Was referred by my GP 3 months ago

[BlueBloodedBlue]

To ENT for dizzy spells, nausea (occasional vomiting) , feeling woozy and a heavy pressure in my head.

I received my appointment today, a prize not really to the person who can guess when it is for.

I will give the answer after a few guesses!

Hmmm well my rheumatology referral was a 9 month wait & a colorectal referral was 14 months & both of these were pre Covid so……
December 2022?

My first guess was Christmas Eve, but seeing the reply I'm thinking I was probably way too optimistic there!
I'm waiting for a referral too, not got my hopes up that it will be any time soon.

I'm under assessment for endo. Some of the referrals I've seen (on a FB page) are for 2023 just to see a gynae.
My mum's been waiting to be seen for a hip replacement (severe arthritis, on long term sick from work, bone one bone) since before Covid.

So I'm guessing march 23rd 2057

July 2023. I was given a Feb 2023 appointment back in April, but can’t be worse than gynaecology surely!

I'm going to say September 2022.

2 days ago? I often used to get calls or letters saying that I had failed to attend an appointment that they never even bothered to inform me of 🙄🙄

I'm a GP and our waiting list for ENT locally is 14 months. An urgent would be seen in around 4 months. Suspected cancer is a 2 week wait.

It's good that we can laugh (because if we don't we might cry!), but can we imagine how many people will die or develop life limiting conditions as a result of these delays?

Wow, after these answers looks like 8 December 2022 isn't unusual.

I'm not sure how I'm expected to cope with feeling this bad for over a year - I had to leave class last week to be sick. I'm going to have to go b to the GO and see if there is anything they can give me for the symptoms and we're just not in a position to go private atm so I think I'm just going to keep phoning in the hope of a cancellation.

I have had cancer in the past and there's always this fear that it will return.

Feeling very low at the moment I must admit.

*Back to the GP

Sorry to hear that @BlueBloodedBlue that must be incredibly worrying for you. I do hope they can bring the appointment forward for you somehow. Its really concerning how much the NHS is struggling at the moment. Definitely go back and see if the GP can help though, I really hope they can help you.

Thank you @TheSweetestHalleluja and sympathetic hugs to anyone else waiting.

My son has been waiting 7 months for a paed ENT. He can't hear properly because of ear wax. It is affecting his education and behaviour, he is in yr 2 and missed half of reception, more than half of yr1 and has spent the last 10 months partially deaf.
I've just had to pay privately even though I can't afford it at all. But I can't stand by and watch my son like this, and be disadvantaged any further.

Wrote to your MP

Until people start complaining to the government it isnt going to change. They are the reason why you have such a long wait.

I am awaiting a physio appointment.. Saw GP in April...
The receptionist told me last week she would find out how long waiting times are and ring me back. She hasn't... Meanwhile less mobility in my hand and arm. I am a self employed cleaner..
Maybe they waiting until I can't use it at all and won't therefore be able to use my phone to ring them...

OP,
Have you had bloods done?

A family member had many of your symptoms plus sinus issues (separate) and it turns out she is quite anaemic.

It's awful and I feel for you as I have awful vertigo.

My daughter has severe eczema. So severe she takes an immune suppressant and it's still awful. Got her check up date finally as she's not been seen since March 2019....and it's for November 2022. I decided I'd see if it was very expensive to go private and I can see a dermatologist in two weeks time. I am shocked to find that it's her dermatologist from our local hospital.

@BlueBloodedBlue 'going back to your gp'

just wanted to pick up on this. through no fault of your own this is what is putting pressure on gp services and ultimately being twisted by the media.

because your outpatient appt is so far away and gp is the only accessible service you are now going to need to recontact and thus take the appt that could be given to someone else needing a gp service.
In no way is this your fault but is part of the reason GP is getting hammered and the unintended consequences of no hospital care at the moment.

And its very pot luck - i also have an ENT appt coming up - 9 weeks to the day after referral. Not an urgent 2 week wait appt but probably an urgent and not routine.

@Brollywasntneededafterall
why not just ring the physio dept and ask them re their waiting list?
involving the reception team just adds another layer.
ringing yourself also means you can ask about a cancellation etc.

Have you had tests for Ménière's disease. It's what I have and your symptoms are really similar. I was referred to audiology for loads of tests. Do you have any tinnitus?

I took betahistine & cinnarize but they weren't a massive help. I have steroid injections into my middle ear every six months and they're really good.

@ThisMustBeMyDream
ear wax is so frustrating, isn't it, so simple to fix and such an impact on life - especially educational and speech development but yet understandably not an urgent condition.

Fingers crossed for your little one.

Try ringing the number on your letter and say that if anyone cancels can they offer you the appointment. I had a call in the morning for an after lunch appointment which saved 4 months of waiting. Different clinics obviously but you never know your luck especially as lots of people cancel.

I'm a year and counting waiting for a laparoscopy for endometriosis

Sorry @BlueBloodedBlue and everyone else waiting. It's not ok, it's just exasperating.