Tunbridge wells/ Kent fertility initial consultation

[Anniekent1]

Hey everyone

we have just been referred to the fertility clinic in twells / Maidstone and was just wondering if anyone had experience of the waiting time for that first consultation after being referred ?

once confirmed for ivf/ ICSI then how long is it?

not sure of the process exactly so sorry if this is quite basic

Hi there! I'm being referred there. Referral made in February, I'm waiting for an appointment still. I've contacted them recently and they told me that the waiting list for initial consultation is 6 months.

I've also done some private investigation at St Barts in the meanwhile. I need to decide whether I want to do 1 round of IVF with them first and then wait for NHS appt.

Good luck!

Hiya, thank you so much for replying. We contacted them and they told us the Gp hasn’t sent it to them yet so frustrating so now back to the GP to chase them up. Just wasted time

oh I didn’t realise you could do private alongside NHS , do they still allow you to then have a round with them ? Do you mind me asking why you have been referred, we have MFI so expecting to go straight for ICSI rather than anything like IUI

thank you

Same here, also MFI - I've emailed them yesterday asking if I could go for 1 round of IVF privately without me losing my spot in the waiting list and they said yes! Bear in mind we have only 2 rounds with the NHS. So no problem at all with having tests done privately!

oh well thats not too bad. we have considered it but private just out of our reach at the moment so we at least want to try the NHS route first as we anticipate needing a few rounds. Really hoping that its not 6 months, as then I assume its another long wait time after the initial consultation :(

Good luck with yours though private / or NHS, you will have to keep me updated!

Yes, I understand perfectly. Thankfully we have insurance that covers fertility so I'm feeling extremely lucky as I know it's not very common.

Best of luck to you!! Hopefully the wait won't be too long.

Hi, I’ve also been referred to Tunbridge Wells/ Maidstone. Have either of you heard anything about your initial consultation yet?

Heya , unfortunately still waiting on that initial appointment. Should be by the end of next month they are saying. How about you ?

Thanks for responding! I wasn’t referred until end of June so I haven’t heard anything yet about initial appointment, but that’s helpful to know what you’ve been told! I was also originally told 3-4 months so fingers crossed not too much longer for us

Hiya I was end of may so you shouldn't be too much longer ! I know the wait feels forever.
Have you had any tests and diagnosis as that may speed things up when you are in ?

Hi all! Eventually I didn't go with the NHS as the information that they gave me is NOT correct - you cannot have private IVF (as in, actual treatment, not tests) and NHS funded investigations/treatment at the same time. As I just started my IVF round privately and started to take the medicines, I decided I didn't want to wait longer and went with them instead. When I spoke to the NHS nurse she reassured me that if this private cycle were to go bad now the waiting times are much shorter, around 3/4 months per person. So hopefully the wait will be short for you!

Thank you for the update @potatowaitingtobeplanted. Sorry they weren't clear but hopefully your round will be successful and you won't need any further treatment. Will have to keep us updated on your success. All the best luck in the world!

That’s useful to know about private and NHS@potatowaitingtobeplanted - wishing you lots of luck with IVF! @Anniekent1 definitely feels like such a long wait, initially went to the doctors in April but they didn’t submit my referral for a couple of months - had all the usual bloods and ultrasound and my husband had his test, so hopefully they have everything when we get there