WHEN Mark Holdforth was asked for his medical records to renew his heavy goods vehicle licence, he wasn't concerned.

He had been given a clean bill of health at a hospital check-up 16 months ago after suffering from high blood pressure.

So it came as a shock when the dispatch manager found he had been turned down for a licence on health grounds.

Worse still, the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency revealed he was suffering from a potentially life-threatening heart condition.

Now Mr Holdforth and his wife, Lin, are demanding to know why he was not told about the problem and Southampton General Hospital has launched an investigation.

Southampton University Hospitals NHS Trust spokesman Marilyn Kay said that Mr Holdforth's consultant was not prepared to discuss the case due to rules governing patient confidentiality but that the hospital were looking into his complaints.

She added: "This gentleman is not happy with the communication over his case and if he would like to contact our patient advisory and liaison service and talk it through they may be able to sort out some of the problems."

Mr Holdforth, 50, of Hedgerow Close, Rownhams, has learned he could wait up to three months for a scan at Southampton General Hospital, which would then enable doctors to perform delicate surgery to repair his damaged heart.

His aorta - a major artery which comes from the heart - is dilated more than five centimetres, twice the size it should be in a healthy heart.

He said: "Our lives are on hold. It is like a death sentence."

Lin Holdforth has criticised doctors at Southampton General Hospital for failing to reveal the seriousness of her husband's condition.

She said: "If his condition had been found out about 16 months ago he would have had his treatment. It was only because the DVLA pressured the hospital we found out. The hospital say they can't operate until they have checked on his valves."

She is so worried that she is even prepared to pay £2,100 so Mark can have scans to his damaged heart done privately.

Even then she will have to wait up to three months for an appointment.

Southampton General Hospital even failed to inform the DVLA that the Holdforths had changed doctors. Letters from the DVLA were addressed to Mr Holdforth's former GP in Thornhill - even though he had changed his doctor in May 2002 when they moved house.

Mr Holdforth's story comes just days after the Daily Echo revealed that up to 1,800 Hampshire heart patients have had their vital heart checks put off.

Hospital bosses blame a shortage of doctors caused by a law limiting working hours for the closure of cardiac clinics at Southampton General Hospital.