Hospital can't meet 2 week wait for suspected cancer tests

[PJ67]

Hi. My dad has been referred for an urgent colonoscopy by his GP and she said the wait should be around 2 weeks. I have phoned to check and he is on an urgent waiting list but could take 6 weeks. I feel this is too long, is there anything we can do or are these just government guidelines? Thanks

[justanotherquestion]

Is he not able to be referred to another hospital with perhaps a shorter wait?
When I have needed to be referred I have always had a choice of hospitals and the GP has been able to use choose and book.

[Thymeout]

Government guidelines are 2 weeks and my hospital, London suburb, met them throughout my treatment. But I know some areas are v stretched at the moment - e.g. 6 weeks plus waiting for biopsy results in the Cambridge area.

Go back to your GP and ask what she would recommend.

[beautifulgirls]

Speak to your GP again and ask them to find somewhere that can see him sooner if possible. You could also try PALS at the hospital where he has been referred too.

[swooosh]

I work in Endoscopy and we have a back log, ours is around 4-6 weeks. GP's class nearly every referral as urgent but we rarely find anything nasty. You might be able to try other hospitals but I think most are in the same boat, especially due to the recent advertising for GI cancer.