AIBU to feel frustrated by delays for an NHS uro-gynae referral? Does the NHS treat women's health issues as 'natural', unimportant and to be put up with?

[Awolpelvicfloor]

NHS making it difficult to get referral to Uro-Gynae! I spotted my uterine prolapse in February, and have been working positively with my GP since then. I'm 68, active, stroppy (but cheerful usually), and mother of 4 adult sons (all six footers). I've tried 3 different ring pessaries and Estriol cream to date but not working, and pessary now removed entirely. I still have severe grade prolapse, uterine and posterior wall bulges, low lying abdominal pressure and pain, and a non-existent sex life! My GP can do no more.
I've asked for referral to the uro-gynae premier league but was quoted 6-9 months waiting time! Have you any tips on coping strategies while I continue to be stroppy? I don't want to go private as I want the NHS to take me and my little women's problem seriously.

I have just seen the gynae for bladder prolapse - referral went into before Christmas. It's bloody ridiculous and whilst I can't fault the excellent service I got when I did see the doctor, I was in and out in about 10 minutes including examination and now have to wait for another referral to physio before they will consider surgery. I asked my GP for a physio referral back in December but they insisted I had to go via Gynae so this is really bloody frustrating and 100% agree this has been seen as an annoying women's issue that isn't prioritised.

Not sure what I can suggest I'm afraid - call regularly and ask for a cancellation, ask your GP for an urgency review, see if another doctor or hospital will get you in sooner? Or, if you can afford it go private to start the process and then transfer(not actually sure how that works). I feel for you though and yes its shit.

While shit, it’s not as though such waiting times are isolated to uro-gynae issues. Probably wait considerably longer for a hip or knee replacement (no matter your gender).

6-9 months is quite good! ( Appalling but where I am it was well over a year) This isn't a women's health thing though, it's a general waiting list problem. Urology for men is just as long a waiting list.

It's not isolated to women's issues.

I waited over a year to be seen (about seizures I have due to abuse-related TBI) by Neurology. I've been waiting to see a Rheumatologist for over a year.

I have to pay to go privately if I want anything quicker. I have a connective tissue disorder and I have to pay for private treatment for this because the NHS don't offer long-term management options anymore.

I started bleeding heavily in April last year and it wouldn't stop, accompanied by pain and anaemia. It took until September for them to agree to a gynae referral and by then I'd haemorrhaged 3 times. The waiting list was 51 weeks at that point but they eventually expedited the referral as I became more unwell.

It took 14 months to receive treatment in the end and that was expedited. Without priority treatment, it would have taken 2-3 years. It isn't just a problem for women. My dad, for example, needs treatment and he's been waiting 18 months. The dementia will likely kill him before he gets seen. However, as a woman with gynae issues, I did face an additional barrier to referral in the first place as HCPs did keep reminding me that bleeding and pain was normal for women. Daily bleeding for 14 months? Haemorrhaging? Unable to carry out daily activity? Not normal but they didn't seem to believe me.

There was a woman on the ward with me who had a significant prolapse. She waited 2 years for her surgery.

At my trust it’s currently taking 8 weeks for a brain MRI to be done then another 12 weeks for it to be reported. 6-9 months for a referral isn’t remarkable.

Agree with PPs, this is not restricted to women only health issues. It is frustrating though and the main reason we took out private health insurance several years ago.

It's a field that have very consultants. Even finding them through agencies is limited. It's also not viable for small hospitals to employ one FT because the numbers of referrals can't support it.

It's definitely an area that is under particular pressure for the NHS.

Thank you for all your posts, much appreciated!
I understand that a uterine prolapse is no big deal when compared to the many other serious health issues that people are suffering from, and I recognise that the NHS is struggling and having to prioritise where they offer their care. I know that both men and women are having to live with poor health conditions; my DH is stomping around on arthritic knees like many others.

Any helpful tips for making my situation bearable while I continue to strop are very welcome. Thanks 😊

Yep.

my nhs trust wouldn’t even put me on the waiting list (pain and bleeding are normal right?)

I feel your pain (in this case literally!). I would welcome a chance to talk to a uro-gynae person about options (including simple, cost effective ones). I'm happy to wait my turn for treatment, but even a quick initial consultation seems out of reach. Good luck to you.

I've waited months for loads of things - brain, limbs, skin. So. I'm not sure they're de-prioritising women although appreciate you're in pain and that's horrible. Although I do typically find once you're in tertiary care it's a lot easier to stay there. I don't know how to help. This genuinely isn't meant to be trite but haven't you asked your GP for help managing symptoms while you wait.

Actually my hospital has a bit where you can say you'll come to cancellations - so last minute appointments. Have you asked about that?

Hi Devon, thanks for your response. I've been working with my GP to manage the condition within her remit, but she's also said she can't do more, and it's a waiting game. She's been great by the way, and I don't feel unsupported, just frustrated at my inability to get to the point where I'm informed, and lined up for appropriate action at some point.

Good luck. It’s taken 3 years solid of breeding to be able to sit in front of a gynae who laughed at me a few weeks ago. I was told “you need to loose weight” before they will do anything to help me. I was suicidal and told I was crazy, it’s not a physical problem, but a psychological one! Despite me having actual none-stop heavy bleeding for 3 years….

I seem to have been very lucky with my treatment. I had very heavy bleeding and saw my GP on 20/4. He referred me for an internal ultrasound which I had on 1/5 (NHS appointment at a private clinic). Back to GP on 19/5 to discuss results and then I had my treatment on 27/6.

Good idea. I did that for a Dexa scan. Id just been put on the waiting list so my papers were probably at the top of a pile. Got a call saying could I be there within an hour(think it was an hour but could have been half an hour,). I live about ten minutes from the hospital so said yes. When I got in and they looked at my notes I was asked how I'd got seen so quickly.

I highly recommend getting a donut cushion or similar to help relieve some pressure on your underneath while sitting on hard seats (like dining chairs). I found it relieved some of the pressure I experience from endometriosis and IC. So that might be worth a try.

A women's physio who specialises in prolapses might help. My mum saw one while she waited for a hysterectomy and repair work. She had to see one privately - I'm not sure if they are available on the NHS.

Gravity is not your friend when it comes to prolapses according to the gynaecologist, so try not to stand for long periods. You might find some relief from lying down with a pillow under your bottom and then raise your legs up (I used to lie with mine up my pillows and -clean- feet resting on the top of my headboard).

Yes, that's a useful thing and I can be flexible at short notice. Thanks (also to DevonKnowsI'mMiserableNow)

I hadn't thought of the effect of gravity! I like the idea of feet on headboard or arm of sofa and DH doing the housework. Perhaps I can milk this a bit (clouds and silver linings 😀). Thank you.

No, it’s not just gynae! DD has a genetic metabolic disease. She’s supposed to have a face to face appointment every 6 months; they take blood and urine tests after every appointment, to check inter alia, that ammonia (a neurotoxin) isn’t getting too high in her blood.

Her last appointment was December 24. They cancelled two appointments last year, a few days before. Her next appointment was to be November 26. They cancelled it last week. Their own website says that they can’t provide safe care, if they don’t see their patients in clinic at least once a year!

I complained to Pals, and pointed out what their own website says - they offered her an appointment in August or September.

A GP in the family says they are hearing this rubbish from many patients, about secondary care.

There is a petition regarding medical misogyny promoted by mumsnet at the top of the home page.

I agree. I was referred by my GP for an orthopaedic appointment back in August last year,my appointment was for this May just gone. 9 months! So it's not just confined to uro-gynae issues.

Definitely 😜 Bottoms up 😆

It's not just gyna as others have said. I'm on a waiting list for gastro and it's likely to be ten months before I'm seen and then there will be tests. I'm also waiting for a cardiac CT scan which apparently is unlikely to happen this year.
Apparently diagnostic tests are even worse than the original waiting list.

While I don't have medical insurance so can't really go private what I have done is to pay for a one off consultation with a specialist. In both cases I got some useful advice. It doesn't short cut the NHS wait but might get you some advice?