How do I say this?

[ConfrontationDoesntHaveToBeScarey]

I have had chronic sinusitis and probably allergic to something but I don't know what for at least 2 years. I was referred to ENT a couple months ago.

How do I find out how long their waiting list is? Do I need to make a GP app to ask or can I just ask the GP receptionist? Should I ask for the number to ENT and then ring them or something else.

Please can you let me know the actual wording of what to say.

I feel like I need to be a bit pushy as otherwise I'll just get forgotten about but also I want to be polite.

I'm at a point where I would consider taking out a loan to go private as I can't live with this constant sinus headache most days. I'm exhausted by it.

https://www.myplannedcare.nhs.uk/

This will give you an idea, if it's gone pass that you can always ask the receptionist to check your referral has been received by ringing the department.

Thanks for the link. My GP just told me he refered me to ENT. He didn't tell me which hospital.

Do you mean ring the hospital reception?

So I should ring my GP receptions ask who I've been referred to and then call them?

DS was referred to an ENT last April. Took about a month for the appointment letter to come through and the appointment was for 12 months later.

I'm surprised yiu haven't at least been sent an appointment date if you were referred a few months ago, even if the actual appointment is ages away. Similarly I had a gyno referral recently and was given a date by which I should expect to have received the appointment booking (was around 6/8 weeks after referral).

You ring the ENT department to see if they have your referral letter.

You won’t get to find out what their waiting list is. I’m on a list for a certain treatment and have been told they don’t know the length of their waiting list. The secretary told me they didn’t know how long the list was and that they didn’t have any control over it. I made a thread on here and was told by several nhs workers that this is correct.

It will be the ENT department at your local hospital that you've been referred to.

If you have a couple locally, there's no harm in calling then up and asking if it's the right hospital for a referral from your GP surgery

My son had similar but for his eyes. He was referred to the eye specialist at hospital, we wanted to call and ask how long the waiting list was but didn't know who to call.

We rang the GP surgery, and the receptionist gave us the number to call.

When you call, I would just say, my GP has referred me and I'm wanting to find out where I am on the waiting list please'

We were told completely different at our local hospital. They were able to tell us how long the waiting list was.

Yes, ring your GP surgery and ask them which hospital you've been referred to. They should have a number aswell for you to call. If not you can easily look it up x

That’s good news. At least there may be some hope for some people of finding out how long they will wait. 👍🏻

I'm still stalling. Sorry.

What do I actually say when I call the GP?

"Hello, the Dr has referred me to ENT. Please can you tell me where he has referred me to so I can chase it up with them? "

Is that OK?

I find them so rude as I feel like as soon as I start asking something they jump in and ask for my DOB which is fine but it unsettles me and makes me feel like I've not given them the right info to begin with.

Yes that's absolutely fine what you've put. Take a deep breath and be strong.

You could also say

'My GP has referred me to ENT, I would like to contact them as I have a couple of questions I would like to ask, so please can you tell me which hospital I've been referred to?'

This will stop a snotty receptionist from telling you not to bother asking where you are in the queue for example.