Gp refused to see me

[sunshineandhappy]

If we need a gp appointment we have to use an e consult service. I've been visiting gp for a year with menopausal symptoms. I'm waiting a consultant gynae referral, but have been told likely another 4 months minimum. So I begged via email for a consultation with my gp, asking to discuss and try hrt. They emailed back and said they're not prepared to discuss hrt until I've seen consultant. Is this normal or reasonable response?

It all sounds a bit odd.

Need more info... is the referral to a gynae about something that may exclude using HRT or is the appt FOR HRT?

Unless you have a possible condition that would mean you can't use HRT, (which would be rare) then I can't see why your GP can't offer HRT.

As an option, you could if you can afford it, have a consultation for HRT by Zoom etc with a private menopause consultant and they seem to have availability within 2-3 weeks.

The referral is because n ovarian cyst the size of a grapefruit was found by ultrasound that was requested because of my heavy (prob peri related) periods, not for hrt. My gp believes you don't have hrt until you are menopausal so by her reckoning at lest a year away as I'm still bleeding. Which isn't what NICE recommends. I will consider going private, but why should I have to just because the gp isn't up to date!

Why do you have to wait 4 months to see a gynae about your cyst? I thought if they were worried you'd be seen under the 2-week rule? It's a bit odd to make you wait 4 months for something that could need removal. Did they diagnosis it as entirely benign?

I can kind of understand why your GP wants to hold off HRT until the cyst has been looked at or whatever they are going to do just in case it's not straightforward.

I have to wait because the gynae department has a massive backlog and is only now booking referrals from April. So as my referral is none urgent, and later than April, I have to wait. Which is fine if it is benign, but means I have to wait a ridiculous time to discuss hrt given that I started visiting my gp last October and tried to talk about it then.
I was just wondering if everyone on hrt has to speak to a gynae consultant first.

I was just wondering if everyone on hrt has to speak to a gynae consultant first.

No, of course not. But when there is a condition that needs further assessment it might be why they are delaying.

some cysts are not benign, so presumably your GP wants to know exactly what kind it is and if it's likely to grow more by you using estrogen.

Why not ask your GP to explain a bit more OR ask them to speak to the consultant and ask their opinion? They could phone or write to them.