Is this the future of the NHS?

[Mamathebest]

So I’ve been suffering from irregular vaginal bleeding/irregular periods since February. I can randomly find I bleed randomly on any given day for an hour or two and then it just stops. I’ve also been experiencing pelvic pain that is getting worse. Some days it’s getting harder to walk around. I called my GP and in June was referred for pelvic scan. Since then nothing! I’ve called back the GP and was told to ring my local hospital for update on the appointment. The receptionist basically laughed and said due to COVID I won’t be seen any time in the near future unless your GP deems it to be urgent. Called the GP back today and was told by the receptionist to “look into private care”

I am in no way able to afford private treatment. A scan alone could cost £180! I’m so so concerned. What if this is something serious?? Is this what the NHS will look like from now on? How are those in poverty supposed to afford health care.

It isn't for the Doctor's receptionist to advise you what to do. She isn't qualified. Ring back and say that you want to speak to the doctor, explain to him the long waiting time and if your symptoms have changed since you last spoke to him and then he can decide on the updated information you give him whether it should be a more urgent case.

I was scanned quickly for bleeding in between periods as it can be sign of ovarian cancer and was put in the two week cancer wait, as is supposed to happen. (Don’t panic it’s also a symptom of other things like fibroids, cysts). You need to demand a two week wait scan. Don’t be fobbed off by receptionist. Threaten a PALS complaint. My colleague did similar this week and got her Mum a scan.

I would ask for an appointment with your GP to explain it's getting worse. Until you see the price of private medical care I don't think anyone fully appreciates the NHS but they are under pressure and unless your case is considered urgent you sadly have to be prepared to wait. It's not great but it is free! If you could find the money for a private scan I would be tempted to get one as at least that would give you some piece of mind and/or some options for treatment that your GP might be able to prescribe, or remove one hurdle on the NHS waiting list if you need to be referred to gynae.

I've experienced similar. I actually got scanned within 4 weeks but I've been told 18 months for a consultant appointment and at least 18 months for a procedure.

In my case the scan revealed a polyp which needs removing and testing as a minority can be cancerous. Terrified does not exactly describe how I feel.

I'm fortunate to be able to afford a private consultation. He agrees I need it removed but I'm too young to be a priority for the NHS. He also says I'll be extremely lucky to be seen in 18 months as there simply aren't any clinics at the moment. At all.

We are going to have to use our savings to pay for treatment. That's not an option for everyone and it makes me very angry.

My daughter is also experiencing gynae issues and the Dr won't even do a phone consult. She's 15. It's basically COVID only beong treated right now.

Sorry, that should say will only do a phone consult. For my daughter.

My mother was told that it was a 14 month long wait for an endoscopy. She is paying to have it done privately.

You need to speak to your GP and ask for it to be an urgent referral.

I think that Covid has affected referrals, wait times etc, but is this going to be what the NHS will looks from now, on going?...No.

My friend works in an eye clinic and the backlog is now 2 years. This is the NHS for the foreseeable future.

I think healthcare will be messed up for a good while. I live in a place outside the UK, and my part of the country has little Covid. It's not really public knowledge but they are anticipating something like 2 years to hgt back on track with appointment and testing and such, even if we have no new major outbreak. We are a well off country with what is supposed to be a good health care system.

I've been waiting 22 months to see a specialist, and received a letter in March saying I'll get an appointment in the next few weeks as I was reaching top of the waiting list. I called them in June to say I've still not received anything, and was told I won't be seen until at least 2022 due to backlog, owing to COVID. Now I'm seeing a specialist tomorrow in a private hospital, costing me £140 for an initial consultation, just to give him a run down of everything. Then blood tests and scans are going to cost a couple hundred more. I've worked my behind off the past few months just to save enough money.

The kicker is that I work in the hospital where the specialist is, that I could see for free. So I'm allowed to go to the hospital to treat sick people and get money from my employer, to then spend the money on being treated by one of their doctors- in private. But I can't be seen for free because they won't see me in the hospital because of COVID. It's all a bit of a shambles.

OP, are you menopausal? This is horrendous, I'm so sorry. Definitely keep the pressure on. I expect the GP has no idea what the receptionist is saying.

@Mamamia456

It isn't for the Doctor's receptionist to advise you what to do. She isn't qualified. Ring back and say that you want to speak to the doctor, explain to him the long waiting time and if your symptoms have changed since you last spoke to him and then he can decide on the updated information you give him whether it should be a more urgent case.

THIS 100%

Please please call back and request the GP call you back. It’s nothing to do with the receptionist

I’ve been waiting for an op for over a year, spoke to the consultant last month who told me I’d be very lucky if it happens in 2021. It’s classed as ‘urgent’.

The NHS is fucked. The wards are empty for normal procedures/appointments but the ‘but, covid’ excuse keeps getting trotted as an excuse for inadequate healthcare

Demand to be seen, doctor's are infamous for not taking female medical issues seriously so you must be firm, especially now with Covid. Yes, it could be serious, it could be cancer, a cyst, etc. You must advocate for yourself to be seen. Perhaps going to a GUM clinic would speed the process up as opposed to the GP?

This could be something serious OP, can you ring back and tell the receptionist you need to speak to the GP again? I'm sorry you're experiencing this

Yes, I'm afraid to say it is the future of the NHS. It was not fit for purpose before the Covid situation, it's doubly unfit for purpose now.

I'm sorry OP, it's shit. I am extremely fortunate to have private health care - although only as long as my job lasts which given the current environment is not likely to be long.

I had similar issues tail end of last year/very beginning of this year. This was pre-covid but despite that I was still no further in making my way up the waiting list for a consultant gynae appointment on NHS and GPs were next to useless. I ended up paying to go privately - thankfully nothing sinister identified but the consultant appointment, pelvic ultrasound and blood tests at the Nuffield hospital I attended did run to quite a few hundred £'s by the end. I had to charge it to credit card, and have now thankfully paid it off. If I'd had kept on NHS I would still be waiting now.

The receptionist was being incredibly rude. Wouldn’t take any of my concerns seriously at all. My grandmother passed away from ovarian cancer so I know there is heightened risk. I’ve been told to call back in the morning to speak to the same doctor and see what they can do but I am not holding my breath. I am only 29 so I doubt it’s menopause related. We’ve actually been TTC for a year now with no luck but of course until this health issue is resolved nothing will happen

In my area (tier 1) I found today that I can't even phone my GP. No one answers. Long answerphone message that (says stay away) directs you online.

Couple of months ago you could phone the surgery and a GP would phone you back within hours, speak to the pharmacy etc.

Now it is a black hole. After 45 fruitless minutes trying to navigate the incomprehensible website I gave up because it wasn't that urgent and D.C. were demanding attention.

Funkypolar - That may be the case in your area, but my son, whose appointment was cancelled in June (he had telephone consultation instead) has just received an appointment for January.

Should add it's for the eye clinic.