Heart patient waits nearly five months for an appointment and tells NHS ‘I don’t want to die, I want to live’

A patient who has waited for a heart-related appointment for more than five months, only to have it cancelled twice on the day, has told the NHS: ‘I don’t want to die, I want to live’.

Barry Dunnage, 76, of Balderton, has been waiting all that time to find out what’s wrong with him and to receive assurances that he will survive.

Retired university lecturer Mr Dunnage, who is losing faith and trust in the NHS, said: “I have been suffering from heart problems, among other things. I have waited for more than five months for an NHS appointment at Newark Hospital.

“I was feeling really dreadful and continue to be in a lot of pain, particularly down the left side of my chest.

“I feel let down and disappointed with the service that seems to be available on the Nottinghamshire NHS.

“The past year or two have been particularly difficult for me.

“And I think that I am going to die. I do not want to die. I want to live.”

Sherwood Forest Hospitals apologised to Mr Dunnage for the delays he has experienced.

Mr Dunnage’s life was saved after he suffered a major heart attack on January 17, 2018, just around the corner from St Bart’s Hospital in London. Had he not been so close to St Bart’s and received such prompt care, he was told he would have died.

He has again been suffering chest pains.

Now in Nottinghamshire and with his health deteriorating, his GP sought him an appointment with a hospital consultant.

Mr Dunnage said: “I received a telephone conversation letting me know that the appointment for that afternoon would have to be cancelled, and that I would receive a letter in regard to an alternative future meeting,” he said.

Mr Dunnage was offered another appointment at King’s Mill Hospital in July, but that was again cancelled on the day.

“Today I woke up with extreme chest pains, and thought that I had better try and do something about this whilst I still can,” Mr Dunnage said on that day.

An appointment was re-booked for yesterday (Thursday) at King’s Mill.

Mr Dunnage’s friend, Stuart, who has been on standby to take him to the appointment, said: “In essence, we’re just hoping that this one isn’t cancelled and we can clarify what’s up with Barry.

“He seems to have been a victim of circumstance — the post-covid era — which is quite frightening and shocking.

“We have to accept that things have changed and there are backlogs to a degree but Barry’s health continues to deteriorate in that time and he’s scared.

“You have to wonder how many other people this is happening to?”

Maggie McManus, deputy chief operating officer at Sherwood Forest Hospitals, said: “Our hard-working teams are doing all they can to ensure that everyone can access the treatment they deserve as quickly as possible and we would like to sincerely apologise to Mr Dunnage for the delays he has experienced.”

Sherwood Forest Hospitals said it proactively engages with patients on its waiting lists to check that their circumstances haven’t changed and their condition hasn’t changed since their referral.

It advises anyone whose condition changes or deteriorates while waiting for a hospital consultation, treatment, or surgery to contact their GP or the hospital team responsible for their care using the contact information provided on their appointment letters.