NHS FET timescales

[ForABabyPanda]

what’s a realistic timeline from failed IVF to FET on the NHS? I think I’m looking at 8-9 months?

[Orangeflowers]

Hi - I think the best thing would be to ask your clinic. Unfortunately there is no consistency, every clinic is different. There were huge delays during COVID but I think things are more or less back to normal now. A FET is a quick procedure and hopefully you won't be waiting long xx

[Solly-44]

Hi, I think it varies hugely from clinic to clinic so I’d ask them there - reception should be able to give you an idea, or the nurses line if you have one? Mine is an NHS clinic and the follow up appt after failed IVF is 6 weeks, you can start on your next cycle after that where I am. Xx

[ForABabyPanda in reply to Solly-44]

wow so that’s like half our follow up appt time, and then do you have no waiting list for FET?

[Solly-44 in reply to ForABabyPanda]

Not currently no, they kind of keep you in the system for FETs. If you needed to start a fresh cycle though you join the back of the waiting list where I am. It’s all a bit chaotic though, will vary from place to place unfortunately. Hope you don’t have to wait too long x

[ForABabyPanda in reply to Solly-44]

it’s a quicker process for us but stil a 4 month waiting list and that’s after 3 months to see your consultant and even after those 7 months that’s not you actually starting treatment!

[ForABabyPanda in reply to ForABabyPanda]

I’ve already waited 2 1/2 years to get to this point

[Solly-44 in reply to ForABabyPanda]

☹️ That’s horribly long, I completely get your frustration. Could you look into moving your frozen embryos to another clinic? There were huge delays at mine a while ago but another NHS hospital about 15 mins away was starting people on their next cycle.

[ForABabyPanda in reply to Solly-44]

we only have one NHS clinic in NI

[Rollercoastersmiles in reply to ForABabyPanda]

hey, I’d pester a bit. For mine we were given an appointment in march but I called regularly for a cancellation and ended up with an appointment in January.

[ForABabyPanda in reply to Rollercoastersmiles]

I’ve continued to pester them but they just keep saying they can’t prioritise people and it’s very strict chronological order…!

[Rollercoastersmiles in reply to ForABabyPanda]

you’d think they’d want to fill any cancellations! Madness!!

[Firsttimettc]

I had a failed fresh cycle in November and going for a frozen cycle in February

[ForABabyPanda in reply to Firsttimettc]

NHS? That’s crazy? I wont even have got my follow up appt by then?

[Firsttimettc in reply to ForABabyPanda]

Yes nhs and even waiting for February to come feels like forever have you had a follow up call after your failed round thats what happend to me and they called me 3 weeks later after my failed round we spoke about the plan moving forward and I new it was February since my follow up call

[ForABabyPanda in reply to Firsttimettc]

no, my follow up call is in feb. My only interaction was to post my little form saying I had a negative preg test and then wait for 12-14 weeks. No contact from consultants. I contacted nursing for some advice on when I could lift things again. That’s been it.

[Firsttimettc in reply to ForABabyPanda]

Honestly that's so shocking I would be so frustrated and upset especially with no contact after your failed cycle you want answers and no where to go next having these next appointments are the only thing keeping my hopes up at the moment its totally unfair I feel for you and waiting so long to get on this journey to be waiting another couple of months must be hard

[ForABabyPanda]

thanks guys - I’m currently being told 7-8 months just to get to top of waiting list. Our follow up consultations are 12-14 weeks from failed IVF!!

[Hidden]

Hey there. Our clinic allowed you to phone up at the start of each month to check for cancellations if you can get fairly flexible as in start the next day etc. They did not advertise this but the IVF counsellor mentioned it to me. We were able to get a cancellation twice.

[ChelWestie]

we went straight into next round of FET when I was ready, we waited for one natural menstrual cycle. We are in London-can you change clinics? It did take me one year at the start to navigate the system but that was in covid context but what I did was regularly phone the admin team to try get in on cancellations and I managed to fast track 3months at one stage so I’d recommend that.

You should have a follow up appt with your consultant after failed round so maybe they could give you a better idea of their wait times for that clinic-also your consultant will have a dedicated admin who manages their calendar so if you know their name you can keep in touch by regular calls and emails to check for cancellation-I found the team at our clinic incredible, so supportive and helpful and really empathetic through the process-I was not just another patient/statistic. Good luck with it all - I know for me the next appointment was so important to keep me going, I needed that date in diary to work to and a plan. It’s such a tough process but stick with it.. we are 21weeks now and I still can’t believe it so it’s worth it, you will get there in the end.

[ForABabyPanda in reply to ChelWestie]

we only have the one NHS clinic in NI, so fairly stuck with who we have. I don’t even know who my consultant is, there are two names associated with my records. We won’t have a follow up until Feb…

[ChelWestie in reply to ForABabyPanda]

you should phone the admin and ask about cancellations and the possibility of getting an earlier appointment and they can also tell you the name of your consultant-have a chat with them and explain your situation, I’ve found them so helpful-not just a function to make appointment and do admin.

You’re also offered a counselling session after failed IVF on the NHS so you could also book this and ask their guidance on any way to accelerate.

[Hidden]

Hi there,

We had our telephone consultation 2 weeks after failed IVF, it was scheduled for a month after but I couldn’t make it on the date so telephoned to change and got lucky with a cancellation that day so had it early. With the FET we were told to just ring and book any time after the consultation. I did ring the clinic and they said they would fit us in within a month but we have decided to have a bit of a break and go back in May 2023. We had DE IVF and it took a year and half from first referral to the actual treatment and just feel like taking back some control in our life’s and booking around us instead of constant waiting. I know it’s hard but you have the frozen embies and that’s really good. Time scales vary so much from clinic to clinic

Good luck 🤞🏻

[ForABabyPanda in reply to Hidden]

2 weeks!!! Even a month would be insanely good! I have no ability to control, if you defer, it’s almost worse because you think you’ll start as soon as your deferral is lifted but then it’s not…

[Hidden in reply to ForABabyPanda]

That’s just crazy, but I’m assuming it’s just because of limited clinics and numbers of people on the list. Even a phone call from the consultant would be better than nothing. Could you afford to transfer your frozen embie privately? It’s so much less money than the full cycle

[ForABabyPanda in reply to Hidden]

we had budgeted for some fets privately but we lose this free fet chance on nhs if we transfer it privately, apparently it’s a logistical nightmare to transfer? We are still held up by lack of review appt tho as we need to know what went on with the first round to inform what we do this time….

[Hidden in reply to ForABabyPanda]

Ah I see, so frustrated for you! It seems so unfair doesn’t it. It really is a post code lottery and unfair. Wishing you all the luck in the world for when you do get your FET

[ForABabyPanda in reply to Hidden]

thanks!!

[Clayhugs]

Hi Panda! I’ve no advice, just wanted to say hi from Belfast too. I’ve done one round of private ivf and just got a letter today for NhS. It’s wick how slow things are here in NI. Xx

[ForABabyPanda in reply to Clayhugs]

awk thanks mrs!!

[Midsummer_daydream]

It depends on whether you will need any investigation or not. How many times have it failed? I had a follow up appt about 2 weeks after my first failed cycle in April and was put back into the list for another FET pretty much 2 months after. However the second fail, they booked a random date for appt and did not tell me. I rang the clinic after 2 weeks and it was during that week. I asked for an investigation on recurring implantation failure and that took about 8 weeks to schedule. Fast forward 4 months after I am back on my 3rd round

[ForABabyPanda in reply to Midsummer_daydream]

I’ve only had one failure, my first, my fresh transfer… 2 weeks for follow up is the dream!