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Original poster

NHS waiting lists - fed up. Is this normal?

45 replies

garlictwist · 10/05/2025 04:02

I’ve been having increasingly severe hip pain and was referred to the orthopaedics department by my GP.

I waited almost 18 months for my initial appointment and finally had an MRI.

I hadn’t heard anything since so rang up. Eventually was told my results have come in and they’d send me an appointment to discuss them.

The Appointment arrived yesterday - for September!!!!!! So you’re telling me after waiting 18 months for a scan I now need to wait five months to find out the results even though they’re just sitting there in an inbox somewhere?

I could honestly cry and feel like giving up.

OP posts:
GCAcademic · 10/05/2025 05:16

Unfortunately, yes. Two years of scans, appointments and biopsies with long waits in between before actually being put on a waiting list for a hysterectomy that took another two and a half years for the pre-op appointment to come through. By then I’d had it done privately as would have had to give up my career otherwise.

EleanorReally · 10/05/2025 05:20

no news must be good news though,
did they offer any advice in the meantime?

Maxorias · 10/05/2025 05:28

It's unbelievable you can't get your results. By all means set up an appointment to discuss them but why keep them secret in the meantime ! They're OP's test results, surely she's entitled to them !

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General health
whynotmereally · 10/05/2025 05:34

It’s awful Isnt it. What are you doing in the meantime? Pilates, yoga, swimming could help. Are you taking medication? NSAIDs might help has your gp prescribed anything? Ibuprofen gel could help and doesn’t give you the stomach issues. Also heat/cold
What is most uncomfortable- sitting/ standing/ laying? A pillow under or n between your knees might help when laying. You can get a cushion to support your positioning for sitting.
How old are you? It could be osteoarthritis I have found a cream called flexiseq which has helped me massively. Also if you are 40’s+ it could be hormonal in which case HRT could help.

whynotmereally · 10/05/2025 05:36

By the way I ended up in a&e with my back/hip pain I had a mri and got the results within the hour. Whatever is going on could have changed in four months.

waxymoron · 10/05/2025 05:36

I have been waiting for a dermatology appt for 2 years as I have a weird unexplained rash on bits of my body. I've had numerous blood tests and gp appts and have just got the appointment! It's next week, but I've had to push and push to get it...so yes the waits are dreadful!

Original poster
garlictwist · 10/05/2025 06:15

Thanks all and sorry for everyone else suffering. I don't think anyone's looked at the results beyond the radiologist who will have reported on the scan so if there is anything dodgy in there then no one will know.

I am 44 soon and have tried everything to feel better, paid for private physios, done all the googling but I have now run out of money to throw at it so just want to know what's going on so I can at least move forward.

I'm on some Facebook groups and people in America get sent their results within a few days. I don't understand why they can't at least just do that and then I'll wait the 90,000 years to see the doctor again if that's what the deal is.

OP posts:
ssssskssskchee · 10/05/2025 06:16

Depending on your area you could probably self refer to MSK physio - if the doctors were worried about what they found they’d have you in quickly and a physio would be able to see the results anyway and work it in to an assessment.

thedeadneverdie · 10/05/2025 06:25

whynotmereally · 10/05/2025 05:36

By the way I ended up in a&e with my back/hip pain I had a mri and got the results within the hour. Whatever is going on could have changed in four months.

What was wrong with you? What was your MRI results?

Andtheworldwentwhite · 10/05/2025 06:36

I may be wrong. But any scans or anything I can see when I sign into the nhs app? I had scans , blood test etc and they are always on there within a week. Do u have the nhs app?

chipshopElvis · 10/05/2025 06:37

Ask to see your GP about the result, they can try and access the radiology result and refer to physio if needed while you're waiting. That's too long to wait for a result. If it's arthritis it won't be classed as urgent even though its very painful.

thedeadneverdie · 10/05/2025 06:38

Not all scans get put on the NHS app.

Freysimo · 10/05/2025 06:38

EleanorReally · 10/05/2025 05:20

no news must be good news though,
did they offer any advice in the meantime?

I used to work in the NHS. Never, ever think "no news is good news". Chase it up.

Freysimo · 10/05/2025 06:39

Andtheworldwentwhite · 10/05/2025 06:36

I may be wrong. But any scans or anything I can see when I sign into the nhs app? I had scans , blood test etc and they are always on there within a week. Do u have the nhs app?

We don't have this facility on NHS in Wales.

EleanorReally · 10/05/2025 06:44

no the radiologist will know op and if necessary will inform consultant, red flag it

florizel13 · 10/05/2025 06:51

I’m so sorry to hear this. I’m afraid it’s not uncommon and must be so frustrating for patients. My department usually writes to patients with the results of investigations they have had and they get in to see us earlier if the scans show anything concerning. Could you phone the department on a regular basis to see if there are any cancellations? I know it’s a pain but you may get in quicker that way. Phone them anyway and tell them what you’ve said here

Puttinginthemiles · 10/05/2025 06:51

I'm sorry you're suffering so much OP, it must be awful. The NHS in its present form is finished I think.

Here in France to get your scan/x ray results the same day, often you take them home with you after the investigation. What's so frustrating is that if the NHS invested in training more radiologists, people would get their results quicker, patients would receive treatment quicker and diseases would be less advanced and less complex to treat. That would save so much money in the long run. And lives of course.

I worked in the NHS for decades, it's desperately sad to see it in this mess.

LivingLaVidaBabyShower · 10/05/2025 06:55

I suggest phoning weekly and asking about cancellations
My dm has never not had her appointment moved up.

MigGril · 10/05/2025 07:03

As another poster, I went to A&E this week with back/leg pain and had an MRI results within the hour. They have referred me but who knows how long that will take. In my case I was sent to A&E by the GP due to loss of sensation in my foot.

My regular MRI's I have for my brain tumor can take months. But last year I had an urgent one and had the results the next week. So they can do it when needed. You can chase them up and ring them, my scans show on my local NHS file with the hospital. But not on the NHS app. But not all hospitals use this sort of service its hit and miss between hospitals and as I've been under different ones it's frustrating and I don't know why it can't all be centralised. Which I thought it was supposed to be.

Blondeshavemorefun · 10/05/2025 07:37

Surely results would be sent to your gp. So can’t you ring up and get 1) app with doc 2) we can call think 9/12 for test results and someone will read what they say

lljkk · 10/05/2025 07:50

Gosh, 44 is so young. Bummer !!!

Physiotherapist friend says that anyone with chronic hip pain should see GP to get referred as soon as they realise it's chronic, so they lose minimal condition by the time (years later) the tests get done or any treatment might be offered.

My dad in USA (Blue Cross is his HMO) says he can only get rapidly seen for anything medical if he gives them reason for believing it's an emergency problem. Else he waits weeks to get an appointment with his GP and the next referral after that won't be dealt with fast either necessarily. Not always faster in USA...

EleanorReally · 10/05/2025 07:50

i had a biopsy,
they made me an appointment at the time for 3 months later
so i just assumed they were confident that the results would be clear,
they were

Icebreakhell · 10/05/2025 07:57

It’s unacceptable. I would not assume the result was fine or the person who ordered the scan checked it. I work in a hospital and am horrified how many people don’t check their electronic results folders.

Speak to your GP, they will be able to access your result, or request it. Or you could try calling/emailing the number on your Sept appointment letter. They should be able to put you in touch with the consultant’s PA.

99victoria · 10/05/2025 08:02

I've been having trouble with my ears. Saw a consultant in December 23 who referred me for an MRI. It came through relatively quickly for January but like you in then had to wait until August to see the consultant for the results!
I was referred to audiology who i saw in October and i had a follow-up appointment with the consultant for last month. They cancelled it 2 weeks before and have rearranged for the end of March 2026!
I know it's not life threatening but it does affect my everyday life. I've kind of accepted i have to learn to live with it now 😒

bugalugs45 · 10/05/2025 08:04

Yes unfortunately is normal . I’m a staunch believer and huge supporter of the NHS but it’s broken .
Im a similar age to you and pay for private healthcare approx £50 a month , a colleague recently had a consultation and op within 3 weeks with a NHS wait of almost 2 years .
If you can afford it, go private , shouldn’t have to but it’s the sad way it is right now