To just go straight to A&E?

[boobot1]

6months ago I found A lump on my head,about 2cm. Went to the doctor who said come back if it doesn't go or if it gets bigger. Went back lump now about 4cm, went back, told the same. Lump got to about 6cm so went back. Different doctor looked concerned, said would refer me for a scan and a letter would come in the post. Three weeks later no letter. Should I Just go to A and E or maybe a walk in?

This has been going on months. You have waited 3 weeks for an appointment and decide on a Saturday it can wait no longer.
I have learned from experience that you have to do a lot of checking and chasing with the NHS.
I would ring the ultrasound clinic at the hospital on Monday. They will tell you whether they have received the scan request and how long the waiting list is. If by chance they don't have it then ring the GP.
If it were me I'd have done this after a week.

Of course you shouldn’t go to A&E. Ring the GP on Monday and chase it.

I understand your frustration but you would be very unreasonable to go to A&E for this, especially at a weekend. Your GP has told you they'd refer you for a scan. You need to check with the GP that this referral has definitely been made. If it hasn't then you need to complain to the GP surgery and get them to sort it. If the referral has been made then you can contact the hospital department you've been referred to and ask how long you can expect to wait. Staff at A&E won't be able to do anything about this, you'll most likely get a dressing down and be told to go home and call your GP on Monday.

Phone the GP to chase the referral. A&E will send you away and tell you to go to your GP.

Completely unreasonable. Phone your GP on monday.

What do you think A&E will do?

Ywbu to go to A&E. Ring surgery on Monday and check referral has been sent. Ask where to and then phone to chase your appointment. At my surgery it takes the, a week to send non urgent referrals (i had this recently with a physio referral. I rang the physio centre and they hadn’t had it but said they would chase the GP and get them to send it over. I was seen the same day as they had a cancellation. Worth saying you are available for cancellations if there is likely to be a wait and you are concerned.

if you live anywhere near me you will be waiting four hours at least at A&E, as that's not any kind of emergency.

As everyone says, call the GP on Monday.

Do you have any symptoms besides the lump? If yes, are they new or ongoing?

Weirdly, after posting on this thread, I’ve ended up in A&E with my baby son, who has breathing difficulties. If you were in front of me in the queue, I’d feel like murdering you.

In fact, there’s a teenager in a cast who’s here because his mum hasn’t had the follow up letter from orthopaedics and I feel like murdering them.

I’ve got several lumps and have had a few removed and stitched , at no stage did I ever consider going to a&e

Sebaceous cysts usually

Weirdly, after posting on this thread, I’ve ended up in A&E with my baby son, who has breathing difficulties. If you were in front of me in the queue, I’d feel like murdering you.

It is not first come first serve! You are triaged. A baby with breathing difficulties will always be seen before someone with a lump. I hope your baby is ok.

@U2HasTheEdge

Ok, so the baby gets seen first. However, it is very true that going to A&E for this WILL cause delays for other people with genuine need.

Yes, I know that. I don't think OP should go to A&E either.

phone up the hospital radiology reception and see if they can check whether the GP's scan request is logged on their system. If yes, check waiting times (approx), if no, chase GP on Monday.

Completely innapropriate to go to A&E. What are you expecting the A&E Drs to do for you? They aren't going to give you a scan.

Chase up the referral in Monday. Referrals take time. It's a slow growing lump, 3 weeks isn't very long.

People try to jump waiting lists all the time by going via A&E, A&E isnt an access centre for the hospital. It's a complete waste of everyone's time and puts extra pressure on already massively overstretched A&E departments. There's nothing than can be done do on a Saturday, go back to your GP. Or even ring the department during the week.

Ring surgery on Monday. Perhaps the letter with the appointment got lost in the post and you’d not know!

I completely understand about triaging but those people were in the massive queue ahead of me even to see the receptionist. It’s just annoying.

Your problem is neither an accident or an emergency, please dont go to A+E.

3 weeks is no time to wait anyhow. I don't know what your expectations are but I think you need to lower them somewhat.

My referral to the cardiologist for a heart scan took 10 weeks and that was only the initial appointment after which I was sent the scan appointment so 14 weeks in total to get the scan (then 3 weeks to get the results)

DH was referred to Respiratory for an unknown breathing problem. He waited 20 weeks for this and again had to go back for a VQ lung scan 5 weeks after (again 3 weeks for results)

You haven’t had an accident and your Gp clearly doesn’t think this is an emergency so...... No

Why on earth would it even cross your mind to go to A&E? That's ridiculous

Realistically you're being very optimistic expecting to hear about a non urgent referral in under 3 weeks

If you're that bothered phone the hospital or GP on Monday and ask how long an appt might take.

I think too many people watch silly programmes like Casualty where the handsome young medics diagnose rare cancers and other far fetched nonsense and believe that it's real life.

OP, chase up your scan appointment with your GP practice.