NHS referral wait times

[Aila1994]

Hi everyone & thanks in advance for any replies!

We have been ttc off and on for 2 years, we actually fell pregnant our first month trying, but it sadly ended in miscarriage.

We continued trying for another 8 months then I got a new job, so we stopped ‘actively trying’ but never prevented during my probationary period (6 months). We then began officially trying again in April 2022 and have yet to see another positive test.

In this time I have gone to my doctor for initial blood tests to confirm ovulation (the results of which weren’t clear) and I have subsequently been placed on the waiting list for initial consultation with a fertility specialist.

This was back in October, so it’s now been 8 months, I tried ringing the hospital, who did confirm I was on this list but would not tell me waiting times, so i’m a bit in the dark.

Has anyone else been in a similar situation recently that would be able to give me a bit of a guide in terms of how much longer I should expect to be waiting for my initial consultation? (I’m based in Northern Ireland, but I’d be curious to hear of wait times around the UK if no one can provide info re NI wait times)

Hi

Sorry to hear about your long wait. The wait in my area (Leeds) was 35 weeks. They did tell me that though when I phoned up. I think it was 32 weeks when I first got referred then I phoned nearly 32 weeks later and was told it had gone up to 35 weeks. I will say that they were not very pro active in contacting me - I phoned again at 35 weeks and they decided I was close enough to the top of the list to get an appointment. I never got any letter through though so I suspect I would have been waiting even longer had I not phoned up.
That’s very annoying that they won’t even give you an estimated time though - I’d try ringing again and see if you get through to somebody else.
On the plus side the receptionist did say that once you get the initial appointment things should move a lot faster. In my first appointment I was told I needed a few more tests and I could start IVF in 6 weeks time (would have been sooner but Christmas was in the way). In the end I found out I was pregnant a week after my first consultation, so can’t advise further on the process!
Best of luck