NHS waiting times

[Terraviva]

First off I have to say that of course I am incredibly grateful that in the UK we can have access to free fertility treatment. We are very lucky - I know this. However, the waiting times are driving me crazy!!

I just wanted to ask what other people's experiences of fertility treatment on the NHS were like?

I am a bit unusual in that I was diagnosed with my condition when I was 19 so I always knew I'd need fertility treatment if / when I wanted to start a family. So I hit 31, decide yep - now I'm ready! - and I toddle off to my GP last October expecting a simple referel to an appropriate fertility clinic. However I still have yet to see anyone! Sorry for the moan, I had an appt for 18th April and this morning I got a letter cancelling it because someone's finally read the referel letter and realised I need to see a different consultant. I just phoned up and found out they don't offer the treatment I need anyway, but I still have to go through the same process as women who are under investigation into why they can't conceive before I get to see someone who can then refer me on to someone else who can actually treat me. Why waste resources like that giving me tests I don't need and wasting a consultant's time when all they're going to do is refer me onto to someone else?!

Oh I'm sorry for the rant. It's not that I'm asking to jump the que or anything like that - I really hope it doesn't come across like that. I just want to get the treatment I need instead of this awful dancing in circles the NHS is making me do. All I want is a baby and I wish it was simple.

And I'm going to commit that MN sin of posting and running just because I needed to vent, but I'll be back later.

Thanks for reading :)

Hi there,

Rant away! This is the right place to do it. Sorry to hear you are having such a hard time.

I haven't got experience of your specific situation, but just wanted to say I really do sympathise. I know that when you are not the run-of-the-mill case it's hard to get listened to properly, and easy to get pushed from pillar to post.

I have had quite a bit of infertility testing and I don't think there's a way around this as they'll always want to see hormone levels, ovarian reserve etc. regardless of your diagnosis, it's just part of their box-checking (and important info even if you are going straight for treatments like IUI/IVF). I don't know what your condition is, but I guess if you are seeing a new consultant - and for the first time since you were 19 - they'll want to confirm the diagnosis and see if anything has changed over that time before they start you on treatment (if you want NHS IVF you'll also need an up-to-date infertility diagnosis so they can prove you qualify for funding).

The waiting time in your case does sound ridiculous. One thing a friend did to get round this was to pay for a couple of consultations with a private specialist who got things moving - obviously expensive and not ideal - but it got her to the point where she was able to get some answers and some advice before going back into the NHS system.

One other thought: I initially had bad experience with the first fertility consultant I was referred to, so I did my research and asked my GP to be referred on the NHS to someone else with a great reputation in another county(apparently it's your right as a patient to be seen anywhere you wish). I didn't had to wait long (a less stretched PCT) and they have been great so far. If you know the kind of consultant you need to see, could you try this and cut out all the middle men? Just a thought - no idea if that's at all helpful.

Good luck!

Thanks so much for your reply! It is incredibly helpful. No-one apart from my mum knows we're TTC so it gets quite lonely at times.

I hear you about how hard it is to get people to listen to you and being pushed from pillar to post!

Are you still TTC? I'm glad to hear you got to see a good consultant. It's nice to know the NHS can & does work in some areas. It'd be awful if everyone was having such a nightmare.

My condition is hormonal and without launching into greek/latin basically means my hypothalamus has switched off my reproductive system. So the treatment requires injections of GnRH at 90 minute intervals to get my system switched back on and my ovaries producing those beautiful eggs. Apperantly, as I discovered in the course of my investigations yesterday, this treatment is expensive and so the hospital I'm on the waiting list for has stopped doing it. You now need to a) find somewhere that will do it and b) have to apply for NHS funding as an 'exceptional treatment'. But seeing as how it's cheaper than IVF I don't understand this, but hey, I'm not the one trying to balance the NHS cheque book! Maybe there are other treatments that would be equally effective but I've not managed to actually see a specialist and ask what the options are.

My GP sent me for a load of tests so I already come armed with a whole array of blood results and scans etc. I just want to get to actually talk to someone who knows my condition and can advise me! I don't mind waiting months for treatment if I know I'm in the right place. There's nothing worse than quing for ages at the funfair to get on the rollercoaster, and when you get to the front they say 'oh sorry dear! This is the waltzer. You need to wait in that line over there' (points to equally long que... me trudging over to join the back of it... grrrr)

Anyway, after spending all day yesterday on the phone and internet, the good news is I have finally found a hospital that offers the treatment I need!! Woohooo! They say they can see me for an initial consultation in about 4 weeks after receiving a referral from my GP. So I'm going back to my GP on Monday and asking for another letter. Fingers crossed nothing else pops up to be a spanner in the works. If it does I will go for a private consultation like you advise. Assuming I do get an appt in 4 weeks, that will still be six months since I first went to my GP.

Thank you so much again for replying. I always used to think my condition was really cool and unusual , all my female friends were jealous I didn't have periods. When people used to express sympathy I would laugh it off. Oh how it's all come back to bite me on the bum! Ah well, life eh? It's never simple or boring :)

I've been waiting for what seems like forever for my app at the hospital. After being cancelled twice we're finally seeing someone nxt fri. For me it's just the nxt step as we've been ttc for nearly 3 years so don't really know what to expect. WHAT really worries me tho is this government is making so many cutbacks that if i need to have IVF for any reason i'm scared i'm not going to get it. Like you say terrviva we are really lucky in this country but how long for!!!

They are making huge cutbacks unfortunately and it is scary... The difference now compared to five years ago is incredible.

Fingers crossed we'll all get the help we need to have bootiful babies

Hi Terraviva,

Sorry to take a while to respond - have been away for a few days.

So glad to hear you have had a breakthrough! Really hope things start getting moving quickly. Fingers crossed you'll have your BFP before you know it!!

Yes, we are still TCC - giving it another six months before moving on to IVF. I think it's the right decision as by now I'm pretty worn down by the disappointment month after month, and I have been diagnosed with a problem with my tubes so we may not be able to conceive naturally anyway. We're at that age where everyone we know is pregnant with baby #1 or #2 (many of whom only seem to have to look at their man to get knocked up!) and it does get me down. I've only told my closest friends about our difficulty TCC so I guess a lot of people think we are just focused on our careers, but it's at the stage where I can't go to a party without someone asking "so, when are you two going to have kids?!" in front of the whole room. I have managed to keep a happy face and make a witty retort up til now, but one day, someone is going to get a smack in the face

Anyway, enough woe, would be great to hear how you get on!