Why did I have to wait so long to see my consultant?

Rajendar Randev, who represented Warwick West for Labour for eight years up until 2009, said: “Over the past few months it has seemed to me that nobody cares about my condition.

“I was discharged from hospital within two hours of having the pacemaker fitted and although I had to return in January this year suffering from breathlessness, it has proved almost impossible to see my consultant.

“He had asked me to see him again two months after the operation. Despite me making several phone calls I heard nothing back and was told no early appointments were available.

“When I first went on the council in 2001, I approved of this trust being set up but now I am very concerned about the level of after-care patients receive.”

As well as his heart problems Mr Randev, who will be 76 later this month, also suffers from diabetes and has to walk with the aid of a stick due to arthritis. He lives in Chase Meadow with his wife Simer.

He said: “I was first fitted with a temporary heart monitor on December 5 after suffering from temporary losses of consciousness. Then 12 days later I had the permanent pacemaker inserted.

“The operation seemed to go well although I was a bit surprised when the surgeon said he was going to arrange my discharge. Back on the ward the nurses gave me a booklet provided by the British Heart Foundation that informed me they would be regularly assessing my blood pressure and heart rhythm and checking the site of the incision.”

At Warwick Hospital a spokeswoman said the trust had since apologised directly to Mr Randev and was liaising with him about future appointments.”

She added: “We are unable to comment in detail due to patient confidentiality but at South Warwickshire NHS Foundation Trust we continually strive to improve patient experience and we have a dedicated patient advice liaison team to help patients with any enquiries.

“The number to ring is 600054.”