9 week wait after a 2 week referral

Is it normal that I have been told by the hospital that I have to wait 9 weeks for an initial appointment with a specialist despite the GP issuing a 2 week fast track referral? Everything I can find online seems to suggest the NHS WILL give me an appointment in 2 weeks but I can't find any help on what to do if they aren't!? 

  • This is not right. Contact your gp and put as much pressure as you can. If you've been urgently referred then you need to be seen.

     

    Best wishes

    Anna 

  • Hi JTask44

    9 weeks does sound awfully long, but sadly the clinics are suffering from unusually high numbers of referrals at the moment which is causing the wait to be longer than the normal 2 weeks. I have been advised that the 2 weeks is more like 4-5 in my area at the moment. They're doing all they can including opening weekend clinics etc, but there are just too many women to see! Sorry that's not very positive, perhaps you could check with the hospital that 9 weeks is the average 2WW time at the moment because that does seem awfully long, the 4-5 here was bad enough! 

    Good luck x

  • I agree that 9 weeks is an awfully long time to wait and worry. I suspect it will be much sooner but I would be tempted to contact your GP again. 
     

    When I was referred on the 2WW pathway, I received a letter a few days later with the number and passcode to book an appointment. I was told on the phone that due to an increase in appointments the wait had been extended and they anticipated it was around 3-4 weeks. I saw my GP on the 15th July and was seen on the 3rd August, so just over two weeks. I do think sometimes they state longer to cover their backs and not give people false hope. Granted this doesn't ease your anxiety. 
     

    I hope you hear soon and that everything works out for you. 
     

    linda x

  • Hi. 

     

    Seems to be hospitals are struggling atm, our hospital was cancelling appointments and rearranging them until November even though they were initial 2 week urgent referrals some of the ladies I spoke to had cancer before and were distraught at this wait. 

     

  • I think I read somewhere that you can choose where you are seen. If you go to your local NHS Trust website and do some searching, you may find a list of waiting times for hospitals in each area. If I find a link I'll send it to you. Hope you hear soon and will be thinking of you x