What did you do to speed up NHS appointment?

[MD1]

Hello.

In December our GP referred my toddler to NHS child's ophthalmologist. We finally got a confirmation for... 9th May. 5-6 months for a basic doctor's appointment? And it's in central London. I went to A&E (with a toddler it's quite an experience, to wait there) but we were seen like for 5 mins' (no actual full check of eyes) then were given a letter, asking to speed up the appointment but got nothing from either our GP Practice or the hospital itself (despite my follow ups and asking why it cannot be speeded up with the letter). Nothing.

Using private health insurance is a bit faster (but you also have to 'jump through many hoops' not to mention many additional £££ fees, not covered by an insurance despite it's a new condition, not pre-exciting).

We are quite likely to use the insurance.

What did you do to speed up an appointment with any NHS doctor?

Thanks.

Go private or wait your turn.
If the problem is in your referral letter, the child will be triaged accordingly.
There is no easy way to just skip the queue.

Yes, we'll go, I'm just a bit surprised that they treat children the same way as adults, don't make any effort to get it at least tiny bit faster.
Thank you.

I don't really understand your post. If you are saying you went to A&E after the GP had referred to try and get another Dr to ramp up the pressure, then may I kindly venture that you are wasting the time of professionals and delaying treatment for other people. If you did that, A&E shoukd have told you to go home upon triage.

Either you wait your turn or you pay. Find the appropriate private paediatric ophthalmic consultant recognised by yiur insurer and pay your GP £40 for the referral letter.

Ask to be put on the cancellation list if you are prepared to go within 24hrs notice.

@MD1 🤦‍♀️

the waiting list you are on will be for a paediatric ophthalmologist. So the “queue” you are in is full of other children.

You shouldn’t need to go through hoops to use your insurance. Ask GP for referrals letter and suggestion of suitable consultant. Ring insurance company and ask for an authorisation code and go for appointment. Yoh might have an excess to pay if there is one on your policy but that’s it.

You probably don’t need to pay for it, our GP has never asked for a fee

Ours does, evidently it isn't part of their NHS contract.

I was going to suggest this, sometimes the cancellations are just an hour or two notice though.

Call the consultants secretary and ask to be put on the cancellation list (if you'd be able to get there at short notice). I did this for DS's initial autism assessment and it cut the wait in half.

Cross post!

I don't understand what you mean by this?

You do realise that between now and May the appointments are full of other children who've also probably been waiting several months?

Bupa made me to go through the hoops. We had to provide the health report that it is the new condition (ad. fee; waiting for 28 working days from your surgery), ref.letter, waiting on their side (5 working days). Many other things, won't list them all. Just sharing my experience. The earliest appointment with the private consultant is mid Feb. Nothing next day or next week.

Thank you. I did that also.

I did that too but I was told I have to call them every day. They said they are not going to call me. And yes, it can be in an hr or two.

Is this a private ophthalmologist in London? DS sees one and his waiting list is not that long. PM me if you want his details!

Never come across it that way round. Is it something where theirs a risk leaving it or more them being cautious? Id expect ro be seen quicker if it was the former. Id probably ring every day I could.

Mid feb is 2 weeks away, book the appointment !

I see @OrangeTeacup has a suggestion but the wait is the wait and it’s why the nhs isn’t working.

We have good private health insurance but we’re often stymied by there not being the relevant paeds specialist doing private work.

Just waited 7 months for a hospital specialist appt for dd because no one covers what she needed privately. And the nhs picked up something serious yet easily treated - and she should have been on the treatment 6 months ago. Six months of not being able to function at school or do any extra curriculars. It’s so shit.

Of course I booked. Straight on the call. Thank you.

Thank you for your kind comment and sharing the experience.

Assume you’ve already seen an optometrist for a sight test?

No. It will be part of the appointment and that's why the private will be not earlier than mid Feb'. Any experience to share? Thank you.

"optometry" (confusingly) is what high street opticians do so you should be able to book your child for that relatively easily - should be free though I suspect not all establishments would do eye tests on younger children.

This thread is incredibly negative and rude to OP.
I'd ask gp to chase again with an email or letter, ring secretary and ask about wait times and cancellations, then ring again. Every time you ring ask for a note to be put on your account that you've rung to enquire.
I found out who the consultant was, saw him privately, and asked for him to look into our nhs referral. All these little things can help.