To think this is too long a wait?

[MeredithGrey1]

Not sure if I just have unrealistic expectations of what waiting times are, and was maybe being unreasonable to expect an appointment any sooner, but I went to the GP last week and was referred to a specialist for further tests/investigation regarding potential skin cancer.
I’ve just had the letter through and had to go online to book the appointment at one of several hospitals. The soonest appointment I could get across all 6 hospitals offered was January! In the envelope with the appointment booking letter was another letter explaining that my local hospital trust has suspended all non-emergency dermatology referrals (because of staffing and cost issues) and so everyone would be sent to neighbouring trusts, which I’m guessing is a big reason for the wait time.
Is this a reasonable length of time to wait? Some of the other hospitals I could have booked at had their next available appointment in over 200 days time so I guess January isn’t too bad comparatively.
I’m not going to go back to the GP and demand an urgent referral or anything, I guess I just want reassurance that waiting this long is ok? Am I just fussing and waiting 6 months won’t be a problem?

This is normal, I was referred to rheumatology in March and my appointment isn’t until December

Did you say it was potential skin cancer or the GP?

Is it a cancer referral? Sound like it isn't as they have strict timescales

No. For potential skin cancer you should be seen within two weeks of your Gp making a referral. I would try and chase it again with your gp and make sure it was an urgent referral that was made.

Its not normal and its not OK; I was seen in 2 weeks.

Yes it’s two weeks for cancer. Anything non urgent (though it may be urgent to the patient) it could be months. My daughter was off school for a month with chronic migraines and shoulder pain and referral was four months away. I went private.

Did you say it was potential skin cancer or the GP?

I went in to have something looked at. She said it when she talked about referring it. But obviously from the letter it wasn’t an urgent referral, which I don’t have any problem with if the GP doesn’t think thats necessary. I was just surprised at just how long the non-urgent waiting time was.

In England if cancer is suspected I think there is a 2 week maximum weight. Not in wales though!

I had to wait 12 weeks just to see a GP with a mole that I was concerned could be cancerous. Luckily it wasn't but did think it was a bit of a ridiculous time frame. Apparently they only have one doctor in the practice who looks at moles, and he only does one clinic every 12 weeks, and I'd just missed one when I rang.
[when I went for the appointment I still had to wait over an hour as well - if I had money then private healthcare would be the first thing I'd spend it on]

If it was a possible cancer referral it would be within 2 weeks. So perhaps it's not.

In England if cancer is suspected I think there is a 2 week maximum weight. Not in wales though!

Yes, there is.

Please contact your surgery, ask to speak to the secretary and ask her if it was an urgent referral. She will be able to say if it mentions cancer. January is too long to wait.