It's a death sentence

Engineer David Davies has contracted pneumonia since being diagnosed with chronic heart failure last December, when he says he was told his case was not urgent and he must wait until July to see a doctor.

"Now they tell me I can't see anybody until next February, and having been diagnosed with pneumonia it feels pretty urgent to me," said 57-year-old Mr Davies, who lives with wife Jackie in Croesyceiliog, Cwmbran.

"It's a real worry that I might not be around for the appointment. I could have another heart attack at any time, I just don't know. It's like a death sentence hanging over me."

Assembly health minister Jane Hutt has once again this week praised work being done to cut waiting times in Wales with the aim to bring heart surgery waiting times down to a maximum of eight months during 2004/05.

But the time heart patients wait to see a cardiologist and then to have tests can be far longer than that for treatment.

"He's had an X-ray which shows a shadow on his lung, which is pneumonia. That puts more of a strain on the heart and I'm really afraid it will be too much," said Mrs Davies.

"When you see them spending millions on that new Assembly building, it seems crazy they can't give my husband an appointment within a year of him being diagnosed."

Mr Davies originally went to see his GP late last year after feeling ill for some weeks. He says medication is all that keeps him alive, but his health is deteriorating.

"In December I was diagnosed with chronic heart failure after a suspected silent heart attack," he said."I try to live a normal life but it's impossible. I can't even play with my 10-year-old grandson.

"The worst part is being in limbo. You can't get on with your life and you're afraid it will get delayed again.

"This isn't just about me, I'm not trying to jump any queue.

"There must be lots of other people with heart problems who are waiting far too long to be seen."