wrong referral!

[mayihavesomecakeplease]

Still on the slow moving conveyor belt that is the [gloriously free] NHS infertility investigation process, and finally had our first appointment with urology today for azoospermia.

Except not really, because it turns out that the clinic we were referred to doesn't do infertility (explains all the very old men there and lack of anyone our age..). Doc was nice and all, but couldn't do anything except to refer us to the correct hospital and say we'll probably have an appointment in 3-4 months.

3-4 months isn't that long in the grand scheme of things, I know, but it feels agonising when we don't even know what's going on. I'm so angry that this happened!!!! I called the GP office to let them know there had been a mistake but there's nothing else we can do but wait. and wait. and wait.

So sorry to hear that it is shit is it!
I’m in the same boat though really referal appointments keep getting cancelled after nearly a year of waiting. Haven’t got much advice just know that you are not alone x

So frustrating OP.
If it helps at one of my appointments I had blood taken, next available appointment was three months later to get results and they told me they sent it for the wrong sample so needed to do it again.
In the grand scheme - it isn’t long, but it is really bloody frustrating/upsetting to feel like you’re not going forward! Good luck.

Finally heard that our new appointment isn't until the end of July :( 7 months from when we were referred, and over a year since we started trying to get any answers. I feel like there should be a warning label when you first go to the doctor!

But actual question - does anyone know if you can get private tests done and still be eligible for NHS treatment??

@mayihavesomecakeplease - yes it is fine to get private tests done, should not affect you NHS treatment at all other than possibly speeding things up! In my area there is a long wait to get semen analysis done on the NHS so lots of my patients are getting it done privately

@mayihavesomecakeplease you can have private appointments and still be eligible for treatment on the NHS. It even says on their website. The only thing you cannot do is to mix private and nhs care to your benefit. They give the example of cataracts so you can't have treatment on nhs then have lenses that are only available privately.
I paid for a few of my appointments privately and then asked to be referred back to the nhs for treatment

Thank you, both, that's really helpful to know.

@mayihavesomecakeplease no problem 😊