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NHS colleague has queue jumped a waiting list

56 replies

iamfrustrated · 03/07/2026 12:51

I want to preface this by saying that everything I say, I have been told by my colleague themselves. I am not making assumptions.

This colleague is waiting for some fairly urgent surgery. During the pre-operative assessment a fairly minor issue was detected. It does not preclude the major surgery but can be solved by a minor surgical procedure.

They have, in the space of two weeks, been seen by a consultant, listed for surgery, pre-assessed for this procedure and given a date. Meanwhile, I am waiting for an appointment in the same department and it’s going on seven months without an idea of when I will be seen.

My managers are aware of the situation and she is almost gleeful in how they are telling everyone that this has happened, that they’ve jumped the queue and they have basically cheated the system for a date.

I am so angry. I do not see how it is fair. AIBU to complain to my managers about this, as at the very least I think you shouldn’t be so gleeful about it?

OP posts:
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Ella31 · 03/07/2026 18:56

iamfrustrated · 03/07/2026 15:48

I don’t particularly want to get it done for myself because I know it’s wrong. But I also don’t want to rock the boat and get a bunch of people in trouble

Then things will never change

Stompythedinosaur · 03/07/2026 17:02

iamfrustrated · 03/07/2026 16:42

They absolutely have a say in their clinics and operating lists!

I suppose we must have different experiences. I've never known a consultant to personally manage a waiting list. I'm not sure how they'd have time. Triaging need, absolutely, that's a clinical assessment. But not waiting list management.

I guess if you're certain there's this sort of bad practice going on, it should be reported.

iamfrustrated · 03/07/2026 16:42

Stompythedinosaur · 03/07/2026 16:41

I'm a senior NHS nurse, so I've got a fairly clear idea!

Consultants have no involvement in managing waiting lists or scheduling treatment in any service I've come across. It would be a waste of their expertise, consultants focus on clinical work.

They absolutely have a say in their clinics and operating lists!

OP posts:
Stompythedinosaur · 03/07/2026 16:41

iamfrustrated · 03/07/2026 16:25

I fear that you don’t understand how it works in reality. One email from a consultant to expedite is all it takes.

I'm a senior NHS nurse, so I've got a fairly clear idea!

Consultants have no involvement in managing waiting lists or scheduling treatment in any service I've come across. It would be a waste of their expertise, consultants focus on clinical work.

nomas · 03/07/2026 16:37

henlake7 · 03/07/2026 16:33

If you are so sure that this has happened then maybe you should report it?

Honestly though in nearly 30 years of working in the NHS Ive never seen anybody jump the queue with regards to treatment.
Not to say it doesnt make a difference....I think Drs are far more likely to chase up reports and appointments for colleagues but things still tend to happen according to medical need.

Exactly, sometimes things can move quicky. My elderly mum was offered major surgery within a couple of weeks of her GP appointment. It was only extended to a few weeks later because of an admin policy, the surgeon was available to do the surgery.

In the waiting room was a much younger woman who had waited 2 years for the same surgery and she worked for the NHS.

henlake7 · 03/07/2026 16:33

If you are so sure that this has happened then maybe you should report it?

Honestly though in nearly 30 years of working in the NHS Ive never seen anybody jump the queue with regards to treatment.
Not to say it doesnt make a difference....I think Drs are far more likely to chase up reports and appointments for colleagues but things still tend to happen according to medical need.

nomas · 03/07/2026 16:26

iamfrustrated · 03/07/2026 15:53

People are generally allowed to vent

Not when you're complicit through silence in the corruption.

iamfrustrated · 03/07/2026 16:25

Stompythedinosaur · 03/07/2026 16:23

Something here doesn't add up. How could your manager influence the team doing the op to change the waiting list? Things like that are all held electronically with dates attached.

I wonder if there's another explanation - either a health complication she doesn't want to share that makes her a higher priority, or perhaps she was lucky to be offered a cancellation slot that had just become available.

I fear that you don’t understand how it works in reality. One email from a consultant to expedite is all it takes.

OP posts:
iamfrustrated · 03/07/2026 16:24

JWhipple · 03/07/2026 15:57

It's incredible. Two women working together with exactly the same clinical issues and exactly the same treatment needed, but one fast racked because despite working together, only she worked for the NHS.

I didn’t say it was the same. Just the same department

OP posts:
Stompythedinosaur · 03/07/2026 16:23

Something here doesn't add up. How could your manager influence the team doing the op to change the waiting list? Things like that are all held electronically with dates attached.

I wonder if there's another explanation - either a health complication she doesn't want to share that makes her a higher priority, or perhaps she was lucky to be offered a cancellation slot that had just become available.

Vinvertebrate · 03/07/2026 16:19

Rosecoffeecup · 03/07/2026 15:35

Presumably you also reported this unethical and untrustworthy behaviour?

I neither solicited special treatment nor reported it (particularly after 4 hours of major abdominal surgery). And I’m hardly likely to say “nah, just give mum the cheap chemo that doesn’t work - it’s perfectly good enough for everyone else!”

Any organisation as corrupt as the NHS won’t give a shit anyway. 🤷‍♀️

JWhipple · 03/07/2026 15:57

It's incredible. Two women working together with exactly the same clinical issues and exactly the same treatment needed, but one fast racked because despite working together, only she worked for the NHS.

randomchap · 03/07/2026 15:57

iamfrustrated · 03/07/2026 15:53

People are generally allowed to vent

Very true, but isn't actually taking action far more cathartic and may even improve things.

iamfrustrated · 03/07/2026 15:53

randomchap · 03/07/2026 15:50

So you want to complain here where no one can actually do anything about it, but you won't complain to the people who can?

People are generally allowed to vent

OP posts:
randomchap · 03/07/2026 15:50

So you want to complain here where no one can actually do anything about it, but you won't complain to the people who can?

ilovesooty · 03/07/2026 15:50

iamfrustrated · 03/07/2026 15:48

I don’t particularly want to get it done for myself because I know it’s wrong. But I also don’t want to rock the boat and get a bunch of people in trouble

Why not? If you have evidence of wrongdoing why wouldn't you whistle blow?

ilovesooty · 03/07/2026 15:48

GreenFootstool · 03/07/2026 15:41

So if that's true, pick up the phone to your whistle blowing line.

Yes. I suspect she won't.

iamfrustrated · 03/07/2026 15:48

I don’t particularly want to get it done for myself because I know it’s wrong. But I also don’t want to rock the boat and get a bunch of people in trouble

OP posts:
ilovesooty · 03/07/2026 15:47

GrantMyWishes · 03/07/2026 15:26

Why don't you ask your manager why she has been fast tracked OP, and while you're at it, ask if it can be done for you too.

It would seem an obvious course of action wouldn't it?

GreenFootstool · 03/07/2026 15:41

iamfrustrated · 03/07/2026 15:23

This is what she’s told us. Seems like the manager was the one to do it

So if that's true, pick up the phone to your whistle blowing line.

randomchap · 03/07/2026 15:38

iamfrustrated · 03/07/2026 15:23

This is what she’s told us. Seems like the manager was the one to do it

Then report it if you believe it to be unethical. If you know someone is abusing their position then you've got a responsibility to report it

Rosecoffeecup · 03/07/2026 15:35

Vinvertebrate · 03/07/2026 15:20

This happens ALL THE TIME especially with relatives of senior NHS employees. I’m married to a consultant - had surgery 18 months ago, was advised against having it privately (my preference), it was scheduled almost immediately, I got a side room and every clinical person I met said “are you related to Dr Vinvertebrate?”

DH’s hospital even managed to fund a treatment for DM’s cancer that is not on the NHS protocol for it. That’s communism, folks.

It’s obscene, the NHS is totally unethical and untrustworthy and OP should absolutely call this out.

Presumably you also reported this unethical and untrustworthy behaviour?

GrantMyWishes · 03/07/2026 15:26

Why don't you ask your manager why she has been fast tracked OP, and while you're at it, ask if it can be done for you too.

iamfrustrated · 03/07/2026 15:23

randomchap · 03/07/2026 14:48

So just hearsay then?

This is what she’s told us. Seems like the manager was the one to do it

OP posts:
Vinvertebrate · 03/07/2026 15:20

This happens ALL THE TIME especially with relatives of senior NHS employees. I’m married to a consultant - had surgery 18 months ago, was advised against having it privately (my preference), it was scheduled almost immediately, I got a side room and every clinical person I met said “are you related to Dr Vinvertebrate?”

DH’s hospital even managed to fund a treatment for DM’s cancer that is not on the NHS protocol for it. That’s communism, folks.

It’s obscene, the NHS is totally unethical and untrustworthy and OP should absolutely call this out.

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