Shocking NHS Wait times
Discussion
tinytim123 said:
Don't assume private will be any better - referred for MRI last year. Couldn't get an appointment for several weeks. Their booking team explained that NHS were sending lots of patients their way.
OP - hope you get it sorted, 80 weeks is absolutely shocking
Thanks, Just rang Pals, answerphone, left a message with all my details, also said there website wait times are a lie etc. phone disconnected cut-off mid sentence.OP - hope you get it sorted, 80 weeks is absolutely shocking
I have now emailed them so at least there is a record.
What more can you do!
Some excellent advice above - if it is something potentially nasty then get a scan done privately. Coughing up £2-300 will potentially save your life if it is something nasty and sanity if it is nothing serious.
Getting diagnosed is the hard bit which takes a while as a huge amount of scans are done in the NHS. I did exactly this last year, diagnosed cancer privately and then treated impressively quickly on the NHS. The NHS cancer treatment was really good even if the experience of being in the NHS was a little rough around the edges for the unimportant stuff. For nasty things they do move mountains to get you seen - apart from a single ultrasound scan after my treatment finished (wait time 2 weeks on the NHS) I had no need or advantage to doing anything privately after the initial diagnosis.
Getting diagnosed is the hard bit which takes a while as a huge amount of scans are done in the NHS. I did exactly this last year, diagnosed cancer privately and then treated impressively quickly on the NHS. The NHS cancer treatment was really good even if the experience of being in the NHS was a little rough around the edges for the unimportant stuff. For nasty things they do move mountains to get you seen - apart from a single ultrasound scan after my treatment finished (wait time 2 weeks on the NHS) I had no need or advantage to doing anything privately after the initial diagnosis.
souper said:
I have had the scans and tests done, they were sorted out quickly via the NHS, over 5 moths ago, it the referral after these tests to see a specialist, that is the problem and the potential 80 week wait loop I'm stuck in.
If you have the data, definitely try and find a private appointment at £200-300 note ideally in the same area as the tests were completed because of possible computer trouble.Start here https://www.phin.org.uk/
Just received a txt from Royal Free Hospital Trust, and its not looking good at all.
Message says:- This is a message from the Royal Free outpatient centre.
This is to confirm you are still on the waiting list for a urology appointment.
There is s very high waiting time due yo capacity issues.
You will be contacted when an appointment is made for you.
So it seems Pals can't do bugger all either and I'm no nearer or any clearer to an urgent appointment. and their website is lying saying a 30-35 week wait for urology, not the 80 weeks or 1.3/4 years wait I've been told.
Message says:- This is a message from the Royal Free outpatient centre.
This is to confirm you are still on the waiting list for a urology appointment.
There is s very high waiting time due yo capacity issues.
You will be contacted when an appointment is made for you.
So it seems Pals can't do bugger all either and I'm no nearer or any clearer to an urgent appointment. and their website is lying saying a 30-35 week wait for urology, not the 80 weeks or 1.3/4 years wait I've been told.
Zaichik said:
aterribleusername said:
You can thank the continuous cuts in NHS funding, the 'new' contracts for consultants, an aging population and the increasingly unhealthy lifestyle a lot of people have adopted for the increased waits for everything. Been a crisis of decades in the making and accelerated by the current lot in Westminster. The whole system has just not been funded or expanded to cope with the higher case loads caused by the elderly living longer, people being more unhealthily so getting ill earlier and more often and the population increase.
Except that by every measure there have been no cuts in funding. The NHS funding has continuously been increased above inflation in real terms every year. This includes per head, so immigration etc is counted. The reality is it is a terribly managed, poorly designed organisation that only really cares for its own continued existence, not its customers.My wife and I both had dreadful experiences with the NHS in the past so we have always made private health insurance a priority.
Lump found
Ultrasound 2 days later
1st surgery 10 days later
Chemo after that for 12 weeks
Post chemo Scan found lymph node involvement
Robotic surgery carried out two weeks later (only a few places in the world where this is available for my procedure)
I can get scanned the same week and have access to consultant urologist the same day if I call them and arrange a time for coming in ie; usually say come in between 3-4pm for example and you’ll be seen.
I know I wouldn’t be able to pay for better treatment irrespective of cost and I’ve had access to treatment which is on par with anywhere in the world.
Now this isn’t a isn’t the NHS wonderful post but if you times me and my circumstance by a 1000 at each major hospital, how much capacity is there for more routine appointments? Can’t be much. I don’t think you are waiting for 8 appointments in a day, I think there is a couple at best due to acute conditions.
I’m sure the management could be improved, but you can’t magic up an extra few thousand consultants, 10 extra scanners per hospital, it just isn’t possible.
Ultrasound 2 days later
1st surgery 10 days later
Chemo after that for 12 weeks
Post chemo Scan found lymph node involvement
Robotic surgery carried out two weeks later (only a few places in the world where this is available for my procedure)
I can get scanned the same week and have access to consultant urologist the same day if I call them and arrange a time for coming in ie; usually say come in between 3-4pm for example and you’ll be seen.
I know I wouldn’t be able to pay for better treatment irrespective of cost and I’ve had access to treatment which is on par with anywhere in the world.
Now this isn’t a isn’t the NHS wonderful post but if you times me and my circumstance by a 1000 at each major hospital, how much capacity is there for more routine appointments? Can’t be much. I don’t think you are waiting for 8 appointments in a day, I think there is a couple at best due to acute conditions.
I’m sure the management could be improved, but you can’t magic up an extra few thousand consultants, 10 extra scanners per hospital, it just isn’t possible.
I have atrial fibrillation (my heart doesn't beat in a consistent rhythm). There's 2 possible procedures, the first has a 6mth+ wait list, the second has a wait of over a year, and that's after you've been selected to actually get put on the list.
I'm also 37, and the vast majority of ppl with my condition are 80+.
I'm also 37, and the vast majority of ppl with my condition are 80+.
Souper, sorry to hear of your problems. Unfortunately Urology seems to be the Cinderella of medicine, many Urology clinics effectively shut down during Covid and have struggled since, there also seems to be a shortage of urology consultants.
I'm assuming from what you have said that it's not suspected cancer as that normally prompts a very quick referral even now.
You may find it useful to phone a helpline operated by a charity, Bladder Health UK, https://bladderhealthuk.org/talk-to-us .While they mainly deal with chronic bladder conditions , the people on the helpline are very knowledgeable about the NHS Urology set up, while they can't magically sort out the wait time, they may have knowledge of less affected areas and I understand you are entitled to ask to be treated anywhere in the UK. Depending on what your current issue is , they may also be able to suggest some non medical approaches that may make your wait more comfortable.
Good luck
I'm assuming from what you have said that it's not suspected cancer as that normally prompts a very quick referral even now.
You may find it useful to phone a helpline operated by a charity, Bladder Health UK, https://bladderhealthuk.org/talk-to-us .While they mainly deal with chronic bladder conditions , the people on the helpline are very knowledgeable about the NHS Urology set up, while they can't magically sort out the wait time, they may have knowledge of less affected areas and I understand you are entitled to ask to be treated anywhere in the UK. Depending on what your current issue is , they may also be able to suggest some non medical approaches that may make your wait more comfortable.
Good luck
Zaichik said:
aterribleusername said:
You can thank the continuous cuts in NHS funding, the 'new' contracts for consultants, an aging population and the increasingly unhealthy lifestyle a lot of people have adopted for the increased waits for everything. Been a crisis of decades in the making and accelerated by the current lot in Westminster. The whole system has just not been funded or expanded to cope with the higher case loads caused by the elderly living longer, people being more unhealthily so getting ill earlier and more often and the population increase.
Except that by every measure there have been no cuts in funding. The NHS funding has continuously been increased above inflation in real terms every year. This includes per head, so immigration etc is counted. The reality is it is a terribly managed, poorly designed organisation that only really cares for its own continued existence, not its customers.skinnyman said:
I have atrial fibrillation (my heart doesn't beat in a consistent rhythm). There's 2 possible procedures, the first has a 6mth+ wait list, the second has a wait of over a year, and that's after you've been selected to actually get put on the list.
I'm also 37, and the vast majority of ppl with my condition are 80+.
My Parasyxmol (sp) AF started at 35, I'm 49 now. Mostly managed by drugs, but I've been having a private appointment once a year for a heart scan, bloods and whatnot with the consultant. It's not silly money, but gives me peace of mind more damage isn't occuring.I'm also 37, and the vast majority of ppl with my condition are 80+.
I have no faith I'll see an ablation until I'm 60+
zbc said:
My mother has waited more than six months for the results of a spinal scan she had. I presume if it had been serious they would have told her but I can't be sure. However now six months have passed presumably her condition has changed somewhat and the results aren't really relevant. It just seems wholly pointless and a huge waste of time and resources.
That is obscene.I live in France and just use the basic state healthcare. I had a scan (which was booked and done within 2 days of the doctors referral) and they give you the results before you leave the scan building. Thats scanned, read and diagnosed and written whats up with you in 30 mins.
It's a lottery for service and wait times I think and if you live in a densely-populated area it's more complicated. Not everyone has a bad experience though.
My sister and her husband love the NHS.
She has lived the vast majority of her life in South Africa - never worked in the UK, never paid into the system. But she was born here.
Last year she decided to move back to the UK after 50 years - in Yorkshire. Her husband is on a spousal visa. They still run their SA business from here.
So they registered with their local GP in July 2022 and have since had numerous visits to the GP (swear she is there every week) and local hospital for various ailments that they suffer from on account of chronic obesity that they have inflicted upon themselves for decades.
They describe popping down to their GP on a Monday, hospital referrals and appointments within a week or so and a two night stay following some procedure or other for her husband at the same time (they have so many things going on I forget which and when). She has some surgery booked in for next month.
They couldn't speak highly enough of the NHS.
My personal experience has also been good to be fair albeit it is exceptionally rare; I don't go to the GP unless it is absolutely necessary. The only Op I have every had was done Private though. My girlfriend works in the NHS and also praises it - obviously.
My sister and her husband love the NHS.
She has lived the vast majority of her life in South Africa - never worked in the UK, never paid into the system. But she was born here.
Last year she decided to move back to the UK after 50 years - in Yorkshire. Her husband is on a spousal visa. They still run their SA business from here.
So they registered with their local GP in July 2022 and have since had numerous visits to the GP (swear she is there every week) and local hospital for various ailments that they suffer from on account of chronic obesity that they have inflicted upon themselves for decades.
They describe popping down to their GP on a Monday, hospital referrals and appointments within a week or so and a two night stay following some procedure or other for her husband at the same time (they have so many things going on I forget which and when). She has some surgery booked in for next month.
They couldn't speak highly enough of the NHS.
My personal experience has also been good to be fair albeit it is exceptionally rare; I don't go to the GP unless it is absolutely necessary. The only Op I have every had was done Private though. My girlfriend works in the NHS and also praises it - obviously.
The old postcode lottery. We were ok round here until probably 4/5 years ago. Endless house building and no additional provisions made for doctors surgeries then Covid just wiped services out.
You can get a same day appointment but only if you know the system. If you call the gp surgery at 8.00 and opt for the automated system to book they release a block of appointments at this time each day otherwise you're told 2 weeks. The poor sods that aren't aware of this probably half of them are dead before the appointment I guess that's the idea!
The orthopedics wait times were an eye opener for me. I'm a week into private physio now and the thought of being in pain like I was for 5 weeks waiting for an NHS consultation is frightening and also very sad for those that are unable to afford to pay for private. The people waiting months for scan results as mentioned on this thread is a truly awful situation the NHS is in it's really completely unacceptable.
You can get a same day appointment but only if you know the system. If you call the gp surgery at 8.00 and opt for the automated system to book they release a block of appointments at this time each day otherwise you're told 2 weeks. The poor sods that aren't aware of this probably half of them are dead before the appointment I guess that's the idea!
The orthopedics wait times were an eye opener for me. I'm a week into private physio now and the thought of being in pain like I was for 5 weeks waiting for an NHS consultation is frightening and also very sad for those that are unable to afford to pay for private. The people waiting months for scan results as mentioned on this thread is a truly awful situation the NHS is in it's really completely unacceptable.
Nobody should be waiting 6 months for scan results. The results will be reported within 24 hours at the most. I feel people are slipping through the net and not actively chasing their results.
I had a consultant appointment 2 weeks ago today, listed for surgery and operated on 3 days ago. Pre op assessment and a procedure that needed doing prior to the operation all as planned. Thankfully they called me as royal mail failed to deliver the letter telling me when the operation was until afterwards. Following day received an appointment for follow up.
I had a consultant appointment 2 weeks ago today, listed for surgery and operated on 3 days ago. Pre op assessment and a procedure that needed doing prior to the operation all as planned. Thankfully they called me as royal mail failed to deliver the letter telling me when the operation was until afterwards. Following day received an appointment for follow up.
Its no better in Spain - Parents are residents. My mums been waiting a year for a cataract operation. Add on the fact it was identified at least 2 years before so was "waiting" for it to get bad enough to be accepted on the list. Last month still no date so the local health have subbed it out to a private hospital and shes finally getting both eyes done in Dec.
One of their local ex-pat friends needs a hip replacement, can barely walk and shes a healthy 70-something, Long wait in Spain so shes considering going private to Belgium and paying £10k. Alternatively its £16k in Spain.
One of their local ex-pat friends needs a hip replacement, can barely walk and shes a healthy 70-something, Long wait in Spain so shes considering going private to Belgium and paying £10k. Alternatively its £16k in Spain.
My mum is waiting on a ENT referral , she has had a cough since before covid , the referral was sent in Nov 22 , reviewed in May 23 but no appointment as yet
She slipped through the net with her cardiology appointments as well meaning she needed an urgent operation for a pacemaker as her heart was stopping (Syncope) for seconds at a time
Mind you better than a mate of mine , went for scans but died of cancer before his Oncologist appointment arrived
She slipped through the net with her cardiology appointments as well meaning she needed an urgent operation for a pacemaker as her heart was stopping (Syncope) for seconds at a time
Mind you better than a mate of mine , went for scans but died of cancer before his Oncologist appointment arrived
The NHS & social care budget has increased every year since 2008. So that's not the cause.
When you allow 600,000 more people to enter than leave..... every year...... what else do you expect? Most aren't nurses and doctors.
It will continue because the right-wing and far-left wing are obsessed with immigration (for different reasons).
When you allow 600,000 more people to enter than leave..... every year...... what else do you expect? Most aren't nurses and doctors.
It will continue because the right-wing and far-left wing are obsessed with immigration (for different reasons).
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