'I live in constant fear of having a heart attack'

Scott McKenna has been told some patients are waiting 52-weeks to see a specialist

When Scott McKenna received the "shock" news he was suffering from heart failure seven years after first undergoing tests he said he felt "terrified I'm going to drop down dead".

Now, the 58-year-old, from Scarborough, has been told it could take up to another year before he can see a hospital specialist.

He said as a result he was living with the "constant worry" of not knowing if he might have a heart attack while waiting for help.

A spokesperson for York and Scarborough Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust apologised to Mr McKenna for the "inconvenience and worry" and said it was "working hard to see patients as soon as we can".

Mr McKenna had been living in Peterborough in 2018 when he organised an appointment with his GP after experiencing chest pain, shortness of breath and swelling in his legs.

He underwent a series of hospital tests but never received the results.

He has previously spoken to the BBC about the "terrifying" moment he eventually discovered he had heart failure in February 2025, when his new GP in Scarborough contacted him to arrange an annual check-up.

He was then referred to see a cardiologist at the York and Scarborough NHS Trust but received a letter in July explaining that some patients are "waiting up to 52-weeks" for cardiology appointments.

He said it was very "worrying" and "disappointing", especially after waiting seven-years to discover he has been living with heart failure.

"Has it got worse in those seven years? Most probably. But without knowing, I don't know what to do, what to say to people, and what medication I should be taking - if any," he said.

The letter explained there were "long waits" for some outpatient appointments but stressed that patients are prioritised based on their clinical urgency.

"It's very difficult," Mr McKenna said.

"Walking up two flights of stairs some days I'm out of breath. Some days I have chest pains. Do I phone for an ambulance, or do I call 999?"

Mr McKenna said he continues to experience symptoms, including swollen legs

According to the most recent NHS data, more than half of cardiology patients at York and Scarborough hospitals are waiting longer than they should to begin treatment.

The target is that 92% of non-urgent patients should start their first treatment within 18-weeks of a referral.

But, in August only 45% of patients at the York and Scarborough NHS Foundation Trust were seen within this time, compared to the England average of 61%.

Ruth Goss, senior cardiac nurse at the British Heart Foundation, said it was a problem they heard about a lot through their helplines.

"Ultimately, the longer someone waits for heart care the higher the risk of permanent heart damage, life long disability, or even dying prematurely - and that's not acknowledging the mental health impact it can have on someone waiting a long time," she said.

A spokesperson for York and Scarborough Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust said: "It's well documented that the pandemic, coupled with industrial action, has impacted on NHS waiting times.

"We're working hard to see patients as soon as we can and have made good progress reducing waiting times.

"However, we do recognise that some patients are waiting longer than we would like, especially for routine referrals."

They added that patients were prioritised according to their clinical needs and advised people to let their GP know if their health was getting worse or their symptoms have changed.

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