Waiting times for hernia for 8 year old

[NewPage]

Our DS has a hernia that he needs to have checked out. Went to GP and was told urgent referral made, after 2 weeks checked what was happening and GP said the specialist referred too downgraded referral to non-urgent and that would be a 28 wk wait.
GP has resent the referral as urgent again, DS is sometimes in pain. He can’t do any sports, left out of PH etc and it just doesn’t seem right for a child to wait this length of time.
I’m based in Scotland so should be no more than 18 wks, but appreciate COVID-19 has thrown things out.
Anyone any advice or tips on how to get him seen?

PE not PH!

Do you have a PALS system.in Scotland? I would start with them at the hospital he was reffeed to.

How can say it's not urgent if they wont see him?

Thank you, I will look into the PALS option. I will see what hospital he was sent to when I speak with the Doc. All his clubs are cancelled, he’s missing his friends as he was really sporty. After lockdown it’s impacting on his mental health, not being able to participate. We’ve been told he can’t do any physical activity until he’s seen by specialist.

This happened with my son. So I feel your frustration.
I contacted the clinical service manager and asked how it could be said to be non urgent by a clinician who hadn’t looked at it when it was deemed urgent by a registered practitioner who had, we were subsequently seen within 6 weeks (not great but not the 26 we were told)
This was also the flagship kids hospital

So sorry to hear that you have been through this too, really good advice. I did so my GP how this happened and he said he had no idea and was resending the referral as marked urgent. Our ‘flagship’ kids hospital is currently under review, it’s so rubbish when this is out kids health!

Can you afford a private appointment with the NHS consultant? Often that helps, as they will see your DS is eligible for NHS treatment and refer him on under the NHS, which means you don't get stuck with the initial wait time plus operation wait time.

I’m not sure we can afford private, though may have to look at this if it’s a 28week wait! Thank you for suggesting it.

I hope you get seen soon… if you have no joy with a csm if you contact them present at a&e when he is in pain with it and that can also speed things up.
I know… I was furious, my sons was found at his 6 week check and when I read nice guidelines it had said no exceptions but to be reviewed by a surgeon within 2 weeks. Like u I left it around 3 weeks then chased it and was furious to find the reason.
I appreciate it’s not the surgeons fault as they are trying to manage a service efficiently but higher up need to look at why they can’t meet demand. It really is shocking!
Good luck with your boy and I hope he’s back to playing his sports soon x

That’s a really good tip, I never thought about A&E. I’m going to wait to see what the chase at GP results in, but will definitely escalate if still being messed about. I know that it is a straightforward thing for adults but less than 10% kids get one under 10 and if there are any complications as you wait for specialist it can be very serious. I love our NHS, but this kind of thing is so frustrating and as you say most likely not the specialists fault but targets from senior management etc!