Frustrated with the wait times for fertility appointment

[JS5]

• Nov23
  got referred to fertility clinic by NHS GP for unexplained fertility as had been trying for a year.

• April24
  I had my first fertility appointment to see gynae at infertility clinic

• June24
  few months later complete internal scans and swabs. I was then given what they said is the next earliest follow up with gynae, Jan25, TO DISCUSS THESE RESULTS and next steps

• Oct24
  few months later receive letter saying the appt has been pushed back to Feb25 due to "unforeseen circumstances".

• Today received letter appt pushed back even further to April25* for same reason. Also received sms asking for a respond to whether I still require the intervention. Called the clinic and they said they can offer me a private consultation, with the same gynae, as early as 2weeks. She was apologetic and quite frankly embarrased to offer this.

We are in the middle of purchasing a house, completion is around the corner, I just don't have that money right now. I can't help but feel so frustrated, I don't understand how I have paid thousands of tax towards NHS, and probably used a quarter of that (if that) towards my health over the years, and still expected to pay upfront for a treatment that I've been waiting for so long. I am not getting any younger and every cycle going by is counting. I haven't even got a clue as to what my scans were, and can't help but think if something is wrong and requires treatment, I've been made to wait 9months just to discuss them. I'm feeling so helpless at this point and at their mercy to be seen again.

Any advice on how to handle this, or am I being unreasonable

I’m sorry you’re going through this OP, you’re not unreasonable to be frustrated but honestly this is the state of the NHS currently and it’s awful. A colleague of mine has been in exactly the same position this year and ended up taking a private appointment to speed things up as similar to you she didn’t want to wait another 6 months just to have the appointment as she had been told after that it was still likely to be another 6-12 months for treatment etc which at her age she was really concerned about. I know she managed to get a payment plan set up so didn’t need to pay it all at once if that’s an option for you?

I'm so sorry OP. That's how it is in the NHS at the moment :( We have been through it all as well and it's not getting any better.

The only thing you can do is go private if you can afford it.

Sorry not to have any good answers but I do feel your pain.

That's the state of the NHS these days. Even for people with extremely dangerous medical issues.

My parent died last year still on a waiting list for a neurology consult. He died having been waiting 4 months for an appointment, 9 months after being diagnosed.

Prior to that he also waited 15 hours for an ambulance having fallen from his wheelchair with a head injury.

The NHS is fucked.

Honestly, the waiting times you’ve had from referral to appointments is t bad at all. I understand that this is important to you, but there are people living with painful, debilitating conditions that leave them unable to work and function properly that are waiting much longer for treatment. You can still live your life while waiting, be thankful for that.

Another vote to go private. I had appointments with the NHS about fertility issues before the pandemic and even then it was slow. Plus they were vague and didn’t really know what they were doing. We ended up having IVF abroad with a clinic who got to grips with our issues and the IVF worked

How to say you’ve never had fertility issues, without actually saying it!

@Mrsttcno1 @smokeandflame thank you for the advice, I guess private plan it'll have to be. And didnt know there are plans for this something to look into

@PenisWine that's awful. Even hearing that sounds unbelievable and yet it's happened. Sorry for your loss dear

@MrRobinsonsQuango that definetely sounds like my case right up until now I've felt the whole pathway has been scattered with noone really know what they doing. Im interested in other options, how do I go about researching for IVF abroad? Happy this worked for you in the end

Your comment is really dismissive and unhelpful. It's a completely different arm of the NHS than what you are talking about - these things are not related and have completely different funding streams and pathways.

It’s definitely worth looking at the private plans especially if you’ve already had the tests as it’s the tests that are the big £££ so having already had those that will bring the bill down x