How long does it take for a hospital referral?

[FluffyBunnyGoneBad]

Was (apparantly) faxed urgent by the GP on Monday. I called the hospital today to see if it was faster to go private but they have not recieved a referral from the GP yet. How long is the normal wait?

Try to look at it another way, you being able to pay means someone else will be seen quicker on the NHS. I hope you get some answers soon, I've been following your posts and I know how I'd feel in your shoes.

Thankyou.

The irony is that the GP is faxing it as it is urgent, so is trying to save time. Is there any way you could ask for a copy of the letter and take it there yourself?

I don't know much about going private, but won't the consultant still need to letter from your GP? I'm not making a judgement about it, but seems to me that ability to pay still means though that they will need your notes etc...

The woman on the phone said they have to 'assess' it once they find it to see if they think it's urgent If it's not, I'll have to wait until about June for an appointment, if it is it could be 2-3 weeks once they find the form. I contacted the consultant's secretary yesterday (at the private hospital) and explained that the referral was somewhere between hospital A and hospital B and no one knew where it was. She laughed and asked for my GP's details so they could get hold of the referral.

Good move -- the consultant's secretary is your friend! I've always found them really helpful and the power behind the throne

Yup. We all know who's in charge and it isn't the doctors!