NHS delay 20wk scan

[tabsmum]

My 20 week scan is due but my health authority has given me a scan date of 8th july - I will be 25th weeks. They have stated that they cannot do earlier! Should I pay for a private scan - how much are they? what other options do I have.

I had the same problem with my Health Authority, but due to other problems they had to do a scan for me a t 17wks and to cancel the appointment I had for the 20wks because they were so short of appointments. I don't know if it's any help, but I had to pay for a 12wk scan and that cost £140. Whether it's the same price I don't know.

I think the second scan is about picking up potential problems. From that point of view, if problems are picked up earlier you may have more options in how to deal with them. If this is important to you then perhaps going privately would be worth investigating?
I think this is a terrible state of affairs and I wonder if you can raise this wait time with your local PCT perhaps? These delays are just not acceptable in maternity care because not everyone has the resources for private care.

I think the second scan is about picking up potential problems. From that point of view, if problems are picked up earlier you may have more options in how to deal with them. If this is important to you then perhaps going privately would be worth investigating?
I think this is a terrible state of affairs and I wonder if you can raise this wait time with your local PCT perhaps? These delays are just not acceptable in maternity care because not everyone has the resources for private care.

I think it is appalling that you have been told to wait. Perhaps you should put your foot down and demand an appointment at the appropriate time as that is what our tax should be paying for. If no joy then I would contact the Health Secretary (or threaten to do so) in order to get it sorted - it is simply unacceptable that we have to pay into the NHS and then not get the service one expects! (Rant, rant, fume)

My second scan was delayed by several weeks (cant remember how many, but I could check for you) the reason I was given is that it is eaiser to check/spot any problems at this stage and that it reduced the need for re-scans and the worry that they cause. I had to have a re-scan with dd now 16months as she was wriggling about too much for the lady to check everything. I think the reason for the delay is supposed to be beneficial or maybe I just beleive everything I'm told! But it seems that the timing of the second scan may have changed throughout the NHS. Perhaps worth asking your midwife for her opinion?

Thanks for your comments. I have complained but their response was that it is due to only having one scanning machine and that there is little or nothing that they can do!!! But to make matters worse they are unwilling to give me my blood results from the 16weeks test until I have a post scan appointment with the midwife so that will be 26/27 weeks. Not that I plan to do anything if there is a problem. I just want to be prepared and rethink about telling my dd.

I guess you might be able to take comfort from the fact that if there was a "bad" result from the blood tests they would surely be scanning you earlier?