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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

What the fuck do I do?

213 replies

Bakewellisntjustacake · 04/09/2021 00:53

I have suspected lymphoma but they can't rule out breast cancer because after my MRI which showed 3 big lymph nodes in my neck and chest, I did a breast exam and found a sizeable lump that I hadn't noticed previously . My issue is my referral to the breast clinic has been cancelled because the hospital I have been referred to has been inundated with covid patients and they've moved staff from out patients to covid wards.

They have cancelled my Wednesday appointment and rebooked me for November, all the rapid access appointments have been cancelled and my county won't allow my GP to refer out of area. My Gp is beside herself because she's so angry, but says there is nothing she can do other than write me a letter I can take to other hospitals. I have 4 hospitals near me but none can accept a direct referral from my GP because they're not in the same area.

I've written to my MP to complain but it just feels like an absolute death sentence

OP posts:
StopGo · 04/09/2021 13:00

@CovidIsADick that is terrible.

SomersetDreams · 04/09/2021 13:00

Go private you deserve it. Put yourself first.
Then complain to all and sundry about NHS.x

YouokHun · 04/09/2021 13:01

@StopGo I’m really sorry. The same for my DF as Hospice care was one phone call a week and no real consistent F2F care. I saw and dealt with things I hope never to see or deal with again. My DM is deeply traumatised. Counselling for her is also unavailable because of Covid (traumatised non computer literate 79 year olds don’t cope well with zoom at the best of times). It’s been like screaming into a void - no one seems to have been able to hear us (any of us).

TatianaBis · 04/09/2021 13:03

This is untrue-a Consultant cannot refer you to themselves on the NHS from their private practice-primary care ie your GP has to initiate the referral for NHS funding to follow. A private consultant can write to your GP to request a referral be directed to them (DH generally phones said GP if urgent and gets something faxed over)

They can refer you to their NHS practice it just has to be okayed by the GP. I've done it.

CovidIsADick · 04/09/2021 13:11

@StopGo I’m so sorry to hear about your DH 😔

Tooembarrassingtomention · 04/09/2021 13:11

@TatianaBis

This is untrue-a Consultant cannot refer you to themselves on the NHS from their private practice-primary care ie your GP has to initiate the referral for NHS funding to follow. A private consultant can write to your GP to request a referral be directed to them (DH generally phones said GP if urgent and gets something faxed over)

They can refer you to their NHS practice it just has to be okayed by the GP. I've done it.

It also means that whether them or another the referral is at a treatment point not a diagnosis point.

Ie not someone who may have cancer but someone who does and needs x, y, z treatment

m0therofdragons · 04/09/2021 13:15

I’m horrified! I work in a hospital and we are doing all we can to continue urgent cancer care. We’ve continued throughout. The hospital should be asking for “mutual aid” from other hospitals including private healthcare settings!

changedusername2021 · 04/09/2021 13:34

Op would a different area be better? Your more than welcome to register or stay at my house if it's going to get you the treatment you deserve.

KaycePollard · 04/09/2021 13:35

My issue is my referral to the breast clinic has been cancelled because the hospital I have been referred to has been inundated with covid patients and they've moved staff from out patients to covid wards.

@Bakewellisntjustacake I’m so sorry. It’s shit.

And all those fuckwitted COVID idiots going on about “freedom” and “no masks” and “I don’t need to be vaccinated” should read your post and be totally ashamed of themselves.

Nat6999 · 04/09/2021 13:43

Speak to your MP, you should have an appointment under the 2 week wait system for cancer.

Roominmyhouse · 04/09/2021 13:47

I’m not sure where you are but if you have one of these clinics locally they might be worth checking out if you do have to go privately.
www.check4cancer.com/private-cancer-tests/breast-cancer

OutIsay · 04/09/2021 14:00

Contact your MP

Social media is your new friend. Put this on Twitter (and get friends to retweet), put it on Facebook and get friends to angry face it (preferably on your local hospital Facebook or the Department of Health and Social Care), put it on TikTok if you have it etc. You need to make enough fuss that this gets picked up by the press.

Alarae · 04/09/2021 14:19

This happened to my MIL. Was feeling awful so went to GP who referred for bloods. Things were looking iffy so referred for a scan but the first appointment would be 3-4 weeks time.

She went private for the diagnostic scan, was told there was an unknown mass and referred back to GP, who referred on to NHS.

Nothing was happening, nor did she know what exactly was on her scans past a mass, so she had a further private consultation. They pretty much said it was pancreatic cancer and she had the opportunity to have an operation to remove.

Unfortunately pancreatic cancer is often a death sentence as it tends to be diagnosed late, but hers was early due to going private. Ended up spending tens of thousands for surgery, which has removed the mass and doesn't appear to have spread elsewhere.

Still hasn't heard back from the NHS since giving them her scans. If she didn't have the ability to go private, I hate to admit it, but I believe it would have been too late.

OP, her initial scans were I believe around £300. This is still a chunk of money but its not as expensive as I initially though (I thought it would be >£1000). Maybe if you can get the scans it will hopefully let you know if it's something concerning or not? I would hope for the latter, but if the former it gives you more to shout about.

BoredZelda · 04/09/2021 14:36

For all those saying “this has to stop” and the NHS needs to treat things other than covid, it’s not the staffs fault.

Also worth noting “this” has come as a result of people demanding restrictions were lifted, demanding we just have to live with the fact Covid was here, demanding we get back to “normal”, cheering on “freedom day”

It was always obvious that numbers would rise when restrictions were lifted and this would impact on the availability of non Covid NHS services. When numbers were lower, despite hospitals also dealing with Covid, they began to bring back other services. Now they are beginning to be overwhelmed again and other services are being stopped.

I don’t know what the right answer is, whether situations like the OPs are rare or are happening regularly. I know in most places in Scotland if you need urgent treatment, it is still available, despite the numbers going haywire. Governments are going on a “balance of harms” tack, but I have no idea if they have it right. Time will tell, I guess. But I’m really interested what the “this has to stop” camp think need to happen next.

user1471439310 · 04/09/2021 14:47

I live in the US and I know how many feel about our healthcare but I'm a two time breast cancer survivor and haven seen both my oncologist and surgeon for routine care in the last year. We don't wait months and years for care.I am sorry for anyone who has to wait to be seen. How many are dying from heart and cancer because they are told to wait?

Meomimum · 04/09/2021 14:52

I work as a mammographer in a hospital, recently we saw someone who developed symptoms (not a lump but another suspicious symptom) while on holiday in our city. Surely if you go “on holiday” to a big city with a unit and then find a gp there who takes emergency appointments they will be able to refer you? Emphasise the worry and anxiety you are under and you might get referred?

girlsyearapart · 04/09/2021 14:52

Though it’s not an easy choice at the moment due to travel I’d be wary of travelling abroad for tests.
Bil was scanned and diagnosed in South America ( where he was from)
The hospitals here refused to recognise anything not done here and by the time he had started the process from the beginning he was already terminal.

Good luck op and definitely take this to the press - if you’re an nhs nurse they will like that angle

BonneMaman15 · 04/09/2021 15:03
  1. Book private appointment
  2. Go to an A&E
  3. Ask GP to re-refer under suspected cancer pathway as if it's a new referral within and out of area whether "allowed" or not
  4. If already under Haematology, they will do a full body scan as part of work up & you will eventually get a breast biopsy through them
LemonFantaGin · 04/09/2021 15:17

Put a complaint in through the hospital PALS service

KaycePollard · 04/09/2021 15:24

Also worth noting “this” has come as a result of people demanding restrictions were lifted, demanding we just have to live with the fact Covid was here, demanding we get back to “normal”, cheering on “freedom day

Yes.

There are some ignorant selfish people in the world. I suppose one always knows this in theory, but COVID has shown just how many people combine ignorance and selfishness.

LindyLou2020 · 04/09/2021 16:39

@Peanutbuttercupisyum

A private assessment at a breast clinic is only around £300, and you can get an appointment usually that week. It’s annoying and frustrating but it’s an almost inevitable consequence of what happens when a totally free health care system experiences a pandemic.
@Peanutbuttercupisyum.......... But it ISN'T a "totally free health care system". I'm not going to get into the National Insurance/Income Tax/other taxes debate regarding how the NHS is funded, as it's not for this thread. BUT......indirectly the general public are PAYING for it.
Squaddielife · 04/09/2021 16:48

I'm so sorry you're in this situation OP Flowers how incredibly stressful for you and your family.

You've had some good advice so far. I work in legal in my local hospital and would say that sending a formal complaint to the customer care team and also to the CEO does hold weight. Any letters the local MP receives are forwarded to the CEO and they always ask to be kept informed of the outcome so that is on radar too.

Hopefully with a strongly worded letter detailing very specifically your situation and the importance that you're seen quickly will get you an appointment on an extended clinic or a cancellation. Customer care will contact all the departments /consultants for feedback and comments which usually finds a solution. Obviously stress the need for an urgent response as I know sometimes there's a backlog.

Also, if you work at the same hospital then ring / email the consultant and their secretary directly. They will be horrified I'm sure that you've been fobbed off in this way.

Wishing you all the best. Do let us know how you get on.

myheartskippedabeat · 04/09/2021 17:14

I would go and visit a friend in another area and report to A&E saying you had pains in your chest and on your breasts and make them see you then your in the system

It sounds extreme but worth a go

It's absolutely awful to think of people having to take out a load to see someone privately especially given these circumstances

But I'd honestly try this x

UrgentHelpforFriend · 04/09/2021 17:24

The NHS leaves a bloody lot to be desired it really does!!

hashbrownsandwich · 04/09/2021 18:33

@Bakewellisntjustacake have you been referred under the 2 week rule?