4 week urgent referral appointment is going to take 6 months

[jejeje]

I had a referral which my GP mentioned was 'urgent', and I was told I should be seen within 4 weeks for further tests. My GP told me to chase up my appointment if I don't hear back within a few weeks so I did. I rang the hospital department and told me I won't be seen for at least 6/7 months.

Is this just how things are in the NHS now? Do I need to just sit back and wait or should I be trying to advocate for myself? I'm concerned as my symptoms are quite serious/red flag symptoms

My two week wait took over 18 months. I had the appointment and they said they’d book certain tests and then the letter came through saying no further action because my symptoms were caused by pregnancy (even though I wasn’t pregnant). It’s still not been resolved. I moved GP surgeries and got referred to a different hospital, also on a two week wait and I got a letter with an appointment for April.

Yes, it’s how it is now.

I was told my two week wait appointment would be months in reality. I went private and it was still a 6 week wait due to staff shortages!

It's so stressful :(

6-7 months for something that should be within 1 month is just crazy

So there are various courses of action open yo you.

First is to look at waiting times at other hospitals locally (or regionally if you need a specialist service). Some may have shorter waits and won't necessarily be harder to access.

Second is to speak to the relevant consultants secretary and to tell them you would be interested in any appointments which come up at short notice due to cancellations etc

Third is to write to PALS, your local MP et . In fact you should def complain to your mp because this (the state of the nhs) is ultimately a political matter.

Finally you can look to go private, at least for an initial consultation.

My dad had an urgent neurology referral, should have been seen in 2 weeks. He received an appointment letter for 7 months time. He died before the appointment.

yes this is how it is. Write to your MP and ask them to fund the NHS properly

I was referred urgently and put on the cancer pathway in August 2021. Although I had various tests I still had no sit down appointment with a doctor a year later. This was gynaecology. I then started again with a different NHS trust and was seen within a month.

Unfortunately this is standard across the board

The NHS has collapsed. Actually, it’s been broken deliberately. I’ve never seen anything like it in my 20 years working in it

Reports in the media are the tip of the iceberg

It’s appalling. Kick up a stink, OP. PALS, MP etc. The squeaky wheel gets the oil.

Who on earth are the 20% voting that you’re unreasonable??

I had an urgent gynae referral , I was seen within the 2 weeks. Those particular tests were clear but I was told I would need to be referred by my gp again for some different tests. I’ve had a letter from the hospital which just says 'there are no appointments available'.

GPs can refer as urgent. However, they get assessed upon arrival and triaged. It looks like your referral was downgraded at that point. If you feel your symptoms meet the two week rule I'd call the hospital to clarify and see what they say. Im a hospital manager btw and have managed the two week rule

I was referred to Gynae urgently in August 2021 after presenting to A&E, where I was diagnosed with a very large, awkwardly placed dermoid cyst. They thought it had twisted around an ovary causing the intense pain I experienced but it 'temporarily' self resolved after 48 hours. They warned me it was a risk to my ovary due to the size and structure and I'd need it removed 'urgently' as dermoids don't go away on their own.

I was put on the urgent list by my GP and I've just had my initial appointment through for January - 17 months later.

Luckily in my case I haven't had any more dramatic pain episodes but I'm well aware I have a huge cyst that's likely growing and wrapping its way around my ovary. For me, I've had my children and if I lose an ovary with the cyst which seems likely, I'm not all that bothered - but that wouldn't be the case for many younger than me or who haven't started families yet.

It's awful and frightening the wait times at the moment.

Write to PALS. I had a 2 week referral for a dodgy mole (I've had melanoma in the past), and when I phoned to chase they said it could take months as they didn't actually have any dermatology appointments at all!

After writing to pals I got an appointment with a locum dermatologist the following weekend.

I had an urgent referral in June. Issue is finally being sorted in January.

It’s been very stressful.