Page 2 | How accurate are NHS waiting list times in Scotland?

PinkPonyAnonymous · 2026-04-26T21:29:20+00:00

I’m wondering it anyone has experience with nhs waiting lists. I’ve been given a letter that says I’m on the gynaecology waiting list. It quotes the standard list as being about 2 years wait and the emergency as being a little under a year (with some caveats about the statistic). I’m unsure which I’m on, but I wondered how accurate others have found these wait times? I have healed badly from giving birth and it’s having a significant impact on my daily life but I’m in no danger so wouldn’t call it an emergency. The thought of another year like this is kind of devastating, let alone two…

Turtlesgottaturtle · 01/05/2026 09:04

@BoredZelda - Sorry, but where you say "He offered to do the surgery privately, for a relatively low fee, funded by the NHS.", what part of the surgery was funded by the NHS and what part was paid for by your husband on a private basis?

Maviaz · 01/05/2026 11:44

BoredZelda · 01/05/2026 08:58

That’s correct. It doesn’t. A consultant doesn’t define how many NHS clinics they will run, the NHS trust decides that. If a consultant has 3 clinics a week in the NHS and 2 private ones, it’s because the trust has set that number. Running clinics needs support staff and space. If every consultant decided they would like to run 5 clinics a week, a trust wouldn’t be able to support that. The trust will look at patients, and resources and decide who is allocated the space.

Consultants running private clinics, particularly within the NHS is a benefit. It reduces patient load, and they pay the NHS for space and resource.

A few years back, my husband had an issue with his elbow that was problematic but not urgent. His consultant was part private and under NHS guidance couldn’t offer surgery quickly, it would have had to get much worse, would have needed a bigger surgery, and would have been years down the line. He offered to do the surgery privately, for a relatively low fee, funded by the NHS. As a result, the problem was solved, my husband didn’t need regular treatment to manage the issue, and the 3 monthly situation when things got out of hand and the GP sent him to A&E because he needed IV antibiotics hasn’t happened since.

In our Trust, private surgical consultants often use NHS theatres to do surgeries. These are paid for by the private healthcare company and use theaters which aren’t allocated because the trust can’t afford to staff them. That’s a benefit to all patients.

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Is this in Scotland? It’s not something I’ve heard of happening and we don’t have Trusts in Scotland

OotontheRandan · 01/05/2026 21:22

I was referred to gynaecology by my GP in September and had the appointment come through for March.

Thisisnotmyid · 05/05/2026 20:48

Gynaecology in GGC has a waiting list roughly for a year for a routine appointment. They get about 150 referrals per week.

cotswoldsgal1234 · 05/05/2026 21:07

BoredZelda · 01/05/2026 08:58

That’s correct. It doesn’t. A consultant doesn’t define how many NHS clinics they will run, the NHS trust decides that. If a consultant has 3 clinics a week in the NHS and 2 private ones, it’s because the trust has set that number. Running clinics needs support staff and space. If every consultant decided they would like to run 5 clinics a week, a trust wouldn’t be able to support that. The trust will look at patients, and resources and decide who is allocated the space.

Consultants running private clinics, particularly within the NHS is a benefit. It reduces patient load, and they pay the NHS for space and resource.

A few years back, my husband had an issue with his elbow that was problematic but not urgent. His consultant was part private and under NHS guidance couldn’t offer surgery quickly, it would have had to get much worse, would have needed a bigger surgery, and would have been years down the line. He offered to do the surgery privately, for a relatively low fee, funded by the NHS. As a result, the problem was solved, my husband didn’t need regular treatment to manage the issue, and the 3 monthly situation when things got out of hand and the GP sent him to A&E because he needed IV antibiotics hasn’t happened since.

In our Trust, private surgical consultants often use NHS theatres to do surgeries. These are paid for by the private healthcare company and use theaters which aren’t allocated because the trust can’t afford to staff them. That’s a benefit to all patients.

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Not in England. They work in tenths. So if you work full time, you work 10 tenths. Theatre time may be limited due to bed states etc, but plenty of clinics/ training/ ward work to do.

Pitcherofmilk · 05/05/2026 23:18

Surgeons are normally queueing up for theatre space/time in the NHS in both Scotland and England. But even if they could do more NHS time why should they? They are hardly the only people to accept jobs on higher wages rather than choosing to forgo their commercial rate and only take work that is more stressful and pays less well.

Pitcherofmilk · 05/05/2026 23:28

I was seen at gynae outpatients after waiting six months. The consultant was awful; patronising, didn’t listen, minimised my issue. We pulled together savings and went private (there was no way I wanted that woman near me again). I forgot to come off the NHS waiting list but two years after my awful NHS outpatient appointment I got a phone call offering me a slot in a few days time - which had I needed would have been a nightmare as I had caring responsibilities I needed to arrange cover for. That was in 2023.

i think emergency for gynae generally means suspected cancer.

8misskitty8 · 06/05/2026 23:16

Gynaecology wait time was over 100 weeks wait when I checked online after being referred in Feb.
I waited 6 weeks for an urgent breast clinic appointment. Urgent referral due to family history of breast cancer, and previous visits due to cysts and benign tumor and have had cancer treatment too (not breast cancer)

Oral surgeon referral to look at my clicking and crunching jaw is 3 years. I only know that as I called them and was rudely told I'd only been waiting 80 something weeks and it was at least 3 year wait. Currently I have to ve really careful eating, not too wide or it sticks and excruciating pain.

Ophir · 07/05/2026 13:17

I went private for a gynaecologist consultation and they referred me back into the NHS and did the procedure themselves in a very efficient manner

Definitely worth getting an opinion,

Its terrible that so many people are having to private, after years of paying tax and NI, but the NHS just isn’t fit for purpose any more

Turtlesgottaturtle · 07/05/2026 13:41

The cancer waiting times worry me most. I had a look at the waiting times for a first consultation at NHS Tayside and they missed their target for 2/3rds of suspected ovarian cancer cases. Time is absolutely critical for ovarian cancer and survival rates are considerably lower in the north of Scotland.

Original poster

PinkPonyAnonymous · 08/05/2026 16:26

Just screaming into a void at this point, but just had my child’s referral letter come through today and now my child is also on a year long waiting list. About 90% of the letter was a grovelling apology for how long the waiting list would be.

OP posts:

Abdnshireoutdoorsy · 08/05/2026 17:37

I was told this time last year that my urgent suspected cancer referral was not the top category of urgent (1 in 25 odds) for a gynae referral and it would be up to seven months before my initial appointment so I went private.

I can’t understand how this isn’t a top political priority, I think most people must be completely unaware that the NHS is not there for us anymore.

PizzaPowder · 08/05/2026 17:46

I had a dodgy smear in November 24. Been back a few times but still no answer.

So sorry for everyone who is suffering here

Turtlesgottaturtle · 09/05/2026 01:27

Abdnshireoutdoorsy · 08/05/2026 17:37

I was told this time last year that my urgent suspected cancer referral was not the top category of urgent (1 in 25 odds) for a gynae referral and it would be up to seven months before my initial appointment so I went private.

I can’t understand how this isn’t a top political priority, I think most people must be completely unaware that the NHS is not there for us anymore.

I find it astonishing too. So many people must be dying unnecessarily. And imagine the number of people who aren't able to work because they're disabled by conditions they're stuck on a waiting list for.

Pitcherofmilk · 09/05/2026 08:47

Turtlesgottaturtle · 09/05/2026 01:27

I find it astonishing too. So many people must be dying unnecessarily. And imagine the number of people who aren't able to work because they're disabled by conditions they're stuck on a waiting list for.

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Definitely about work! My DB was off work and went private. Was healed and back to his full workload within three months. He would still be off sick 18 months later and still waiting for the op under the NHS.

IHeartFridays · 09/05/2026 08:54

I’m not sure how helpful my contribution is as I had my hysterectomy at the end of 2023. But I waited about 90 weeks when the waitlist was 102 weeks. Was NHS Lothian and my care was excellent. It would have been quicker if mine was more straightforward as I’d have had the option of St John’s.