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How long should you be kept waiting for treatment

Amay
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I was diagnosed in 2022 with stage 1 rectal cancer and had radiotherapy. I found out on the 10th of January 2024 that they had found something on a routine scan. I was told it was an extra mural vascular invasion in the mesorectal. After having a PET scan my local hospital told me that it is out of there speciality and they had referred me to Clatterbridge hospital Liverpool. I have been waiting weeks to find out what it's going to happen, and I'm obviously very anxious. They had mentioned an operation but I have no treatment plan. How long should I have to wait considering its my second diagnosis in less than 2 years. I just feel like I'm being passed from one hospital to another. 

  • Hi and thank you for your post.

    I am sorry to learn of your very difficult situation.

    In the UK there are targets for waiting times to start treatment from a diagnosis, but these are only guidelines and not mandatory. NHS England has a waiting time target for cancer that has come back (a recurrence). They say that you should start treatment within 31 days. This time starts from the meeting in which you and your doctor have agreed on your treatment plan. We have more information about cancer waiting times on our website here.

    You could phone the Clatterbridge Cancer Centre and ask to talk with their secretary if you know the specialist to whom you are being sent. They might update you on the status of your referral.

    Hospitals will do their best to meet the cancer waiting targets, however many are finding this difficult to achieve. This could be due to staff shortages, NHS strikes and the effect the COVID-19 pandemic still has on the NHS.  If you have not already done this you might want to contact the hospital's  Patient Advisory Liaison Service (PALS)  and voice your concerns.

    I hope you find this information helpful. Please get back to us if you need any more information or support.  You may find it helpful to talk things through with one of the nurses on our helpline.  The number to call is Freephone 0808 800 4040 and the lines are open from 9am till 5pm Monday to Friday.

    Kind regards,

    Tina

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    Hi Amay,

    I live in the same area. In mid-December my wife was recently referred from our local hospital to a (non-cancer) specialist centre. Last week I rang the centre to ask why she hadn’t yet received an appointment. 

    After chasing from one department to the next, it turned out that no referral had been received. The appointments clerk at the centre said “this happens all the time with that particular hospital”. 

    I asked our GP to chase it up and the practice manager discovered that a junior doctor at the local hospital had phoned the centre but hadn’t realised he also needed to make written/online referral. You couldn’t make this up!

    Eight week’s later, her GP raised a referral and we’re still waiting for an appointment.

    It would be worth ringing the Clatterbridge appointments team to double check that they have received a referral for you. If they haven’t, your GP or local hospital will need to raise one.


    Good luck!
    Dave

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