"experience in A & E"

I walked into A & E early Wednesday afternoon, October 23rd complaining of intermittent chest pains, the receptionist asked me to take a seat in the treatment area ( not waiting area) and then I was quickly asked to lay on a bed in resuscitation ( which shocked me a bit as i did not think that I was that ill!) but not sure if this was because of a shortage of beds as they were very busy. The staff were very attentive and helpful, as previously as soon as I rested the chest pains went off. after the appropriate amount of tests the doctor/ consultant told me that he thought I needed a stent fitted but he was sending details to Frimley, they reviewed the details and said I was to stay in AEU for further observation. I luckily have private medical insurance and was sent me to St Anthony's where I saw a doctor who said that although all the tests were good, on my symptoms he decided to do an angioplasty and when he did this he found a blocked artery and fitted a Stent. The point of the e-mail is first to say that i was very impressed with the care and attention I got from the medical staff. Secondly that the A & E doctor/Consultant was 100% right that I did need a stent and Frimley were wrong. The only negative I have is, what would have happened, if I had not had private medical insurance? The doctor ( St Anthony's) in effect said that all the test showed I was very healthy, but due to my symptoms he would carryout the angioplasty, (which obviously as it is under insurance he could spend money as he saw fit) So the big question is: as I only had chest pains when working hard, so it disappeared at rest and the ecg's were showing nothing drastic, would i have sat in bed for a few days and then, as obviously there would have been no repeats been sent home? in which case I would have had a full heart attack. Or would an angioplasty been carried out in a few days? I think my case should be discussed with Frimley cardiac team as I obviously had a major problem which the current test were unable to detect and someone with similar symptoms might not be so lucky as me. This is nothing against rsch as I thought A & E were brilliant ( the a & e doctor diagnosed 100% right) and am very grateful for everyones care. Gerald Hunt