GP referral for breast lump 'typed up but not sent on' (after a week)

[54isanopendoor]

Saw GP a week ago. Lump in breast. She said she'd refer to '1 stop shop' at local Hosp under 2 week pathway. (I am also being screened for genetics after Mother died of ovarian cancer last year which was missed & missed again by NHS)

I called Hosp this am to see when I might be called in. They have no referral.
Called GP's. 'oh, it's been typed up but not sent on yet, you'll have to wait until referring GP in - she should call you tomorrow but possibly Monday'.

Do you think it's reasonable to say - No please send referral in now, don't wait'?

I'm aware most breast lumps are benign & I'm aware that Mother's experiences are at the forefront of my mind but I was sent for further examination of same area of same breast 1 yr ago so I wondered if there is a slow growing prob that needs attention now?

You are not unreasonable.
A doctor once said to my mum that those who shout loudest (not literally) get the help. Argue with them.

YANBU - I’ve had this so many times with GP’s sitting on things pointlessly.

Phone them back and get it sent.

I think I'll call back & ask for it to be sent so it is 'in the system' before Sat.

I called back.
Receptionist said: 'no need to worry, GP will send it across tomorrow'.
I said I'd rather it was sent on today. 'No need, it will be fine tomorrow'.

Yanbu. This is the whole point of the two week pathway. I'd write a complaint in to the Practice Manager.

I second this. Ex receptionist here. A week is not an acceptable delay for something urgent (or anything else, for that matter). Referrals are electronic, so a Dr needs to hit a button and off it goes. If the referring Dr is part-time or off for a few days then a colleague can action it. Speak to the manager.

Still no contact from GP so I called the Hospital back.
Referral now through marked urgent 'but consultant not looked at & wkend tom so he'll see it the beginning of next week so you should hear back by end Feb'.

No one seems to be in much of a rush.

Oh crap. Called Hosp again.
Consultant STILL not actioned so no appointment raised yet.
'we're very busy, there is quite a queue - it'll be 2/3 weeks at least'.

I cant afford private / even get there (rural disabled)

I know its prob nothing but my breast hurts (both GP & I could feel lump)
It's the same breast & area where a nurse was concerned 2 years back (perhaps that's good as if it was cancer I'd know by now?)

That's piss poor. I had exactly the same problem with a fracture. About 2 years later the GP surgery was shut down by the Care Quality Commission, although luckily I had just changed surgeries.

I would complain to the practice manager or vote with your feet.

And contact PALS about the hospital

@dizzydizzydizzy l was about to say this. Also complain to the practice manager

As a patient quite frankly lm sick of having spoon feed and chivvy professionals along. Went to a Hospital appointment last Friday where they hadn’t got the actual medication (they are meant to give it to me) or even a prescription. They had asked me to email them the week before to remind them 🙄. Which l did and then they blamed me for emailing the wrong address. I emailed the ONLY ADDRESS THEY HAVE EVER GIVEN ME. Total joke when it’s not even my job to remind them and at work lm a big girl so l remind myself. Then the midwife is huffy when l challenge her about their fuck up. It’s a high risk twin pregnancy and thanks to them l have missed 3 days of blood thinning injections

This is so shoddy.

Medical secretary here. Used to work for gp practice. 2ww referrals had to be actioned and sent same day under our practice rules.

Definitely complain.

Contact PALS

I've just had a call from the consultants secretary.
My case has been Triaged this morning (GP sent as Urgent).
But the Consultant is off sick. So Thurs clinic cancelled. Next weeks clinic will be full of this wks patients. Earliest I 'might be seen' is 23rd but 'more likely March'.
Considering it took me 4 wks to get GP appt that is around 8 wks after speaking to Genetic Counselling service at the earliest. 'nothing they can do'.

I was seen 2 years ago at a bigger hospital after a nurse at the breast screening van noticed an issue (the lump I am worried about is the same area). I wonder if I might call them & see if they will see me any quicker as I don't really want to wait another month.

It’s not up to the receptionist to decide what can wait for tomorrow and what can’t. I would complain to the GP surgery. I hope you get it sorted asap

I called them & they won't see me.
I explained I'd been to them 2 years ago during lockdown as I'd been screened in a mobile van & a HCP had picked up issues & ref me.
But they said that 'as I'm now symptomatic & also in genetics system' I just need to wait for cottage hosp. She wasn't patient & said she was 'very surprised local hosp had said Consultant ill & lists affected - you must have pushed for that info!' So, now I feel like a royal pain in the arse too :(

Still waiting.
Can't get anyone to call me back, just 'we'll be in touch'.
I am going to call GP back & contact PALS now.

This is all very poor. But sadly not surprising these days. Keep pushing though OP.

Agree with PP - awful but not surprising. DH's cancer is back (he has a large salivary gland tumour), we're two months on from getting confirmation of this, and yet still no treatment plan - just endlessly cancelled and delayed appointments. It's so scary. And we're absolutely powerless to do anything about it.

Is there any other 2WW one stop breast clinic locally that you can be referred to? Your GP will know. I’m sorry this has happened, it’s not ok. Keep pushing.