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Original poster

NHS waiting lists are a mess (paeds)

30 replies

ARMSDOWN · 19/02/2024 23:33

Just here to have a moan. My son has sleep apnoea (huge tonsils and likely big adenoids) and severe glue ear. Waited nearly a year to see ENT after first referral and likely to be another year before he gets surgery with other tests in between. His sleep is awful (therefore mine is too), he can't hear properly, his behaviour is awful in loud settings because he has to work hard to hear so gets angry, there's a small risk of permanent damage to ears etc. I don't understand how we've got to a point that a simple surgery and grommet insertion takes 2 years to get to (ok, I do understand but I really, really hate it). We're exhausted. He's only 5. Has anyone had a similar wait? Did things improve quickly after surgery?

OP posts:
BoPeepsSheep · 20/02/2024 00:36

It’s high time people started asking questions about how money is spent. My ‘chain of command’ pays a lot of money to managers who add nothing. At all. £80k to do nothing, several times over.

that would pay for 2.5 physiotherapists.

I work in paeds, our waiting list is 2 years. Money is wasted. A lot of it!

Original poster
ARMSDOWN · 19/02/2024 23:56

Anothnamechang · 19/02/2024 23:52

My daughter has had hearing loss since birth, we’re only now moving forward with the hearing aid clinic and she’s almost 1. She is supposed to have audiology and ophthalmology appointments every 3 months and that’s not happened either.

My other daughter is waiting on a biopsy of a mole. She’s been waiting 2 years so far!

Not great is it. My son is also suspected neurodivergent but they won't assess him until he's had the sleep apnoea sorted as it can present the same way. It's all just hugely delayed.

OP posts:
Original poster
ARMSDOWN · 19/02/2024 23:54

LovedFedAndNoonesDead · 19/02/2024 23:48

DT1 (aged 3 1/2 at the time) was seen in April last year after 2 previous appointments and various tests being done. and was put on the waiting list for adenotonsilectomy for sleep apnoea and severe snoring. Consultant told us his waiting list was approximately 6 months.

I rang hospital in late October to find out how much longer they thought the wait would be (this was triggered by receiving a request from hospital asking me to complete a survey about remaining on the waiting list for the procedure!) to be told he is still 115 on the waiting list and it would probably be at least another 12-15 months until he gets to the top of the list!

Edited

I also keep getting texts asking me 'do you still need this treatment' like I'm qualified to just take a 5yo off the waiting list. It makes me want to scream every time (sleep deprivation getting to me). Can't get angry at NHS as they're doing their best and brilliant when we do finally get an appointment but feel so very failed. To think this is happening to people with much more severe issues is awful

OP posts:
Anothnamechang · 19/02/2024 23:52

My daughter has had hearing loss since birth, we’re only now moving forward with the hearing aid clinic and she’s almost 1. She is supposed to have audiology and ophthalmology appointments every 3 months and that’s not happened either.

My other daughter is waiting on a biopsy of a mole. She’s been waiting 2 years so far!

LovedFedAndNoonesDead · 19/02/2024 23:48

DT1 (aged 3 1/2 at the time) was seen in April last year after 2 previous appointments and various tests being done. and was put on the waiting list for adenotonsilectomy for sleep apnoea and severe snoring. Consultant told us his waiting list was approximately 6 months.

I rang hospital in late October to find out how much longer they thought the wait would be (this was triggered by receiving a request from hospital asking me to complete a survey about remaining on the waiting list for the procedure!) to be told he is still 115 on the waiting list and it would probably be at least another 12-15 months until he gets to the top of the list!

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