Waiting on urgent referral

So my GP sent an urgent referral on the 17 March 2023. I had a scan on my womb, as I have post menopausal bleeding. They found I had 11mm thickness of the endometrium, I have brown/black blood (for the past 18mths/2yrs, and suffering lower back pain)

So I phoned my GP to find out what was happening with my appointment. She phoned me back on Friday 7 April 2023, she said that my appointment was no longer urgent, but (I kid you not) it's still urgent but it's going to take longer for my appointment to come through.

Am at my wit's end , not only with what she said but the time it's taking for an appointment. 

 

  • Hi Maggie,

    I'm so sorry to hear this.  I'm having similar issues.  I had what was believed to be internal bleeding, passing black tarry stools and coughing up blood.  The doctor referred me urgently and I WAS seen for an endoscopy within 2 weeks.  At the gastroscopy they found lots of gastric erosion and ulcers so have taken biopsies to check for gastrinomas.  At that appointment I was told my qfit colorectal cancer test had come back positive so I was to get a colonoscopy urgently also.  That was 5 weeks ago today and I still have no results and no appointment through.  I've called a few times and gp still has no results (I have been put on strong PPI's which are helping slightly but still getting bad symptoms and bed bound) and I called the hospital endoscopy coordinator who said that my colonoscopy is down as a category 1 and not urgent as they have a backlog and I should get it within 12 weeks!  Ie possibly 7 more weeks to wait for that and I've to get another gastroscopy in 3 weeks to check if the meds are working.  I feel like I'm left in limbo.  The doctors are very concerned so obviously that then worries us but then the hospital appointment system seem like it's not a concern at all.  I do have the report from the endoscopy and they ARE concerned and say urgent colonoscopy etc and await biopsy results with rescan in 8 weeks (5 weeks ago) but nobody seems to have a clue what's happening.  I'm assuming the biopsy taking so long means it's good news but who knows these days.  I just wanted to send you my love as I know this unknown waiting stage is very scary and frustrating.  Have you called your gp since being told it wasn't an urgent case?  I'm not sure there is anything they can do if the hospital downgraded it but it's just so frustrating.  Here if you need to chat.

    Sarah xx

  • Sorry I've just realised it was your gp who told you that the hospital say it's not urgent even though they say it is xxx