BUPA - What DOES it cover?

Yeah, I guess BUPA isn't going to be for me.  You have to be in good shape before you start it, and I'm not.  Poop.

To give you an idea when one of us has had a referral.  Usually within a few days, we get a letter in the mail that is a copy of the referral letter.  And then usually a bit later, another letter with an appointment date.  So it should never be more than two weeks or so after you visit a GP before you get a letter. 

That's NHS England.  jfkimberly has to use NHS Wales and they have different waiting times/not the same treatment offered.

That's NHS England.  jfkimberly has to use NHS Wales and they have different waiting times/not the same treatment offered.

Ah, good point.  But I would still suspect she’ll hear something in the next year.   

Today I received a letter inviting me to book an appointment with the Cardiology Team!  I phoned immediately and am booked in for 19 November at 2:10pm!  The last time I phoned, the nurse still didn't see any record that the referral had been made, so she said she would put a note in to the GP to see what was up.  Then, a month later, this letter turns up?  I think they still hadn't done it 'til that phone call.  My GP is really starting to seem less-than-optimal.

But I have the referral now, and I will make sure the Cardiology Team never let me go.  Ever.

Today I received a letter inviting me to book an appointment with the Cardiology Team!  I phoned immediately and am booked in for 19 November at 2:10pm!  The last time I phoned, the nurse still didn't see any record that the referral had been made, so she said she would put a note in to the GP to see what was up.  Then, a month later, this letter turns up?  I think they still hadn't done it 'til that phone call.  My GP is really starting to seem less-than-optimal.

But I have the referral now, and I will make sure the Cardiology Team never let me go.  Ever.

Hoorah!   

Today I received a letter inviting me to book an appointment with the Cardiology Team!  I phoned immediately and am booked in for 19 November at 2:10pm!  The last time I phoned, the nurse still didn't see any record that the referral had been made, so she said she would put a note in to the GP to see what was up.  Then, a month later, this letter turns up?  I think they still hadn't done it 'til that phone call.  My GP is really starting to seem less-than-optimal.

But I have the referral now, and I will make sure the Cardiology Team never let me go.  Ever.

Excellent news.

I've been a bit offline for the last two weeks because my very distracting husband was off work for most of it.  But I'm back now!  And I had my long-awaited cardiology appointment last week!  I am happy to report that after waiting almost six years since my last check, this cardiologist classified my condition with the exact same words my old cardiologist used ("mild to moderate regurgitation"), he acknowledged the same difficulties with approach if surgery becomes necessary one day, and we both shared our hope that that day never comes.  So, bottom line: I'm stable!  I haven't done any harm in these 5+ years without monitoring.  In fact, my ejection fraction is a robust 65%.  Go, me!

Oh, he said my GP should refer me to respiratory.  I told him I'd asked my GP for cardiology and respiratory referrals at my first appointment last January, and it took 20 months to get in to see him, so I'm just kind of... meh.  The cardiologist said he will put that referral in for me.  I AM IN THE SYSTEM!  *twirl*  Also, my GP is useless.  All the right words, no action.  But I'm in the system, so I don't need them anymore.

I've been a bit offline for the last two weeks because my very distracting husband was off work for most of it.  But I'm back now!  And I had my long-awaited cardiology appointment last week!  I am happy to report that after waiting almost six years since my last check, this cardiologist classified my condition with the exact same words my old cardiologist used ("mild to moderate regurgitation"), he acknowledged the same difficulties with approach if surgery becomes necessary one day, and we both shared our hope that that day never comes.  So, bottom line: I'm stable!  I haven't done any harm in these 5+ years without monitoring.  In fact, my ejection fraction is a robust 65%.  Go, me!

Oh, he said my GP should refer me to respiratory.  I told him I'd asked my GP for cardiology and respiratory referrals at my first appointment last January, and it took 20 months to get in to see him, so I'm just kind of... meh.  The cardiologist said he will put that referral in for me.  I AM IN THE SYSTEM!  *twirl*  Also, my GP is useless.  All the right words, no action.  But I'm in the system, so I don't need them anymore.

Yay! That's great news! 

Yay! That's great news! 

It is a relief!  I was beginning to think I'd have to go back to the very expensive Plan A, which was flying back to the US to see my old specialists for annual monitoring.  I did not fancy this at all, mostly because it's crazy expensive when the NHS is right here.  And now it's working for me, finally, so yay!

It is a relief!  I was beginning to think I'd have to go back to the very expensive Plan A, which was flying back to the US to see my old specialists for annual monitoring.  I did not fancy this at all, mostly because it's crazy expensive when the NHS is right here.  And now it's working for me, finally, so yay!

That is really good news that you are finally being taken care of  properly.