Support and advice while you wait

When you are referred to the heart team (cardiology) at Kingston hospital, one of our consultants will carefully review your medical details and arrange any initial tests straight away. They will also decide if they need to see you urgently or not. We will then send you an appointment to see one of the doctors.

Unfortunately, current waiting times for a first appointment with a heart doctor (a 'cardiologist') may be longer than 12 months if you do not need to be seen urgently. We understand that waiting can be worrying but there is support available while you wait.

Your GP is there to support you

While you are waiting for your hospital appointment, your GP remains your main point of care. Help is available if your condition changes.

GPs can:

  • review your symptoms
  • monitor your condition
  • offer reassurance and advice
  • provide medication if needed.

Advice and Guidance service

Your GP can also contact a hospital heart specialist through the Advice and Guidance service. This has been set up specifically for GPs to contact consultants directly for advice within 24 hours.

This allows:

  • specialist advice to be obtained without you needing to attend hospital
  • your care to be reviewed and updated more quickly
  • decisions to be made about whether your appointment needs to be prioritised.

If you have concerns about your condition, book a GP appointment

When to seek help

Contact

Contact your GP urgently if:
  • your symptoms are getting worse (such as increasing breathlessness or chest discomfort when exercising; increasing leg swelling)
  • you have new symptoms (such as palpitations causing dizziness or other symptoms; passing out)
  • you are worried about your condition.
Call NHS 111 if:
  • you need urgent medical advice and are unsure what to do.
Call 999 or go to an emergency department (A&E) immediately if you have:
  • chest pain that does not go away
  • severe shortness of breath
  • collapse or fainting.

Looking after your heart while you wait

Staying as healthy as possible can make a big difference. Research shows that these principles of healthy living have a particular impact on heart health.

  • Keep active (within your limits).
  • Eat a balanced diet (low in salt, sugar, and saturated fat).
  • Take medications as prescribed.
  • Try to stop or reduce smoking if you smoke.
  • Manage stress where possible.

Trusted information

NHS

  • Information on many heart conditions
  • Living well, including advice on healthy weight, exercise, eating well and quitting smoking.

British Heart Foundation

This website has a huge amount of information and support. This includes:

  • heart conditions and how to look after your heart
  • frequently-asked questions
  • tests and treatments
  • support from cardiac nurses.

Quitting smoking

Keep your contact details up to date

Make sure your GP has your correct phone number and address.

Check your post, phone, NHS App or Kingston Patient Portal for appointment updates.

Patient Portal

Our Patient Portal is a secure online system that allows you to look at information from your hospital record, view outpatient appointments, receive messages from your hospital care team and complete forms and questionnaires.

When we make you an outpatient appointment, we will send you a text message to invite you to sign up to the Portal. You can also access the Portal via the NHS App.

Contact information

Email krft.cardiologyadmin@nhs.net for:

  • referral information from GPs or other health professionals
  • results or patient details from other health services
  • results we have asked patients to send us, such as blood pressure recordings.

Telephone:

020 8934 2321