Hi. So I found a lump in my breast 2 weeks ago tommorrow. Went to GP - was lucky to get a same day appointment, nurse did an examination and an urgent referral.
After a week (last friday) I rang the hospital referral line, as advised by an acknowledgement text, to be told no appointments available yet due to volume/demand, which I understand. I didnt really expect to be seen within two weeks in the current situation but she couldnt give me any indication whatsoever of timescale I might be looking at.
So I rang back yesterday, and she was even more adamant that ''unless they put on a lot more clinics we cannot give you any idea of when an appointment may be available at this stage, we will contact you asap''. So I decided to try privately and have got an appointment at a private clinic tommorrow.
Lo and behold, this afternoon I received a phone call giving me an appointment two weeks today at the NHS breast clinic.
My question is, if I decide to keep the private appointment, (given that my NHS one is another two weeks way), and it is found to be cancer, how possible and speedy is it to go back to the NHS after a private diagnosis? Would this need a further GP referral? this is my main worry if so, as I feel very lucky to have got the initial same day appointment - normally, in common with most at the moment, it is not possible to get through on the phone at all - you are automatically cut off after an hours wait, and the surgery will not make appointments from anyone in person - I hit lucky in person with a receptionist who said ''I will not personally turn people away, but no, you are supposed to ring''.
Thanks in anticipation!