Heart patients are being stressed by having to wait too long for vital tests, hospital staff warned today

People who need coronary angiogram tests have to be admitted to hospital for up to seven weeks while they wait for treatment, which should be available in a few days.

Currently patients have to be sent to London for tests as Colchester does not have the necessary facilities.

Dissatisfied: charge nurse Des McCarron is unhappy over the delays faced by heart patients in Colchester Picture: STEVE BAINBRIDGE

A coronary angiogram involves injecting a dye into an artery and taking an X-ray.

It shows doctors the exact problems a patient may have and allows them to decide on the best course of action.

Charge nurse Des McCarron said people were informed on a daily basis if it was likely they may be called to London and had to get prepared.

Mr McCarron said staff felt they were being obstructed from giving the best care at the moment.

"It does not seem to be a good standard when we are having to keep people here like this," he said. "This adds to the stress when we are having to say sorry to them each day."

Reg Raby, 63, of Foots Farm in Clacton, suffered a minor heart attack a few weeks ago and was frustrated he had been delayed from getting an angiogram.

But he said fellow patients were also unhappy with the situation and some had been waiting for seven weeks.

"My doctor said patients should not be waiting more than a week," he said.

A spokesman for Essex Rivers Healthcare Trust said: "We want people to be seen quickly because we care about our patients. We have to look after them in the best way we can while they are waiting."

A spokeswoman from the London Chest Hospital said: "We are sorry patients in Colchester are waiting for tests at the London Chest Hospital."

Published Friday, April 25, 2003

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