Waiting time for 12 wk scan

[FASH84]

I've got my 12 week scan tomorrow, although I'll be nearly 14 weeks. The appointment is at 9am, DH works near the hospital but has to be in work by quarter to eleven. I didn't think this would be an issue but I've just checked the letter and it says at times there can be a 3-4 hour delay in the department. Has anyone experienced this? We're going to get there at 8:30 when the unit opens, but if the scan isn't until 3-4 hours after my appointment time DH won't be able to stay, we work for the same government department and haven't told them yet and he really can't get out of his 11o'clock session.

I can't speak from experience of having a scan in a maternity unit as thia is my first but from experience of other hospital appointments I've had I found that the earlier in the day it is the less delays I am waiting around for as I'm one of the first patients to be seen. Fingers crossed for you that you're seen on time x

Something spectacular would have to happen for them to be running four hours late half an hour into the day. I really wouldn't worry. I wonder if it's a generic radiology letter, because I can see that long delays could occur in X-ray.

I would hope that they won't be able to get several hours behind by 9am in the morning if they only open at 8.30. Presumably you will be the first or second person in that day?

I wouldn't worry anyway!

You'd be unlucky to already be facing a 3 hour delay already at 9am. Earlier appointments are more likely to be on time in my experience. I never had a scan that was very late, although I had several consultant appointments that were 2 to 3 hours late.

3-4 hours? That seems a bit extreme! I have never had to wait longer than 30 minutes for a scan, though they do warn you that emergency cases take priority understandably. We had a lot of waiting around afterwards though due to medical notes being updated etc. Would you be happy for DH to leave once you had had the actual scan itself?

My hospital scan was part of a longer 4h appointment but the scan was the first thing that we were sent for. Everything after that was just general midwife stuff.

I’m sure he’ll be ok time wise :)

I had a scan at 9am. I was the second person to be seen.

The chances of a 4 hour delay by 9am is hugely unlikely.

Hopefully it'll be fine, I've got no issues with DH going and leaving me there after the scan, it was more him being disappointed if he couldn't be there (and me too), he can walk to his office from the hospital and I can drive home after, I'm working from home tomorrow and it's pretty flexible so that's not an issue. I understand there may be emergencies, I'm just kicking myself for not checking the letter properly sooner. Thanks all x

We were seen bang on our appointment time yesterday. Had to wait about 30 mins for a blood test and my notes to be completed. I guess the hospital is covering itself in case there are emergencies that take priority

So turns out it's people like me who throw the schedule! Went in bang on time, the technician hands over to a doctor after about twenty minutes, I was a bit worried but turns out we have 'a naughty baby', wouldn't keep still initially making some measurements tricky, but they got most of them other than NT , at which point baby decides to go to sleep in completely the wrong position, cue requests to cough, turn on my side etc, no change. By this point they've tried abdominal and internal. Sent off for a walk and something sugary. DH had to go to work, called back in, much fidgeting and then baby flipped upside down. They eventually got the measurements and all is well. Just got out!

@FASH84 it's when the sonographer requests she doesn't scan you again, you know you have real problems.

I had that with my DS @fash84, at the 12 week and the 20 week. Wouldn't look at the camera to check his top lip. He's still a stubborn monkey now

It probably varies hospital to hospital, but I've always had the impression here that they book multiple people for the same appointment time, to save delays at their end, and then see them in the order in which they arrive. If I arrive 10-20 mins early for a scan, there is very little waiting, but if I arrive on time or a couple of minutes late I will be waiting ages.

We got there at 8:45 there was someone in already and one other couple waiting who got there before us, when the couple come came out we were called in second, the third couple got called into a different room as we went in. I was quite impressed they had six scanning rooms going constantly by the time I went back and I waited literally three or four minutes after my scan to see midwife for bloods, notes and next scan appointment