NHS patients, How long was your wait for a diagnostic laparoscopy?

[Coco1860]

I was finally put on the waiting list for a diagnostic laparoscopy on the NHS in November of last year. I have no expectations for the waiting list to be short, and I expect I’ll be waiting a lot longer before I’m given the appointment. I suppose I’m getting impatient to get an inkling of when it could be- the hospital haven’t given me any indication of how long I might be waiting.

How long did you have to wait for your surgery once you were added to a waiting list?

[Heartof3]

I was added to the list last December. I've been told atleast a year x

[butterfliez]

Hi I suppose it depends on the area but when I was put on the waiting list I waited 9 months for a laparoscopy ( this was in 2019 so before covid ) everything is taking even longer now with covid delays x

[Jane884]

I only waited 3 months, I had mine last month.

[BunnyMad]

My guess would be about a year. I was put on the waiting list over year ago and finally got mine 2 weeks ago. But it could be different for different areas etc

[meg73]

Seems like it varies massively from region to region. I was put on the list last August and my lap is next week x

[ZiggyandBC]

I was waiting 7 months all in all, I did a lot of chasing and requested to be put on the urgent list x

[TennisAM]

It's very difficult to say as every case is different, and every trust has a different wait time. Personally, I'd be proactive; the more you chase and ask for cancellations, the more chance of getting it quickly. It was 15 months in my case, only because I insisted on it being done within a month at month 14. But be aware I have a complicated case where I need three different specialists there, which can be harder to achieve in covid times. Good luck

[Shelly085]

I was put on the wait list in July 2020 an I’m still no closer to getting mine. I was told 18 months but passed that now. When I ring up just get told the list is long an they will be in touch when they have a date for me. Hope you don’t have to wait that long for yours x

[bertie1606]

Hi, before covid I had my first lap, 3 months after being put on the list. I was put on the list for my second lap in Feb 2021, still waiting and they can't even give me an estimate of how much longer it will be. I'm in Norfolk, so like others have said it will be different for everyone based on where they live x

[Denised90]

I was added Eric the list in February 2021 and still waiting

[HortC11]

I was put on the list in April 2021 with my pre-op appointment in April 2022, no idea of when the actual op would be. I chose to go private in the end as I have fertility issues and didn’t want to wait for ever. Even so, I’m still only at the stage where I’m about to have an op but it was quicker than the NHS

[Jane884]

I agree with Tennis am. I think being proactive made a difference to my wait time. I asked to be put as urgent as I'm in pain everyday, most days not leaving the house. I kept chasing from my GP's end and also rang the secretary of my surgeon twice asking for cancellations and explained my desperation. I cried on the phone (didn't mean to!). I think it definitely helps them to prioritize you and remember your name when a cancellation comes up. It was a cancellation that I got, as I only had 12 days notice x

[MariannaB]

Hi , mine was very long time because of covid but fingers crossed will not take that long now anymore . I was referred for laparoscopy on November 2019 and had it in September 2021

[Justine89]

I only waited 4 months after being put on the waiting list. I had mine in October. But I’m still awaiting for the specialist to get hold of me for my 2nd Op to have the endo removed xx

[SarahA86]

I was told waiting time at least 18 months got appointment after 7 months as thay were worries about cyst torsion but it's been cancelled so still waiting...

[Mazza135]

Hi I was added to the list in May 2021 have chased a couple of times since, last time being end of January and was told I was close but due to covid it has been pushed out further due to shortages in the team. It will be about April time before I will be given a date so I’m hoping not long after that 🤞🏻Hope you get there soon x

[ArtyPal]

I was put on the list last May and I had a call with my consultant in November and he said that I was about half way there (so roughly a year) and that I'll either have my surgery this Spring or I'll know my date by Spring! He did say in May that it should be a year but with covid things could be a bit more delayed.

I'm in Scotland so no clue if communications will be the same elsewhere in the UK but I did receive a letter during my wait explaining wait times and apologies for things taking a while, and the November call was essentially my gynae double checking that I was still happy waiting for the surgery and if I needed anything else in the meantime, so hopefully you'll still get updates here and there during your wait - just don't expect it to be super frequent or anything xx

[purpleiPhone]

I was told yesterday that the waiting list is about 2 years at the moment.