Watch Dr Matthew Fay, a GP based in Shipley, West Yorkshire, discuss the referral system and how to access treatments for heart rhythm disorders in this new Arrhythmia Alliance video: youtu.be/Rz24EsZMVuE
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Thank you so much for giving us this video, as I watched this it became clear that what is desirable and should happen, to what is actually happening at the patients end still remains unregulated even with a diagnosis. It was great to finally see a GP who recognised that it was an electrical disturbance of the heart and should be treated by an Electrophysiologist. Another misconception is that only elderly people suffer from this condition, which is most likely why its not getting the proper procedure or exposure necessary in the first place. This seemed to be lacking in this video, but when you get even some education its better than nothing at least at the beginning. This education does not reach every GP and is sadly lacking. Hospitals are also ignorant of the correct procedure to follow, and GPs try to treat it themselves. Nursing staff are not given this information as part of their training, and I would have liked to have seen more about this in a Hospital setting with acknowledgement that not all arrhythmias are the same. As there are no EP's in my local Regional Area, then this could have been included as to what procedure needs to be followed, by Cardiologists, GPs and Hospitals.I just have to accept what care is necessary and available at the time, with no follow up. ie: no referral to an EP after changing meds. I have been fortunate in that I did feint, and was due to a bladder infection, which then got me to the EP quick smart. I have had no other falls?. Too generalised from all health professionals which in turn dismisses this condition. Questions regarding falls should not be entertained until after a diagnosis. The water intake is an agreed point of view especially in a hotter climate like Australia. The another point I would like to make is; that after talking online with many thousands of people, no mention is ever made of the food/drink intake as being a critical component of this condition as everyone has or seems to have suffered mild or strong symptoms due to food and drink intake, which seems to precede an arrhythmia attack. It has taken me two years to get a referral to a Gastroenterologist and a dietician, after trying to work out what to eat and drink to help alleviate symptoms. I was diagnosed with IBS a few months ago (2 years down the track). In saying all of the above, I admire this GP who obviously has a genuine concern for patients with this condition, and wants more affirmative action to take place, rather than treat this as a lost cause.
Definately a good video for GPs and Hospitals.
Lets see an Australian made videos for Educating GPs Hospitals Nursing staff, in the best procedure to follow. Especially with consideration for distance travel and precautions.
A video for patients and the general community as to what to do next, and/or paper information (handouts) in describing what needs to be done, when leaving hospital.
A Video for GP's and Dieticians and other health professionals on what food/drink is best avoided.
Finally a video on when is the best time for an ablation with all the procedures that can be done, and expected outcomes after an ablation.
This is a critique not a criticism
Thank you for the video. Although I have had thee symptoms for some years I was not diagnosed with Wolff Parkinson White until I had a routine ecg before some reconstructive surgery on my face following cancer with another hospital outside my city. This resulted in most of the planned surgery being postponed and my surgeon recommending my seeing a cardiologist asap. My GP told me it would be sometime and referred me privately £150. The private doctor was very informative but in 40 mins could only tell me what it was and not answer my fears. He said I would see someone within 6 weeks and maybe get surgical treatment on the urgent list within 6 months.The condition was diagnosed on Jan 14.My Plastic surgeon is very concerned and has tried contacting my Trust to no avail. I feel abandoned! My GP is obviously embarrassed at not spotting the condition before and has no interest. I am very frightened and would just like to speak to someone who is living with WPW to discuss coping. I have tried to contact AAbut they never retirn my calls. Now what!
Thank you again - I am obviously not alone in feeling abandoned.
This video raises more questions than it answers, it does acknowledge that sadly there is a lack of awareness where GP's and even Cardiologists are concerned but really does not word it strongly enough. It keeps saying that your GP is supposed to be your advocate in your journey to get proper treatment. In a perfect world maybe certainly not in mine. In most walks of life one has to undertake mandatory training on a regular basis to ensure one is competent to do your job. I have been proactive in getting information about my diagnosis and all it has done has got me shouted at by my GP, he even had the audacity to ignore the cardiologists letter of diagnosis and recommended treatment, which was electronically transferred to the practice, for over a month and now says there is nothing wrong with my heart and weirdly says that although I am not showing any signs of anxiety I have it anyway and that is what is causing everything. I guess he did not like the fact I had contacted PALS and they made sure all letters were sent by fax again and for that I was on the receiving end of his aggression. At least I am on some sort of treatment to control my PAF. Hospital doctor actually told me not to believe what the AFA had told me when I again asked why I was on aspirin when it was no longer recommended. The only reason I got another referral back to the cardiologist who incidentally has not seen me since ordering initial tests is so he can tell me there is nothing wrong with my heart. What planet is my GP on, I have a copy of the cardiologists letter. Needless to say I am in the process of changing my GP. Hopefully my experience is an extreme case but it does highlight the need for drastic action to be taken to prevent GP's being a law unto themselves. My journey is not over I anticipate having to do battle with the cardiologist next who seems to thing giving beta blockers to someone who has bradycardia is an acceptable risk. Plus prescribing aspirin to someone who he himself has classed as at high risk of a stroke. This video says what should happen not what happens in reality. When is it going to stop.
Thanks for sharing. It wasn't until I had an EP studies of the heart that they were able to present me with an understanding of my condition. However, there still is some confusion because they did not have the upgraded technology to fully locate my condition.
