How long does it take the hse to organise a ultrasound

Hi, just curious on the average wait time for a ultrasound for a lump. Thank you 

  • Hello

    The length of time it takes to get an ultrasound can vary a lot depending on the workload at the hospital and how urgent the person that made the referral thinks the ultrasound should be. Urgent referrals are prioritised and are usually seen relatively quickly, non urgent referrals may need to wait a little longer.

    I notice from one of your other posts that you have been seen at the breast clinic.  If the staff at the clinic thought the scan needed to be done urgently,  I think it is likely that they would have tried to get your appointment quite soon.  I wouldn't read too much into how they looked or the fact that the nurse spoke to a colleague at the clinic, it would be normal for colleagues to confer when a patient is in the clinic.  Most breast lumps in younger women are not caused by cancer so I imagine that this is why you may need to wait a little while and there may be other factors about how the lump felt that made the nurse think it was unlikely to be cancer.  

    However, I can appreciate that months seems like along time when you are worrying.  The ultrasound might be carried out in the breast clinic or the ultrasound department.  Contact the breast clinic to find out where it will be and check with them how long it is likely to be before you get an appointment for the ultrasound.  You can also talk it through with your GP to see whether they think it needs to be done more urgently and if they can get some clarity from the breast clinic.  The breast clinic should write to your GP to explain their recommendations. 

    I hope this has been of some help

    Martin

  • Thank you this has helped a lot! I didn't even realise I could ring and ask such a simple thing didn't go through my head suppose I've been to just focusing on worrying. Thanks for the advice