How long do you generally wait for hospital referrals before chasing

[Morph22010]

I’m lucky enough to have made it to this stage in life with no referrals other than as a child when my mum sorted things. I’ve got a lump on my gum and doc referred me to hospital in October. Dentist is fairly sure it is nothing to worry about but wanted to get it checked. I got a text at Christmas time saying sorry about the delay and saying to let them know if appointment no longer required but otherwise I’d stay on wait list. I’ve looked on nhs website and it says average wait times for maxilliofacial dept at the hospital is 17 weeks for 9 out of 10 patients. I’m 17 weeks on Tuesday since referral and not heard a thing other than the text at Christmas. Should I chase the department yet or give it a few more months, illl be seeing the dentist again for my routine appointment in April. I’ve started thinking about it more as lump has doubled in size over last week or so

contact GP. Tell them mass is growing and you need a 2ww referral

I would ring the department secretary on Monday, yes.

Still waiting for neurology 15 months later. After being told the wait was 3 months….

With my new doctor, every few weeks as I cannot trust them to have done it.

NHS waiting lists are dire. I've been on the rheumatology list for 15 months now, been told to expect another 8 months.
That been said, if your lump has doubled you need to phone up either the department secretary or your GP asap.

I was referred to have my wisdom tooth out at the beginning of July 2023 and am still waiting for initial appointment and this was an urgent referral! Some to dentist and they said it could be another year!

I think I’m going to go gp in monday morning it’s been really painful and kept me awake and notice another one had appeared at front of gums

As its now worsened, yes, you should chase.

I phoned up today they still haven’t sent out appointments for July referrals so my oct referal will be another 3 or 4 months. Dentist is having me back in to look at and will decide whether to do 2 week referal. Not sure what the 17 week average wait on the website refers to, guessing it must include the two week waits to bring the average down

They havent sent out appointments for July referrals Its fucking February.