When did my 18 weeks start?

[clairemac]

Hi everyone,

Wondering if anyone can help me work out when my 18 weeks started re my referal to treatment.

I initially visited my gp in March who referred me to a consultant at my local hospital. I was sent for a mri and the consultant referred my to another specialist at a diffent hospital who specialises in my problem.

I eventually met him last week and he advised me that i need an operation. I have emailed his secretary to enquire about waiting times and she has told me theyeare fully booked for the rest of this year and the beginning of next year. So it looks likely that from initial gp visit to the operation to fix me will be around a year.

Does the 18 week referral to treatment standard apply to me? If so, when did my 18 weeks begin; at my initial gp referal, or when the first consultant referred me on to the second?

Hope that makes sense. I would usually be very patient and have a lot of respect for our fabulous NHS, but I'm in pain constantly, can't walk very far and certainly cant enjoy the summer holidays with my children.