Waiting over 12 months for procedures, how can I escalate this?

[Vinnie99]

Hi everyone. New to these boards although unfortunately not new to endo. After going back and forth to the GP and various consultants for about 4 years I finally got a diagnosis and referred to have a laparoscopy, endoscopy and possible oophorectomy. This was over 12 months ago! I was advised at the time that the waiting list was quite long, about 6 months, but then the pandemic hit and since then I've heard absolutely nothing. I've called and spoken to the gynae clinic at the hospital where my consultant is and also the consultants secretary a few times and each time they just say they cant give me any sort of idea of wait times due to the impact of Covid on the NHS. I've also spoken to my own GP surgery a couple of rimes who advised maybe I should try and chase it up myself, when I told them I was getting little to no response they said they would chase up for me but just got a text saying that I was confirmed as still on the waiting list. I completely understand the huge pressures that the NHS is under at the moment and expected this to impact my wait time, but 12 months and not so much as a date seems extreme to me. I'm fed up, my symptoms are worse and worse each month and it's getting to the point where its now also affecting my mental health too. I just wanted to ask if anyone else was having a similar experience or what advice anyone could give me in terms of how I escalate this? I'm at my wits end

[PurpleSynesthesia]

Hiya, welcome to the forum,

I'm on the infinite waiting list for a diagnostic laparoscopy too... Also been told to sit tight, with no time estimate.

I think all we can do continue to call occasionally & find out if there's any progress... Can you afford to go private? I would if I could.

Xx

[Vinnie99 in reply to PurpleSynesthesia]

Unfortunately I can't afford to go private although I did consider it. Thank you for replying and I hope you get seen soon enough

[Angelnurse]

Unfortunately due to covid waiting times are incredibly long, I've waited 16 months to be seen as an urgent case and will now have to wait anything up to a year for a hysterectomy. I hope you get seen soon. Hang in there and stay safe 💛

[Vinnie99 in reply to Angelnurse]

Thank you for your reply. I hope you don't have to wait too long and that your op goes well when get there.

[hrcArch]

Also on the indefinite wait list I'm at a point where they now suggest being admitted to hospital for pain relief every time I speak to them, which I suspect I will need to take them up on in the next couple of months. I wish I could say more helpful things, but all the GPs and specialists I've spoken to are both completely sympathetic to the problem and completely unable to change the circumstances unless it's an emergency situation. Unfortunately the only thing to do is follow the pandemic guidelines as best we can and tell everyone we know to do the same so that we can maybe get better control over it, which would let other procedures start to happen again. I'm not saying that to be annoying - everyone I've spoken to didn't realise procedures like ours were being affected so badly on top of rising covid numbers!

[Vinnie99 in reply to hrcArch]

Thanks for your reply, sorry you have also been waiting so long. Totally with you on following the guidelines and the impact it had on the NHS. It really boils my blood when people flout the rules and don't realise the wider implications not just on the procedures we're waiting for but for life and death treatment for a lot of people too.Ive kind of accepted I'm just going to have to sit tight and wait but it's so hard 😟

Xxx

[hrcArch in reply to Vinnie99]

It's so difficult, isn't it??? I truly wish I had something more helpful to say, but the best I can offer is that you aren't alone. I hope once things calm down that you are able to get the help you need quickly!!