John Crockford, a 77-year-old man from Bridlington in East Yorkshire, is worried that he will die before he reaches the top of a year-long waiting list to see a heart specialist at Scarborough Hospital. John has a history of cardiac problems and has had four stents fitted to open blocked arteries but has become so unwell he suspects another is needed. He has been on the waiting list for a cardiologist since before Christmas.
Mr Crockford said he asked his GP practice to refer him to a cardiologist at Scarborough Hospital when he started feeling breathless. His symptoms were the same as those experienced before previous stent operations. John needs a scan to establish if the procedure is needed, but he was alarmed when he received a letter from the hospital stating that “patients are waiting up to 52 weeks” for their cardiology appointments.
He was so concerned about what could happen during his wait, he was considering spending £15,000 of his life savings on private treatment. “That’s my kids’ and my grandkids’ inheritance. Why should I have to pay that when I’m supposed to get free NHS treatment?…But, to stay alive, I think I’m going to have to”. Mr Crockford, who married his wife Tina in October 1966, said he was worried he would not survive to see their diamond anniversary.
The NHS target for 92% of patients to begin treatment or be given the all clear within 18 weeks has not been met since 2015. The waiting list currently stands at 7.5 million, with more than 3 million waiting longer than the 18-week target. Sir Keir Starmer has said he plans to reduce the number of long waits by nearly half a million over the next year by increasing the amount of NHS hubs and encouraging greater use of the private sector.
Charlie Dewhirst, MP for Bridlington and The Wolds, has raised Mr Crockford’s case with the Department of Health and the hospital trust. A spokesperson for the York and Scarborough Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust said: “We understand this is a difficult wait for Mr Crockford and we are sorry for the inconvenience and worry this is causing for him. Patients are prioritised by our doctors according to their clinical need, which means waiting times can vary”. The spokesperson said the trust had made “good progress reducing waiting times” but recognised “some patients are waiting longer than we would like, especially for routine referrals”. They added: “We would always advise patients if their health is getting worse to let their GP know so they can decide whether they need to be prioritised differently.
Read the full article from The BBC here: Read More