Anyone know where I would be referred for ongoing check ups etc. Bournemouth, Southampton, Lymington? Any experience of these locations?

[Taviterry]

You have the choice of where you want to be treated. Though I can't advise on any of those three hospitals, I see that the smallest, at Lymington, has "Dr. Andrew Flett, a consultant cardiologist at Spire Southampton Hospital who also holds a weekly clinic and ward round at Lymington Hospital. He specializes in advanced pacing, heart failure, and cardiovascular magnetic resonance imaging".

(I was interested in your query because my parents lived in Brockenhurst and in their last years I got to know the local hospitals well, as well as what used to be misleadingly called St George's Hospital in Milford-on-Sea - it was and is a nursing home.)

[Chinkoflight]

Hi the links below take you to the specialisms. Southampton list pacemakers, but Bournemouth doesn't. I am moving to the Isle of Wight in two weeks and have an ICD fitted so was checking out the same question about transfer.

Slightly unfortunately for me I will have to go to Portsmouth, being on the West Wight it's slightly less convenient. St Mary's on the IoW does supervise pacemakers though. If you have a choice, and fancy a day out from time to time you could catch the ferry across from Lymington! It's the a no7 and No1 bus to the hospital, bus stops by the ferry and hospital!

Have a great move. Lovely where you are going to, I walked from Lymington to Hengistbury Head this summer, absolutely fab.

nhs.uk/services/hospital/so...

[Bluedolphin123]

Your local hospital is good I know and I’ve been to the cardiac unit at Southampton as I was having my OHS there and it seemed really good there too.

I have a friend who has always spoken highly of Bournemouth too .

Enjoy your new move , your heart will love it 😊

[Silvasava]

I asked my doctor to refer me to Southampton for a second opinion as their cardiology department has a good reputation. I was seen promptly and was given an ECG, Echo, MRI and an angiogram within a short space of time. I was very impressed with my treatment and the staff

[readyabout]

Hi, looks like good response to your query, I would like to put a plug in for Lymington Town Sailing Club, a very friendly 'open club' sailing (yachts) on Wednesdays for those who can make Wednesday, and lots of other things, ltsc.co.uk I have been a member for about 15 years, really great.

[Bobkins99 in reply to readyabout]

And I'll add in doing archery at Sway Bowmen at our own dedicated field and clubhouse between Lymington and Sway. Archery is an excellent sport for cardio victims such as myself

[cabgpatch]

HiI live in Lymington and had a triple bypass in Southampton six months ago. Lymington Hospital is really quite small, nothing like the size of Bournemouth or Southampton. The private Spire hospital is in Southampton, right opposite Southampton hospital and the two cardiac departments have a working partnership. If you're going to be living west of Lymington, you'll be closer to Bournemouth.

All my referrals have been to Southampton and the cardiac department has a very good reputation, particularly the cardiac surgeons.

If you think I might be of help, feel free to get in touch.

Paul

[Bobkins99 in reply to cabgpatch]

It's really just knowing where I'll need to go for my annual pacemaker check. Accept that I'll be Bournemouth or Soton for anything serious but just wondering if they do pacemaker checks at Lymington. It's hopefully a few more years before I need it replacing but better to keep on top of it

[cabgpatch]

My guess is that they do, via visiting consultants from Wessex Cardiology (Spire). Dr Wilkinson is listed as someone who has a clinic at Lymington. He was/is my cardiac consultant although I have never talked to him! The urgent need for surgery meant the appointment with him was superceded by my operation!

Presumably your new GP practice should be able help more specifically after you move if no-one else on here can help. Maybe Lymington Hospital could give you a general answer, although depending on what number you call, you might end up in the central Trust call centre.

I realise there's no rush, but if you'd like it cleared up before you move, and all else fails, I can drop in and see if the reception can tell me. It's a 2 minute drive, (nowhere is far from anywhere in Lymington) and I often visit the retail estate where the hospital is 😁

[Chinkoflight]

Hi again, follow on from mine and other responses above. My move is in 10 days and continuous monitoring of my ICD is a requirement for driving. I went yesterday to what will be my new GP practice in Freshwater.. They were very clear if I was referred through them then they cannot expedite a rapid bypass of bureaucracy to get my bedside monitoring box data transferred across to an EP in a local hospital or know immediately which hospital of those available in Hampshire/IoW would assume responsibility. You would be a new referral with other possible delays. Their advice was speak to your current cardiologist and ask him/her to effect the transfer to the appropriate hospital including direct transfer of records. I have initiated a query with my cardiologist and will follow up call on Monday and everyday next week until I get an answer! Do look at the hospital links I provided above as they take you right into the department specialities. My guess is you will be referred to Southampton and that looks a good option. On my travels down the coast there the local bus services are very good and stop by all the key centres.

Archery sounds fun!