Post-surgery follow-up appointment? (NHS)

[chickaloo]

I had my first lap to excise pelvic endo and remove endometriomas in February, at an NHS hospital. I was told by my consultant immediately after the op that I would get a follow-up appointment with him about 4 months afterwards. I haven't heard anything since getting the results of the biopsy etc (online) a few weeks after the op.

Is this normal? I'm keen to have the follow-up, as I have some questions about ongoing pain that may or may not be down to the endo, but I don't know if I'm still on the consultant's list. Do I get back in touch with the gynae department the consultant is attached to and ask for an appointment, or go through my GP?

Thanks in advance for any help.

[MrsPaddingtonBear]

Hello

Sadly due to long hospital lists this is now normal. You can ring the consultants secretary or the appointments department and they should be able to help.

[chickaloo in reply to MrsPaddingtonBear]

Thank you!

[KittyTherapy]

Hi, I had my surgery in March and was told the same (follow up in around 4 months) which I took with a pinch of salt as aware of the horrendous waiting lists everywhere on the NHS. But surprisingly I did get my follow up at 3 months. I received a letter with an appt date (letter arrived with not much notice/ it was only about a week between receiving the letter and the appt itself).

If you wanting to check your position on the waiting list then I'd say to try and contact the gynae dept yourself as GP will take forever about it and possibly won't get the answers you need.

I did have some questions fairly soon post op which couldn't wait for the appt and so I ended up calling the hospital and asking to be put through to my gynaecologist - I just gave them the drs name and they put me through to the gynaecologists secretary. The secretary then took down my questions and liaised with the gynaecologist then the secretary called me back to relay the advice. So you could always try that route before contacting GP. If you do call the hospital, i would suggest asking what the direct number is so you don't have to go through switchboard again and / or asking the secretary for an email address as another way of contacting them x

[chickaloo in reply to KittyTherapy]

Thank you! This is very helpful.