booking appt... 16 weeks! a record?

[GettaWound]

Went to the GP in good time,7 weeks, and I've been chasing the referral since. Over and over.

Finally I have an appointment appt in the post for the end of the month. I will ring, but I'm so pissed off. I will probably miss all chance of a scan now as they've already said booking must be first.

sorry no advise or experience of this but just wanted to say how awful that is to have to wait so long, I would push very strongly for an earlier app and scan as I'm sure some of the tests they like to do need to be by 14 wks (this is the test for downs if it's something you are wanting to go for).
Also this is very late for a dating scan and pretty much a few wks away from the usual 20 wk scan.
Have you thought of making a complaint?

Can you find out who the head midwife is and contact to complain? Or go through pals? That really is ridiculous

I had my booking in appt and scan at 16 weeks. Can't remember if they were on the same day or not but I definitely went to GP for referral as early as I could.

I had my second scan at 20 weeks as normal.

This was 7 years ago ( in London) .

I think I was given an online username and password so that I could check daily for cancellations.

It might be worth ringing up every day and asking.

But yes, it's ridiculous!

Booking absolutely doesn't have to happen before the 12 week scan. You need to ring the hospital yourself and chase it up.

I had to, repeatedly. Hospital had no record of me so I had to get the GP surgery to send it again.

I eventually had my 12 week scan at 12 weeks exactly, and my booking appointment the following day.

If you want the combined test, I think this can be carried out up until 13+6. You have every right to insist they fit you in before then.

Me first pg
2nd pg was v clear at dr that I wasn't prepared for same time and it came through for 15 weeks
Given they have to see you or miss targets I basically said if turn up stand and wait for an inevitable no show
Still nothing
When they bodged up my booking in letter address they suddenly found an available slot...

HhhI'm going to ring/ show up in person. It just takes the edge of starting like this.

I'm going to sound very very heartless compared to many on here but tests are a factor. For my first I would have not tested, but this my third and my second has additional needs. I know not only could I not cope but that it would be too much for the whole family. It's an awful thing to say, but if there was a huge chromosomal problem/ defect it would be kinder to know earlier. I'm not talking small things, but big things would crack everyone. It's horrible to admit that, but going so late is pushing the thought to the forefront.

No, it's fine to want the tests. There's nothing wrong with that and it certainly isn't heartless. On MN you tend to come across people tripping over themselves to say they refused all tests, which makes me very uncomfortable because it's a bit too self-righteous for my liking.

I was a bit blasé about the scan because I was young and naive, and the possibility of any abnormality didn't even enter my head - I just wanted to see the baby!

I completely understand why any sensible person would push to have their appointment moved forward.

I was booked in for this (3rd) pg at 16+6 and that was out of area. My local clinic was full for an additional month. I was lucky that the sonographer was able to scan me there and then so I could at least have the quad test done in time.
Scans can only be booked by local midwife teams here, not the 'central appointment' team