Referral delay

I have an urgent cancer referral for womb cancer. I sort of assumed i would be seen pretty quickly as I had x2 ultrasounds.

I called the waiting list number and was told the current waiting time, even for this type of referral, is 15 weeks! I mean...what the actual?

Spoke to gp receptionist who just confirmed the referral was sent.

I am near Glasgow. What on earth is going wrong?

Parents
  • I would expect 15 weeks is the general time for gynae appointments and definitely not urgent cancer referrals. 

    My NHS app said up to 12 weeks and it then has a little message saying if you have been reffered for urgent cancer then you will be seen earlier then the time stated, I was seen within 2 weeks.

    When did you go send the referral ? 

Reply
  • I would expect 15 weeks is the general time for gynae appointments and definitely not urgent cancer referrals. 

    My NHS app said up to 12 weeks and it then has a little message saying if you have been reffered for urgent cancer then you will be seen earlier then the time stated, I was seen within 2 weeks.

    When did you go send the referral ? 

Children
  • Hi.

    It will be 4 weeks this Wednesday coming. They confirmed on the phone that I have an urgent cancer referral and the current waiting time is 15 weeks.

    In Scotland the main timescale seems to be that treatment should start within 62 days of the initial referral. Obviously, that will be missed too.

  • Yes that timescale will definitely not be met if you haven't even had the initial appointment yet with them .

    I would suggest contacting the department and asking to speak with the clinical lead / their secretary or the outpatients booking supervisor contact the main number.

    If nothing comes of that you can contact the NHS patient experience team.

    What did your ultrasounds show ? 

  • They said the uterine walls were thick. They also diagnosed adenomyosis.

    Apparently I spoke to the most senior person on the phone... 

    I first went to my GP in May so by the time I have had the ultrasounds I am currently looking at 8 months from seeing GP to appt. Maybe gp should have done the referral in may.