IVF referral wait times

[helencatherine8]

Hi,

After struggling to get a GP appointment, I paid to see a consultant gynaecologist at a private hospital on the 19th Oct 2022 after 3 years of TTC. The consultant referred me back to my GP for blood tests, a semen analysis and an ultrasound. As before, I'm struggling to get these tests booked in. Only my husband's test has been arranged.

During the same gynaecology appointment, the consultant also referred me to St Mary's in Manchester and told me it was likely I would need IVF to conceive. It's now been 3 months and I've not heard a thing from St Mary's. I had to call them a couple of weeks ago as I've moved house so I wanted to update my address on the system and I asked them for an update and they said my referral had been triaged (not sure what this means).

I appreciate the NHS is under unprecedented pressure while being underfunded and under resourced. I know I shouldn't chase the hospital or the GP because I don't have a life threatening condition but it just feels like nothing is happening and if I don't chase, my case will fall into a black hole.

Is anyone else in the same position waiting for a referral? Or if you've been through this recently, please could you tell me how long it took so I can set my expectations?

TIA x

Hi same question from me, trying to get a sense of the timeline between the NHS Women's clinic and my GP. Apparently all the 3 'intial tests' are free according to the NHS Women's clinic's pricelist. My GP is booked for 12th Jan, so I'm trying to figure out how long between that date and actually getting the tests done. I don't mind driving from my GP surgery to the hospital on the 12th with the referral letter and book it into reception, however I'm fearful it may take a few months, in which case I'd pay the £750 initial tests package at another NHS hospital (it's on their pricelist) and get it done kinda privately instead this week instead.

No-one is picking up the hospital calls now, it says they shut at 11.30am.

As soon as I have the tests in my hand I can maybe go to Europe for immediate IVF.

@helencatherine8 I was referred by my GP (following them doing the initial tests) in September and haven’t heard anything yet from the hostpital. I live in a similar area to you so would assume same hospital so at least they have you on their system. My GP was very, very vague on how long it would take to hear back. I ended up having private consultations as given my age I don’t think I would get more than one (if that) IVF treatment round with the NHS…..
sorry not sure if that’s at all helpful!

After almost 2 years TTC and one ectopic pregnancy prior to that, it took me three months to get a GP appointment (which was 1st December; non-urgent, covid etc being the excuse). Since then, DH and I have preliminary bloods scheduled sat Jan 7th, my pelvic scan at UCLH (London) scheduled 29th March and waiting to hear on his semen analysis apt. It's my understanding they will then do a referral depending on the results. It's highly likely we'll end up paying privately given the wait times so far (and what I read on here) but just want as many avenues open to us as possible.

Best of luck!

Ax

@AntoniaAlexandra It’s so frustrating isn’t it?! I ended up doing some research yesterday afternoon and booking in my bloods and pelvic ultrasound at a private clinic in 2 weeks time. I’ve then got an appointment with the consultant on the 1st Feb to go through the results and determine next steps. If IVF is agreed, I’m going to ask if I can have my NHS funded IVF at the private clinic (which I believe is possible proving the CCG will approve it).

Good luck with your bloods on Saturday x

@LF82 thats interesting, thank you for replying. My consultant told me I should hear back within 6 weeks and it’s been 11 now but it you were referred in Sep and still haven’t heard anything then I know it’s probably going to be a minimum of another 4 weeks for me.
Yesterday I ended up calling Manchester Fertility have my bloods and scan done privately to speed things up!

I was referred by my GP, took approx 6 months to hear from the NHS. They carried out all the relevant tests (I paid for private tests also as the wait was unbearable). Once it was determined by the NHS all results were fine I was referred for IVF due to unexplained infertility which took another 5/6 months to start proceeding. The waiting times now might be even longer due to Covid etc xx

It is! I was just about 35 (DH 40) when we started TTC. Admittedly, I totally understand that in covid this wasn't the NHS's priority at all, but if it's another 6 months (or more) from being referred after tests I'll be almost 38 (DH 43) before we can even start the process.
We did the same today and booked scan & semen privately next week. Hopefully then it's just a case of waiting for the bloods after Saturday and we can get the ball rolling just a little quicker. It seems that ABC have a more affordable option if you meet their criteria (and it's fewer drugs, which sounds appealing) so we might investigate that route too whilst doing NHS in tandem if results are in their limits.
Best of luck with the tests, let me know how you get on.
Ax

Does anyone has any knowledge of NHS IVF referral/treatment wait times in Somerset CCG? And times scales with private clinics in Bristol/Taunton? Me and my partner are desperately trying to decide if it is worth waiting for NHS referral letter or if we should try going privately instead of loosing precious time. We are finding extremely difficult finding any information on how long we might end up waiting for nhs.

Hi @TuttyFruts I am in Bristol and we had our GP send off our referral a month ago but are in the same dilemma as to whether to wait or not. I am wondering whether you have heard back yet?

I initially paid private for a lot of the tests, AMH, semen analysis, hyCosy etc. I knew that there was a further waiting list on the NHS for the hyCosy once approved and if this was needed. The NHS accepted the private Hycosy results. Some of the tests such as AMH and semen analysis were redone once approved via the NHS but I did save myself some waiting time and also knowing that these came back fine gave me some reassurance - not much but a little lol :)

Hi everyone - i was just wondering how you were all getting on. We've just been referred to st Mary's having previously had initial tests done at Manchester fertility. Just wondering about timescales etc?

Everyone's timescales are different because it depends on your local clinic. For me it took 9 months for the initial appointment at fertility clinic. Have my review appointment next month ( 4 months later)

Triaged means your referral has yet to be reviewed and booked in

Thanks @MK85 - I think I am at the same local clinic as others on this post so was just wondering timescales for the Manchester area as a rough guide!

@marshk i was referred by GP (am
in Manchester) in late September and not heard anything yet. I actually have gone private as my age wasn’t really worth waiting for the NHS x

Ah thanks @LF82. We've only just been referred (in MCR too). The letter says only contact after mid July but sounds like it could be a lot longer than that! Debating whether to just go private too as all the waiting just does my head in!

@marshk I guess for me I had just turned 40 and new at best the NHS would only pay for one cycle. So we decided to get tests done at a private clinic…. That then led to us deciding to self fund. But we were in a lucky position to be able to do that - clinic had finance.

Just in case anyone is still following this /interested - I was referred by my Gp in Novermber 2022 and have just had a referral letter for an initial consultation with the NHS for the end of august. My advice to anyone - if you can’t wait and can afford to go private

@LF82 how are you getting on with your treatment? X

@SH998 in the midst of it all right now, few complications and cancelled cycles but hoping for the best. How about you? X

@LF82 I feel for you it’s always something! I’m sure you will get there soon, when I first started treatment I was told it’s trial and error, what works for one doesn’t for another so it can be a long winded process.
Currently 4dp5dt with my fourth transfer. It’s been a long, draining process.

@SH998 i have everything crossed for you! Hope your TWW doesn’t feel like too long x

Hi, I came across this thread and wanted to add my experience/current situation in case it's helpful to anyone.

In June the GP referred me to my local fertility clinic. Had my first appointment with the consultant in August and was referred for tests - ultrasound, HSG, bloods. I'm still going through this process and have my follow-up appointment booked for October, at which point I will be referred to a tertiary centre (one that can actually perform procedures such as IVF, as my local clinic doesn't). So, that will be 6 months in total for the first step.

I've then been looking into IVF clinic wait times in my local area and have heard back from the following:

• Newcastle Centre for Life - 7-8 months wait from referral to first appointment
• Gateshead - 6 months wait from referral to first appointment
• CREATE Leeds/Liverpool/Manchester - I was told there is no wait list, which is very tempting! But I believe they only offer mild/natural IVF

I'm still chasing up other clinics for ideas on current waiting times; if anyone has information on waiting times for any other clinics in the North of England that would be super helpful!

Wishing everyone the best of luck X

@Armandi110 Me and my partner have our first appointment at Hewitt Centre, Liverpool on the 25th. My GP sent the referral 15/8/23 and we should have been seen 18/9 but we are on holiday. I’m not sure how long we will have to wait for treatment but I thought that was good from the initial referral.

Good luck in your journey!

Hi @KW1487 , thanks so much for sharing your experience - that's really quick! Glad you are able to be seen so quickly and it's good to know that some clinics are much quicker than others.

Wishing you all the best in your journey too 😊