NHS Referrals

[ttcjourney]

Hi all,

Hope everyone is doing ok and keeping safe.

I just wanted to reach out in case anyone has an idea about how long NHS referrals are currently taking? I have already been referred by my GP to C&W hospital, got sent a reference number to book an appointment online, but the online referral portal seems to have stopped people from booking appointments. I spoke with my GP and they've said it's likely due to a back log of appointments due to Covid - which is unsurprising really!

I've called up C&W and they've said they can't give me an estimate of how long as there is a back log of patients waiting for appointments in their fertility clinic since March!

Just wondered if anyone has actually had their appointment yet after being referred just before Lockdown?

It's so disheartening to think we could be waiting months just to get the first appointment We've already gone private twice last year so wanted to use up our free round with NHS but now i'm starting to think maybe it's best we go private again!

Thanks so much

[Alwaysbelieving]

Hiya we had a letter saying they were unable to give us a date to pick up where we left off (I’m in the north east) I should have started the IVF process on April 15th and had been waiting since October last year as it was! Although to be fair we agreed to try naturally for another six months due to test results coming back normal and diagnosed it as unexplained infertility. It’s so much harder now when AF shows up knowing we have no other options ahead of us in the near future. I cried for two days the first time after receiving that letter but hoping it will happen naturally soon after trying for 3 years+ so far! Sorry I can’t give a more uplifting response I hope others are having more luck. Fingers crossed you hear something soon 🤞🏼

[ttcjourney in reply to Alwaysbelieving]

Thanks for coming back to me.

That's quite a while then that you've been waiting, sorry to hear that Fingers crossed we both hear something soon. Good luck! It's all just a waiting game isn't it...not fun

[Roro1]

Hi I was referred to Chelsea and Westminster (I hope that’s what you mean by C&W), this was back in Feb , I was called twice by the consultants to give me a heads up, last consultant told me that they would possibly see me at the end of the year. I hope thats helpful.

[ttcjourney in reply to Roro1]

Yep, Chelsea & Westminster That's good that they called you to give you a heads up and at least you have an idea so you can manage expectations. It's just the waiting around that's driving me nuts. May have to re-assess the situation in a couple of months if i still haven't heard back and look at going private again.

[Haseverythingbutthis]

How long did it take you to receive your log in details letter? I'm in the North West and my GP referred me 3 weeks ago now and I still haven't even had my letter through. I know there will be a back log due to Covid-19 but I was at least hoping I would have received my letter through.

[ttcjourney in reply to Haseverythingbutthis]

I got sent my login details around 2 weeks after i put in my referral request to GP. Although they originally made a mistake as they meant to refer me 4 months ago and forgot to actually send the referral! So i asked them to prioritise it. That might be why i received my login details so quickly. But when i try and log in i can't actually book an appointment. very frustrating cause of the back log.

Perhaps you can ask your GP what the status is. I'm finding that i have to be a bit pushy otherwise will be waiting forever!!