To be pissed off with the NHS over being referred back to GP by hospital......

[ACautionaryTale]

So I've been on the waiting list to have the mirena removed by the hospital as the GP couldn't manage it. I've been waiting over 14 months - which is fine as its not urgent. I don't need it for contraception (DH had the snip) and I'm not planning on getting another one put in.

I got a letter through telling my my appointment was the 19th Feb. Except that I can't do that day. Im self employed and working on a critical project for a major company which goes live beginning of June.

If it goes well, I'm highly likely to get quite a lot of repeat business. We are talking enough to keep my income going for the next few years.

Wednesdays are the one key day of the week that its very visible if you are not around. It was planned that way so that people could have long weekends during the project as it was acknowledged that for anyone involved, taking a whole week would be difficult until end of June.

I phoned up to re-arrange my appointment and they offered me another Wednesday two weeks later. They only do this procedure on a Wednesday. I said this was not possible and could I just go on the list for some time after the end of June as I knew it was not urgent.

This is not possible as you can't delay over three months - if you do you get sent back to the consultant who sends you back to the GP and you have to go through the whole process again.

I feel like banging my head against a wall.

It's not their fault if the one day of the week they do the procedure doesn't suit you.

You need to go private.

The NHS is only designed to offer basic care (which it is doing).

If you need an appointment at a certain time, then you need to be prepared to pay for that luxury.

The NHS is in the state its in because people have unrealistic expectations of what it can/should offer.

I do see why its annoying, but YABU.

I understand your frustration but the removal won't take long, will it? It certainly won't take all day. I would try and get an appointment either first thing or last thing so you are not missing for long?

It’s just the way our process is unfortunately (I deal with referrals in the hospital), and it’s quite common for this to happen. When a patient gets referred from GP to the hospital , it’s ‘agreed’ that the patient will be available to be seen during this 18 week referral to treatment and if the patient can’t make X amount of appointments offered we have to refer back to GP . It’s a bummer I know but, the procedure to have it removed won’t take long . I had to have mine done at hospital due to it getting lost inside me and we were TTC and the dr couldn’t do it themselves as it was too migrated . The procedure took 30 mins in the hospital, is there no way at all you can get an hour out ?? If not you’ll have to go private I guess !

They aren’t there to work to your beck and call. You have been offered numerous appointments and chosen not to take them. If you want it done then make it happen

I have been offered TWO appointments - not numerous.

No I cannot as I have to be in London on a Wednesday,. Any other day I could do.

I'm not even asking for them to make it at my convenience - just any time after the end of June.

I don’t suppose they can refer you to a different nhs hospital?

Did you not know you're not allowed to say anything remotely critical of the NHS on here, op?

People will now exaggerate and make shit up to attack you.

You shouldn't have been waiting 14 months in the first place. That's crap.

Well, just get referred back to your GP and try again after June?

Does it really need removing at all?

I thought they just became ineffective after 5 years and could no longer be relied upon for contraception.

Are they a threat to health if you just leave them in?

They have to meet referral waiting times guidelines. The hospital faces sanction if they do not meet national expectations. You are being unreasonable to assume they should meet your needs for work. Why not go private if it’s such an issue.

Can you afford to go private for this? You’ll be seen really quickly at a time that suits you. I’d be annoyed if u were you as well but guess they are just following protocol n

Protocol I suppose. Very bad imo that you have been waiting so long in the first place.

So go back to your gp, and get a referral which will probably take you till the end of June.

They have an 18 week protocol, you hanging about not having the required treatment will mean their targets will fall. Hence why you need to go back to the gp for a second referral.

Just get the earliest/latest possible appointment and start late/leave early that day. If you were first on the list at, say, 8.30, you wouldn't even be that late.

I'm afraid the only way to get appointments at your convenience is to go private.

Can't you have it removed at a sexual health clinic?

I've no issue with getting referred back after June - but on the basis of what I've seen so far it will be 2022 before I get to the top of the list.

YABU. Imagine if the NHS has to bend to everyone’s whim. Do you want them to magically create a clinic in another day just for little old you?

You will just need to go back into the waiting list once you get referred back. Not much else you can do if you don’t want to take the day or hour off. Or go private as others have said.

I have had exactly the same OP for the same thing and am now waiting for a doctors appointment to get a referral to the hospital who will refer me to have the coil removed!
It's a pain but sadly that's what it is

Get in touch with your local sexual health clinic, they are much more useful for contraceptive matters than GPS in this country.

Go privately then. Probably cost £350 or so I would have thought.

Or contact your local GUM clinic?

I had major surgery last March. I told them I needed as much notice as possible? T E N D A Y S not much notice providing they knew I work at the same hospital 🤦🏼‍♀️

I get that it's annoying however I have just found out the therapy I need gets funding cut if they have people on the waiting list longer than 14 weeks so can no longer do a waiting list it's basically whoever's refers first when a slot becomes available (the therapy is 18 months long). I'm guessing it's something like this so they can do that. It is also not there fault the only day they do it is when you cant do it

I HAVE NOT SAID I WANT THEM TO MAKE AN APPOINTMENT ANOTHER DAY OR AT MY WHIM

I just don't get why, after waiting 14 months, its now or get back to the GP.

Could you get it removed at one of the London GUM clinics before or after work? I think they are more used to removing difficult ones than GP's

I had mine removed at the gum clinic (or whatever called now) took 2 minutes. Much much less bad than insertion. So I'd look at that option.