NHS colleague has queue jumped a waiting list

[iamfrustrated]

I want to preface this by saying that everything I say, I have been told by my colleague themselves. I am not making assumptions.

This colleague is waiting for some fairly urgent surgery. During the pre-operative assessment a fairly minor issue was detected. It does not preclude the major surgery but can be solved by a minor surgical procedure.

They have, in the space of two weeks, been seen by a consultant, listed for surgery, pre-assessed for this procedure and given a date. Meanwhile, I am waiting for an appointment in the same department and it’s going on seven months without an idea of when I will be seen.

My managers are aware of the situation and she is almost gleeful in how they are telling everyone that this has happened, that they’ve jumped the queue and they have basically cheated the system for a date.

I am so angry. I do not see how it is fair. AIBU to complain to my managers about this, as at the very least I think you shouldn’t be so gleeful about it?

If you are so sure that this has happened then maybe you should report it?

Honestly though in nearly 30 years of working in the NHS Ive never seen anybody jump the queue with regards to treatment.
Not to say it doesnt make a difference....I think Drs are far more likely to chase up reports and appointments for colleagues but things still tend to happen according to medical need.

Exactly, sometimes things can move quicky. My elderly mum was offered major surgery within a couple of weeks of her GP appointment. It was only extended to a few weeks later because of an admin policy, the surgeon was available to do the surgery.

In the waiting room was a much younger woman who had waited 2 years for the same surgery and she worked for the NHS.

I'm a senior NHS nurse, so I've got a fairly clear idea!

Consultants have no involvement in managing waiting lists or scheduling treatment in any service I've come across. It would be a waste of their expertise, consultants focus on clinical work.

They absolutely have a say in their clinics and operating lists!

I suppose we must have different experiences. I've never known a consultant to personally manage a waiting list. I'm not sure how they'd have time. Triaging need, absolutely, that's a clinical assessment. But not waiting list management.

I guess if you're certain there's this sort of bad practice going on, it should be reported.

Then things will never change