Ambulatory ECG waiting times (FOI)

​Request

A

What is the current number of people waiting 24 hours for electrocardiogram (ECG) recording from Clinical investigation department (Holter monitor or other device) by GP referral, by hospital clinician referral, by age group and identify the number of private patient referrals, if any, and if they are included in the above numbers.  If not please identify separately?

B

What is the waiting time to receive an appointment date?

C

What is the current waiting time from referral to recording being taken, by GP referral, by hospital clinicians?

D

How many referrals can be dealt with in one day?

E

How many WTE staff are employed to carry out these investigations?

F

How many hours are currently given to this investigation per day?

If private patients are also served by this department, please identify separately in the questions above

Response

A

There are currently 479 requests for ambulatory electrocardiogram (ECG) monitors pending, for a mixture of monitoring durations, as follows:

• 237 awaiting 24-hour monitoring
  
• 65 awaiting 48-hour monitoring
• 130 awaiting 72-hour monitoring
• 47 awaiting week-long monitoring

Additionally, 76 private patients await planned monitors. This is a separate service and is provided off-site.

B and C

Urgent appointments are made within one month of referral, whilst the wait for routine appointments is currently over three months from referral.

Hospital clinician referrals are prioritised over GP referrals, as there would be extended cardiac review prior to referral.

D

There is currently a reduced capacity of 15 appointments per week for ambulatory ECG monitors.

Standard capacity is 35 appointments per week for ambulatory ECG monitors.

E

One Full-Time Equivalent is employed to provide this service, alongside other ambulatory monitoring, blood pressure monitoring and sleep studies.

F

7.4 working hours. ​