To be surprised that someone managed to get an appointment

[Nothinggoingto]

With a consultant psychiatrist yesterday for early next week. I have to wait six week for a gp appointment I would have thought consultant appointments were much harder to get.

How does this impact you at all?

It would probably be after triage. Guess it depends what's wrong and how they prioritise

Were they already under a different consultant? It took DD 8 months to get "in the system" but now she is, she seems to be able to get (some) appointments reasonably quickly.

I’m not asking in a nasty way I’m honestly just curious. I’ve always heard that consultants have a long wait due to how senior they are.

That's not how it works @Nothinggoingto

It is done on severity of need, so someone in severe need would be prioritised over some one who has been been waiting longer, but is not in as much need.

They wont necessarily see the consultant. Usually its the consultant's clinic, but you might actually see a registrar working for that consultant.

If you break your legs and go to A&E you might see and orthopaedic consultant prior to surgery- you would not wait 8 months! All specialisms will be different and apt times may well depend on urgency and need

No they are definitely seeing the actually consultant. Is there less demand because it’s over the phone.

DD saw a consultant psychiatrist within 7 days. We paid. She was cutting and overdosing but didn't meet CAMHS thresholds - although that isn't what the Trust website said.

@RosesAndHellebores. Hope your dd is getting the help she needs.

@Nothinggoingto

I’m not asking in a nasty way I’m honestly just curious. I’ve always heard that consultants have a long wait due to how senior they are.

It depends more on speciality.. some depts are busier than others and it also must have been triaged as more priority.

@Oreservoir - thank you. Yes she recovered. It took some time. She manages her depression and anxiety very well and the consultant psych diagnosed ADHD which was the root of the problem.

RosesAndHellebores Glad your dd got the help she needed.

It will be down to severity of need - plus they could have been offered a cancellation or similar.