what has happened to NHS waiting times? REALLY to see a Gynae, private?

[scruffymomma]

Evening,

is anyone experiencing biiiiig delays with waiting times for hospital appointments? I was referred to a Gynae (permanent thrush like symptoms ongoing for a year) in mid April, couldn't make the first app of end May, offered 9 July now just got a letter saying rescheduled to 12 SEPTEMBER!!!

I'm feeling so down about this, it's making my (sex) life a misery. does anyone know how I find out about finding a private gynae in London area who doesn't specialise in obstetrics? Or can you recommend one?

I am and to be considering private but am desperate and the credit card will have to get whacked.

thanks

that should read Really need to see a Gynae!

If you go to your doctor he will be able to refer you to a private gynae. I saw a gynae privately last summer and it was about £150 per 30 min consult but the tests etc are the expensive part. I'm not in London though.

£150!!!!! for 30 mins!!!!! oh my god, think I need to make a nuisance of myself with the hospital to try to get my appointment back

Could you, somehow, turn it into an emergency?

Is there a family planning/well woman centre nearby you could go to? They are usually staffed by gynaecologists or GPs with a special interest so might be able to give you an opinion.

You could try rinnging every couple of days for an cancellation ? Msybe if you make a bit of a nuisence of yourself they will hurry it up a bit.

I have had a couple of hospital appointments recently that have come though really quickly but the kids appointmynets have been terrible, Ds was prem and they have cancelled his outpatient paed appointment 4 times on the trot and I had to put a formal complaint in about his lack of opthamologist appointment after waiting a year for it!

Pals told me the hospitals are just not hiring anyone new.

Hope you get seen soon, it must be miserable.

Was also going to ask if you'd been thoroughly checked over at a GUM clinic? They can also be really helpful there if you go at a quiet time of day on a quiet day of the week so that they have the time to talk. - They know a lot about non-sexually transmitted symptoms too like thrush and BV usually.

As for putting back your appointment - you could try asking the PALS (google PALS and the hospital and contact details should come up) at your hospital to help you with changed appointment.

Current NHS waiting time (in England) is 18 weeks, the shortest its ever been.

What's BV?

I think the GUM clinic is a good idea, unfortunately in London, they are NEVER quiet but I will have to become a professional pesterer.

Hadn't thought of the cancellations either, good tip

Incidentally, has anyone heard of thrush like symptoms being caused by a coil?

thanks guys

Bv is bacterial vaginosis. I don't know what it is though, I'm just good at acronyms

Does dp/dh have any symptoms? Because it might be thrush that he's passing back to you.

You need to be very careful opting to go private if you do not have insurance. There have been cases where people who have 'jumped the queue' by paying for an early consultant's appointment, thinking it would just speed up the treatment, but they have then been refused treatment on the NHS and told to pay for it all themselves.

Can't you just put pressure on your GP or the consultant's secretary to push for a cancellation? You will need to be very flexible and prepared to go at the drop of a hat though.

Don't think it's BV - having done quick sympton check.

Partner is getting some symptoms - not as bad as me and they clear up, mine are constant. I tested neg for Thrush at GP but they can't offer another solution due to lack of discharge, just v. sensitive / itchy / raw skin, esp around the site of scar tissue following bodged stitch up job. sorry if that is tmi!!

have you tried changing your washing powder ? I'm sure you probably have already but some brands give me the itch so it might be worth trying.

ditto shower gel, toilet paper etc.

I had this
unbelievably sore,like sitting on broken glass.Also red raw and tearing when washing.
saw a gynea and was told oestrogen deficiency even though I'm only 37 and not menopausal.I was given vaginal tablets to take twice a week and the difference is amazing.maybe something to consider?

Laine that's it exactly, hi ho hi ho, back to the GP I go.....

ArseHolio (I just couldn't shorten it to arse)

I have to say that just I LOVE your name

and yeah, have tried the washing powder thing.

Laine, were you / are you pre-menopausal?

sorry Laine, didn't ready your last post, ignore me

I work for the NHS...we get 3 weeks between getting a referral and seeing the patient (and it's not life and death work we do)
This seems so unfair for you. I don't know if looking anything up on NICE would help. When I was pg and was refused a 12 week scan. I found the NICE guidelines which said all women should be offered one at 12 weeks. Quoted this to the trust and funnily enough I got my scan!

do you know the name of the consultant you are going to see? can you weep on the (telephonic) shoulder of the consultant's secretary?

I had a thrush test at GUM clinic that came out negative on initial culture but they then cultured it for longer and did find thrush. There was also no "thrush like" discharge.

If your partner is getting symptoms, has he been down to the GUM clinic?

Good point Euro, that provide another point of confirmation.

thanks others, will have a look at nice.

It seems a long time. After seeing the doctor I had a pelvic ultrasound, then a referral to a gynae and then a hysteroscopy within 10 weeks of the first doctors appointment.

The gynae was selected through a choose and book system, there were 4 hospitals I could choose but the longest wait was 4 weeks. Can you enquire if there's another hospital you could go to?