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| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| 'I fear I'll die on hospital waiting list' | 'I fear I'll die on hospital waiting list' |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| John Crockford is on a waiting list of up to a year to see a cardiologist | John Crockford is on a waiting list of up to a year to see a cardiologist |
| A man fears he will die before he reaches the top of a year-long waiting list to see a heart specialist. | A man fears he will die before he reaches the top of a year-long waiting list to see a heart specialist. |
| John Crockford, 77, from Bridlington in East Yorkshire, has a history of cardiac problems and suffered three heart attacks in 2022. | John Crockford, 77, from Bridlington in East Yorkshire, has a history of cardiac problems and suffered three heart attacks in 2022. |
| He has had four stents fitted to open blocked arteries but said he had become so unwell he suspects another is needed. | He has had four stents fitted to open blocked arteries but said he had become so unwell he suspects another is needed. |
| York and Scarborough Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust said its patients were "prioritised by doctors according to clinical need", but recognised some were waiting longer than it would like. | York and Scarborough Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust said its patients were "prioritised by doctors according to clinical need", but recognised some were waiting longer than it would like. |
| Stents are tiny devices inserted inside arteries to keep them open | Stents are tiny devices inserted inside arteries to keep them open |
| Mr Crockford said he asked his GP practice to refer him to a cardiologist at Scarborough Hospital before Christmas, when he started to feel so breathless he was unable to do any physical activity. | Mr Crockford said he asked his GP practice to refer him to a cardiologist at Scarborough Hospital before Christmas, when he started to feel so breathless he was unable to do any physical activity. |
| The retired foster carer and retail worker said his symptoms were the same as those he experienced before previous operations to fit a stent - a tiny mesh tube used to hold an artery open. | The retired foster carer and retail worker said his symptoms were the same as those he experienced before previous operations to fit a stent - a tiny mesh tube used to hold an artery open. |
| Mr Crockford needs a scan to establish if the procedure is needed, but said he was alarmed when he received a letter from the hospital stating "patients are waiting up to 52 weeks" for their cardiology appointments. | Mr Crockford needs a scan to establish if the procedure is needed, but said he was alarmed when he received a letter from the hospital stating "patients are waiting up to 52 weeks" for their cardiology appointments. |
| He said: "That's before I can go and see a cardiologist, let alone have the scan. | He said: "That's before I can go and see a cardiologist, let alone have the scan. |
| "I don't know whether I'm going to snuff it before I get this year over, because all the time they're not doing it, these arteries are getting clogged up." | "I don't know whether I'm going to snuff it before I get this year over, because all the time they're not doing it, these arteries are getting clogged up." |
| John and wife Tina on their wedding day in October 1966 | John and wife Tina on their wedding day in October 1966 |
| Mr Crockford said he was so concerned about what could happen during his wait, he was considering spending £15,000 of his life savings on private treatment. | Mr Crockford said he was so concerned about what could happen during his wait, he was considering spending £15,000 of his life savings on private treatment. |
| He added: "That's my kids' and my grandkids' inheritance. Why should I have to pay that when I'm supposed to get free NHS treatment? | He added: "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." | "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. | Mr Crockford, who married his wife Tina in October 1966, said he was worried he would not survive to see their diamond anniversary. |
| Through tears, he said: "My next target is going to be reaching our 60th anniversary. We've done 58. I don't know if I'll get to 60." | Through tears, he said: "My next target is going to be reaching our 60th anniversary. We've done 58. I don't know if I'll get to 60." |
| 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 having already waited longer than the 18-week target. | |
| Sir Keir Starmer 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. | |
| 'Difficult wait' | 'Difficult wait' |
| Charlie Dewhirst, MP for Bridlington and The Wolds, has raised Mr Crockford's case with the Department of Health and the hospital trust. | 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 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. | A spokesperson for the 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." | "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". | 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." | 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." |