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2 week urgent referral but 7 weeks?????

Hayley_06g
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Good evening,  I found a lump in my right breast over 3 weeks ago. Got an appointment eventually with my gp (they was very difficult) she examined me and also noticed some puckering  and dry skin around the nipple of my breast. She said she would refer me urgently and I would be seen within 2 weeks. If I hadn't heard nothing after 5 days to call a number she gave me on the letter. 

5 days passed and I called the number only to be told no referral had been made  called my GP and the snotty reception  lady told me the referral had been made and I would have to wait for the 2 weeks not 5 days. So another week passed and I still never heard nothing called the surgery again another receptionist I spoke to said I should of heard by now and that he was going to look into it and call me back. 2 days later I still hadn't heard anything so my mom called them and was very angry and sturn with them about what had happened. I then received a call the same day to say there had been an IT error that has now been corrected and I would have to wait another 2 weeks

Now a week after this I received an appointment via mail from the hospital for the 10th November. (Just under a month away) by the time I actually see someone it would of been 7/8 weeks from when I first saw my GP.

I'm going crazy out of my mind and convinced myself I've got cancer. My mental health is at its lowest and I really feel like they don't care about me  

Some advise please 

Xxxxxx

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    Hi, sorry you've had to come on here to chat. 

    IT issues do happen but waiting that long is really bad. 
    you could phone your breast unit and see if they have any cancellations?? You could also log issue with PALS (patient advice liason service) they are based in each hospital. Log waiting time issue with them-that often pushed things through. 
    Complian to your GP practice. 

    I've had a good experience with my GP :hospital so far. 
    but I did phone and ask each day if any cancellations and I got slotted into a one stop breast Clinic appoitment within 5days.  - mine turned out to be breast cancer -I've had loads of tests and even surgery within 8 weeks from GP review.


    Phone the number on your November appoitment letter (presume it's a breast clinic ) every day. They will soon get sick of you calling and fingers crossed you will get seen faster.

    Best of Luck

    Efffie x


     

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    Hi, I had a similar experience to you.  
     

    GP referred me to the breast clinic and said if I didn't hear within 2 weeks I should ring the surgery.  I didn't hear back, rang the surgery, and the receptionist said a doctor would ring me back.  They didn't.  So at 3 weeks I contacted the surgery again, the doc rang me back and apologised because she had "forgotten" to send the referral letter.  She sent it that day.

    Meanwhile I received a letter with a mammogram appointment at the hospital a few weeks later.  I rang the number on the letter and asked if this was a result of the referral but the lady didn't know anything about that - it was just a coincidence that they'd restarted regular screening after lockdown and this was a routine appointment.  Could this be the case with you?  I agree with Effie it's worth chasing your GP.

     I wish I'd done more chasing - as a result of the GP's forgetfulness I had to wait 5 weeks for my 2 week appointment,

    best wishes xx

     

  • Hello Hayley _6g and thank you for your post.

    I am sorry to hear about your breast and the confusion with your breast clinic appointment.

    It might help to know that a GP referral for a suspected cancer should take 2 weeks. However, some hospitals are so busy that they cannot see these patient in that time frame.  While I know that this is worrying please do know that waiting an extra couple of weeks is unlikely to cause anyone any harm, 

    It might be a good idea to let the GP that referred you know that this is how long you will have to wait and also tell her how worried you are.  If your GP is concerned she might want to look into it. However, I am not sure if you would be seen any earlier.

    I hope you have some support around you. 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.

    Take care,

    Caroline ,

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