hewitt centre / abc experiences

[Whilstwewait]

Hi ,

We are looking into self funding. Currently unexplained following bloods and sperm analysis and concerned about long waits on NHS.

Based on where we live we have narrowed down clinics to the Hewitt centre in liverpool or the ABC clinic.

Does anyone have an experience with either clinic that they are happy to share? Xx

I feel the same I’m inclined to change clinics but at the same time don’t want to end up at the back of the que if we do, I don’t know how it works! The lack of communication is just ridiculous I never imagined it would be like this!

Oh I agree completely! We had such high hopes to begin with. It's so disappointing!

@EllieEskimo @Chicasimona I spoke to them this morning and they still haven’t started, what an absolute shambles. Something about forms needing to be signed in front of a professional and they can’t do it electronically so they’ve applied for permission to the official body who haven’t agreed to their new process. I’m speaking to my GP this afternoon re moving clinics but have a horrible feeling as I live in Wigan that maybe your CCG funding needs to stay in Wigan. So annoyed!!!!! I think it’s going to be Jan / Feb which she said yes maybe and if we call you sooner it’s a bonus. Unbelievable, why are so many other clinics doing it yet they can’t!

@Positivity20 You have got to be joking!!! Funny how they never mentioned that their new process hadn't even been approved when I spoke to them last, they just said the delay was due to the labs still working at reduced capacity. I mean, what is it that they are actually doing?? Beyond incompetent!! Other clinics have been getting on with it for months now! Let us know how you get on this afternoon. A shambles is the perfect description!

@EllieEskimo So angry and upset!! I spoke to my GP and they said they’ll try and find out more and did say that if we apply to the CCG it might take just as long so it’s catch 22 wait for Wrightington or press ahead, I’ll see if I can find out the wait time from CCG and weigh up but this is just the most disappointing!!! If there aren’t many approved clinics on the CCG list then I suppose applying for individual funding would be the next option. Did you GP give you any idea of how long it would take?

Have PTAs resumed elsewhere in Hewitt Centre I wonder like Liverpool or Knutsford?

@Positivity20 You know I wondered that myself as I'd quite happily trek to Liverpool or Knutsford now, if it just meant getting it done. I haven't been to my GP yet, only spoke over the phone and they said I'd need to go in to do this funding request thing. I was just researching other clinics before I made the appointment though, so I would know which one to ask them to transfer the funding to, if that makes sense. But meanwhile, I'd rang Care in Manchester, and they said that although no delays on treatments, the wait for the initial appointment would be till around October. This made me then stall as I thought I'd be no better off... Catch 22 like you say. But if our clinic are now saying Jan or Feb, this puts me back at wanting to move!

@EllieEskimo Funnily enough I messaged Care too! Would they need to do all tests again do you know with all of ours being so long ago now? I’d be really happy with a PTA in October in another clinic if it meant having egg collection before Christmas!

@Positivity20 me too! I got the impression that they would use previous semen analysis results if they were from within twelve months, but it sounded like they would still want to do their own scan to me. I started a thread re changing NHS clinics the other day. One lady said she'd done it and it was easy, but did start the whole process again. But another lady suggested that if it was a transfer, then we wouldn't have to redo any tests. Who knows!

I'm so pleased you updated us, thank you so much, I feel like it's given me the kick up the backside I needed to start things moving along with changing x

I called the CCG as I thought we’d be able to choose which clinic however they said options for Wigan are Manchester St Mary’s or Liverpool Women’s and this would take 6 weeks minimum through CCG provided the clinician sent everything needed. exceptional evidence would be needed to request a private clinic I.e why would it benefit us more than any other couple to go there over Manchester or Liverpool so it doesn’t seem like it’s as straight forward as just selecting Care :(

I’m thinking if we transferred to Manchester or Liverpool and at the back of their que it’s going to be a lot longer. This is so frustrating!

Let’s hope by some miracle their process gets approved and someone has the brain power to realise how much distress it’s causing!!

@Positivity20

Update... I just rang Wrightington, all psyched up for an argument, ha ha. But I was given a different story... She said that she has just been given the go ahead this afternoon to start scheduling the PTAs, and that she is basically about to start making her way through the list ringing people. Could this finally be the breakthrough we have been waiting for?!

It sounds like we'd have to jump through a few hoops for the CCG then doesn't it. And six weeks for it to go through sounds like a drag, especially if we are then back of the queue. I'm not particularly patient at the best of times!

You know it's really little wonder that I read of so many people giving up and going private!

@EllieEskimo Oh thank the lord!!! Maybe my call today was one of 100 and they’ve finally pushed to get it sorted!!!!! Did she tell you when your PTA is likely to be?

I honestly thought great I can just apply and choose an amazing private clinic but then thinking about it, everyone would just do that straight away with their NHS funding wouldn’t they so I suppose they have to tighten the process!!

I’m so glad she told you it’s moving, let’s hope it’s for real this time and that list will start progressing closer to us being at the top!!!

@Positivity20 I know!! It totally caught me off guard when she said that, but I was just so relieved! She estimated that mine would be around a month off... God I hope so! I like to think we should find out over the next couple of days, but I don't want to get carried away! Christ, it's an emotional bloody rollercoaster already, and we've not even started!!!

@EllieEskimo Arr that’s brilliant, we’re early 40’s on the list so I don’t know how long that translates into, fingers crossed everything starts moving along nicely! It really is an emotional roller coaster already! I balled my eyes when I got off the phone just couldn’t believe they hadn’t started, this is so great to hear they now will! Keep me posted if you do hear in the next couple of days! :) x

@Positivity20 I definitely will do! It's a good job we've both got enough about us to keep pestering them, ha x

Ladies, thank you for your updates I will call the clinic tomorrow, let's see if I can get more info. I'm so happy they made a start finally, yupee!

@Chicasimona I know, it's been a long time coming but fingers crossed we're getting there. We'll grind them down eventually!

@EllieEskimo Ha ha oh absolutely! @Chicasimona Great keep us posted!

Good morning ladies, I hope you all had a smashing weekend.

I have managed to speak to the clinic this morning. They have started the consultations indeed but only do 3-4 per week. So depending on where you are on the list they schedule your appointment accordingly.

She said there are about 40 ladies ahead of me so I'm looking for about 10-12 weeks wait. Sounds long but at least we have an estimated date finally.

Meantime I continue drinking my Chinese herbs :)

@Chicasimona Arr thank you for the update :) Thats great to know their moving now! I think il be a similar time line as they said im early 40s on the list too. FINALLY we have progress!

@Chicasimona Thanks for the update. I was hoping they'd call today and schedule it in the diary, but no such luck. Chinese herbs sound delicious 😁 maybe they'll do the trick before the clinic do 🙏 ha ha x

Hi @Chicasimona and @Positivity20 we have movement... I have had 'the call'! We are having the virtual appointment in two weeks. At last! About three weeks ago, they said we were around twentieth in line, so that might give you a rough idea for your own time frames x

Bravo @EllieEskimo I'm so happy one of us finally got an appointment, you must be relieved. I'm looking forward to hearing your feedback about the consultation. We will get there. X

Thanx you for the update @EllieEskimo glad you’ve had the call! I agree you must be very relieved! Hopefully they’ll get in touch with us in around 2 weeks time in that case @Chicasimona

Ladies, sorry for being nosy but what kind of treatment are you waiting for?
We have been through 6 months letrozole with no luck and diagnosed as unexplained. Dr Harris was pushing straight for IVF but I'm really keen to try Iui before that although he said I'm a bit old for that. (I'm 35). In regards IVF I'm not sure is it the short/ long protocol the clinic does.