Seeing a specialist

[ACCercel]

Hi ladies,

I've been referred to a specialist in January, as my symptoms have come back after my first lap (in October) . I've been living in pure agony, my symptoms getting worse every day (I had to give up work, and spend all my time in bed in excruciating pain). Does anyone know how long it usually takes to see a specialist?

[Minnie1128]

They have to see you within 18 weeks as per the referral pathway in the NHS. You might want to check that they received the referral. If it's a BSGE centre you may be offered an appointment with the clinical nurse specialist before being given an appointment with the consultant. Maybe go and speak to your GP to see if they have had a response as my first referral got sent to community gynae even though I was already under a hospital but wanting transfer to a BSGE centre!

Good luck x

[ACCercel in reply to Minnie1128]

I know they received it, because I received a confirmation letter. Whenever I see my gp, I tell them I haven't got any news from them and they just say 'it usually takes a while' . This is driving me crazy now. When I've been booked for the diagnosis surgery, I almost missed it because they haven't sent me a letter, I had to chase it up and found out that I'm having my surgery in a week.

[KSvedenmacher]

Wow, you are patient! My GP referred me to a BSGE at the end of April and I called the clinic two weeks later to ask where my letter for my date was! The letter came a week later and my appointment was for the week following. I would follow up with the consultant's secretary just to make sure they have you in the system.

[ACCercel in reply to KSvedenmacher]

It's not really patience, it's more misinformation. I don't really know how things work through NHS so I try to just give it time. But I'm starting to lose it. My gp just says that it takes a while, but it's been 6 months... Some people told me it took them 8 months... I feel like I'm losing my mind, because I have to fight everybody everywhere trying to get more information or to make sure I didn't have an appointment, just didn't get a letter.