Reccomendations for an Electrophysiologist in UK

Can anyone reccommend an Electrophysiologist in UK. Also any tips on how we go about getting his GP to make the appropriate referral?

Thanks,

I live in Cornwall UK where the local expert on ablation is Guy Haywood in Plymouth. He has a website where he sets out his case. If I could get to him I would. Apparently there is a greater preparedness to go the ablation way on the NHS even when drugs control fibrillation.
I am going to give it a go although my GP is at present more of a hindrance than a help. I don't get a lot of fibrillation which is drug controlled but I do get a lot of ectopic beats which are not controlled by either flecainide or propafenone. I'll let you know if I get anywhere. Good luck.

Circulation January 15, 2008

A Change of Scene: Sabine Ernst, MD, PhD
[circ.ahajournals.org]

Nick,
The AF ablation EPs who’ve been most highly recommended to me are:
Sabine Ernst at the Royal Brompton in London,
Richard Schilling at St Barts in London,
Anthony Chow again at St Barts in London,
Chris Pepper at Leeds General.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 11/29/2017 05:00PM by mwcf.

Nick

Getting to the consultant of your choice, or even the hospital of your choice is very tricky. I asked for King's College, (not for AF but for something else), my GP referred me there and yet I was offered an appointment at Mayday in Croydon. When I rang the number they gave me to change it I was told that my GP had put Mayday on the referral, which was not true. I had to email my GP who then had to do a new referral specifying King's. I did eventually end up at King's, but only because I persevered.

Be prepared for a struggle, but don't give up. It pays dividends if you are extra nice to the person on the phone. I always apologise for bothering them, say how hard their job must be and so on, and it pays dividends. I think they must get a lot of angry people ringing them so if they get someone charming they respond and are helpful. Doesn't always work but often does.

As for EPs, I had my ablation in Bordeaux in January 2003, before anyone in UK was doing them, and am still in sinus rhythm almost 15 years on. If AF recurred I would almost certainly go back there but if ever I wanted to see an EP in England I would choose Sabine Ernst.

Gill

Thanks to Gill, mwcf, Jackie and PeterO for the advice, we are prepared for an uphill struggle.

NickC — what did you decide to do in the end? Just heading down this route myself and all updates gratefully received!