NHS referral times

[mangopudding]

Is it normal to wait 12 weeks for an appointment to see a consultant? Is there any way I can bring the appointment forward? Thanks.

It depends what it is for but from my own experience this year, it isn't unusual :( It is worth phoning the hospital and asking to be put on a short-notice waiting list so that if someone cancels at the last moment they can call you, and also speaking to your GP to see if they feel that it is a reasonable waiting period.

I know when I was waiting to see a consultant I had panic attacks and was sometimes unable to look after DS properly because I was physically unable to function. It is definitely worth speaking to your GP if you are having anything like that going on so that they can help you.

Thanks, AKMD. I just called the hosptial but they said at the moment there is no cancellations. No sure whether to go back to GP or not because when I insisted on a referral, GP was saying that I was being over anxious and worrying too much.

Oh dear, that really does sound tough. The fact that your GP referred you to a consultant shows that they don't think you're being too over-anxious though; they don't just do that to make patients happy. Is there another GP at the practice who you could see to ask for a bit of pushing?

GP only made the referral because I kept on going back to her. She didn't think there is anything wrong but she could see how worried I was. It's a dematology appointment, by the way. Thanks for your help, AKMD.

Ok, hope there really is nothing wrong :)

I've got to wait 9 weeks, to see a rheumatologist, got my appointment through this morning!

I think you can call to be put on the cancellation list?

Hospital said there is no cancellation list - just have to keep on phoning them to check.