Cardiology waiting lists: AICARM collects reports

Waiting lists and access to specialist cardiology tests currently represent one of the most serious critical issues of the National Health Service, a daily issue affecting patients with cardiomyopathy who must undergo cardiology visits at a referral center, and undergo important tests such as cardiac MRI, coronary CT scan, and cardiorespiratory testing, prescribed by their cardiologist. They often wait weeks, sometimes months. They are often forced to choose between forgoing treatment or turning to private providers, paying out of pocket or through supplemental insurance, if available. This emergency reflects profound inequalities between regions and social classes, undermining the very foundations of access to optimal diagnostic tools and therapies.

For this reason we invite all patients with cardiomyopathy and their families who face difficulties in accessing specific healthcare services, to report any problems you encounter to usWaiting list times, closed schedules, appointments offered outside your area or beyond the timeframes set for your assigned priority class. Only by collecting and documenting your concrete experiences can we effectively represent them to institutions, encourage targeted interventions, and help build better access for patients with cardiomyopathy.

Cardiovascular diseases are the leading cause of mortality in the Italian population, a population that is progressively aging and has an ever-increasing need for cardiac monitoring.

If epidemiological data estimate that cardiomyopathies are present in 5 per thousand of the general population, with an estimated 300.000 people, mostly adults and elderly, it would be necessary to identify referral centers and specific diagnostic and therapeutic pathways.

This area of ​​cardiology is a prime example of disparityCheckups for those who already have a diagnosis and are being treated at a specialized center are generally guaranteed regularly. But for those who need an initial cardiac evaluation, the situation changes dramatically. For specific instrumental tests, such as cardiac MRI, coronary CT, dynamic ECG, cardiorespiratory testing, and polysomnography, it can be very difficult to get an appointment.
The National Health Service works well in real emergencies, that of the emergency room, but struggles to manage and respect acceptable timeframes for fundamental, relatively urgent tests, necessary to clarify the diagnosis and start optimal therapies.
Anyone wanting to know how long the wait is in their city still has to navigate regional portals or call local CUPs. Then there's the issue of "rejected appointments": data shows rejection rates for the first available appointment ranging from a quarter to over half of cases. These are patients who are offered a date that's too far away, or an appointment that's a hundred kilometers from home.

The real challenge is not just reducing waiting times, but ensuring that no one is left out, that everyone has the opportunity to be cared for by a specialized referral center, before it's too late.
As AICARM we will continue to monitor the evolution of the situation and to act as spokesperson for the critical issues that emerge daily from your reports.Every experience counts, every testimony contributes to building a true and complete picture of the situation.