Community cardiology and respiratory patient information

Find out what to expect from your appointment with our community cardiology and respiratory service.

Before your appointment

We will book an appointment for you within two working days of receiving a referral letter from your GP. The date and time of your appointment will be sent to you via a letter in the post. If there is any doubt that the letter will not arrive in good time you will be contacted by phone.

Before your appointment you may need to have tests carried out on your heart. These tests will be arranged by our community clinics. They will normally be carried out at the same clinic as your specialist appointment, although they may not be carried out on the same day of your appointment. Some tests will need to be done before the day of your appointment, as they will involve wearing a heart monitor for anywhere between 24 hours and seven days.

These tests may be completed a few days before your appointment or may be conducted on the same day. This is so the results can be discussed during your consultation. 

Before attending for any test you are able to eat and drink as normal. You may want to bring a snack if you are going to be at the clinic for a while. There is drinking water available. 

If you are being seen in the chest pain or shortness of breath clinic you are advised to wear flat, fully covered shoes or trainers as you may be asked to perform a treadmill test, if you are able to do so.

It is very important to bring all your medications to your appointment. Please remember to check your appointment letter for anything specific you may have been asked to bring with you. In addition, it would be helpful if you could bring the following:

• full address and telephone number(s)
• appointment card and appointment letter
• GP’s name and address
• a list of questions you may wish to ask during your visit

During your appointment

Upon arrival please visit the main reception. We will make every effort to ensure you are seen on time but sometimes a delay is unavoidable. Our team will ensure you are kept up to date about any delays.

You are welcome to ask for a chaperone and we will endeavour to provide one for you.

Before your consultation you will have an ECG and your height, weight and blood pressure recorded. You will see either a consultant or specialist nurse during your appointment.

The majority of patients can expect to be at the clinic for less than an hour. If you are attending some clinics for specific conditions you may need to have a number of tests performed on the same day as your consultation which may result in an attendance of up to three hours. You will be notified in advance if this is the case.

You will see a consultant or a specialist nurse at your appointment. They will discuss the results of any tests you may have had as well as their findings and recommendations. You may be referred to hospital for further tests or your condition will be further managed in the community. The consultant or specialist nurse will discuss next steps with you. 

After your appointment

Following your appointment, the consultant or specialist nurse will make a diagnosis and will send recommendations and advice to your GP in a letter. You will receive a copy of this letter.

Alternatively, in some cases a referral will be made for you to be seen in one of our specialist hospital-based cardiology clinics.