How long did you have to wait for surgery on the nhs?

[rowantree]

How long between being referred by the GP, and getting the surgery, and what type of surgery was it? I'm being referred for wrist surgery and I'm wondering how long I will have to wait. Thanks

[Bananas5]

Depends whether you live in Scotland or not. Not sure about England but here it is 18 weeks. Shouldn't make any difference what sort of surgery you have either.

David had spinal prodedure which had to be outsourced privately cos time was runing out. I had further surgery to shattered ankle.

Any help?

Pat x .

[Hidden]

I went on choose and book web site saw a consultant at private hospital within 3 weeks he gave me several dates for my surgery which was a knee replacement and I chose one for 2 weeks later. Had my operation and I was in the hospital for 5 days all paid for by nhs. Xx

[brie182nd in reply to Hidden]

Hi can you explain how you did this sounds just right for me

[Hidden]

Forgot to say I live in the Midlands x

[rowantree]

I've just been reading about the 18 weeks stuff. I thought it meant 18 weeks wait to be seen by the consultant. I'm really glad to see that it means 18 weeks from referral to surgery. I guess I can wait that long, or hopefully a lot less, it seems.

[Hidden]

Hi I was on a waiting list (originally six months) but my doctor (GP) expedited the appointment to see a Consultant within six weeks.

[Jamie186 in reply to Hidden]

Hi no-one, I hope you see him, in the time scale promised.You are very lucky to have a sympathetic GP I wish mine was as good, all I was told by mine was it is a long waiting list, do you have medical insurance, when I replied no. he asked could I afford to pay I said I was anxious to stop the pain, and I would pay, he then said \i know a very good man I'll refer you to him. Perhaps I'm being cynical but I wonder If he get's any kind of reward.

[moggiemay]

Dear Rowantree, When you see the Consultant and he decides to operate you then go on a waiting list.If an X-ray is needed that can usually be done right away, but if an ultrasound is required you then go on a waiting list for this and back again to see the consultant to discuss the result and then the waiting list, Phone the outpatient Clinic and they will give you an idea,I seen a Neurosurgeon 18days after referral but I have to wait 10weeks for an MRI scan and If you are in Scotland the SNP government are not honest about the waiting times

In 2011 I waited 32weeks for Surgery, during the wait I had a scan for this and a scan for that, This all adds to the true waiting times I hope you have better luck than me

Regards Moggiemay

[Jamie186 in reply to moggiemay]

Hi Rowantree I don't want to dash your hopes, but after being treated for three and a half years my diagnoses was changed to from a hip problem to a spine problem, then referred by the hospital to the chronic pain relief clinic after waiting a total of 14 months to be seen and treated, I saw a top spinal consultant privately within 5 weeks had Xrays , MRI scan, Nerve root pain killing injections, to be told I needed a discectomy compression surgery urgently. With the NHS 12 months wait which started after the the various waiting times,as described by moggiermay. I would advise that after you've seen the consultant, if he recommends surgery, to convince him and especially your GP as he sounds very helpful, to apply pressure to reduce the time you have to wait. I wish you the very best of luck.

My best wishes

Jamie

[Bananas5]

Disagree about waiting times in Scotland. Never had any longer than 18 weeks to wait from time seen GP to op. I had to have correctuve surgery on a 2 yr old shattered ankle and it was done well withing the time AND on a Sunday!

David's sppinal prosedures are the same only probaby even quicker. He was outsourced last year to private hospital cos time was running out. NHS pay heavy penalties for going over that 18 weeks and it was cheaper to pay private than pay that penalty.

Pat x

[moggiemay in reply to Bananas5]

Hi Paton, Good for you that you didnt have to wait as long as me. You had your op on a Sunday that is because they are trying to reduce the waiting times. I just got a return appt for the Pain Clinic today and it is 6months after my last appointment!!! so it is a 24week wait. I have no reason to say otherwise, I worked in a Senior Nursing Position in the NHS, so I have some insight into the set up.I hope Rowantree doesnt have a Long wait Kind Regards Moggiemay

[Bananas5 in reply to moggiemay]

Hello Moggiemay,

Are you talking about operation waiting times or times between appts at Pain Clinic? You said you have another appt 6 months after the last one. Is this an operation or procedure?

My surgeon only operates at weekends. Due to my own circumstances we discussed a suitable date for all involved.

Pat x

[moggiemay in reply to Bananas5]

Hi Paton,

Sorry for the delay in replying to you.I had Laprascopic Surgery in Jan 2011 for a Renal Cyst. Surgeon could not find it ?? I then had an Ultra sound and it was there?? I seen it on the scan, I then had to wait for 32 weeks for further Surgery, Eureka they found it., and removed it.

I had a procedure on my back at the Pain Clinic in Dec2012, then out the door!! I then received an Appt for the Pain Clinic for the 10th June2013

I will go because my back problem has not been resolved?? Paton where in Scotland do you live?. You say the NHS has to pay a penalty if they dont keep to the time limit, To whom do they pay this penalty? The NHS in Scotland are the budget holders??

Your operation on a Sunday, was it carried out by the Surgeon to whom you had a consultation with in the first place?

You mentioned a David, I cant get previous information??

Any way I am pleased for you and hope that your ankle is better, Will I see you playing for Scotland in the future!!!

Take care Best wishes Moggiemay x

[Bananas5 in reply to moggiemay]

Hello again Moggiemay,

Must stop meeting like this!

South Lanarkshire which has an excellent Paim clinic but the worst social care in Scotland.

Surgeon who operated on my ankle was the same one I first saw. She does start to finish and doesn't believe in passing patients around. She also wears roller skates!!

David is my husband and the chronic pain sufferer. I am his full time carer and nagging wife! I try to give help and advice from the other side. Involved with Pain groups, X party groups, and number one fan of Pain clinic Consultant! So many spises and families of chronic pain sufferers seem to get exculded and don't understand how to help their loved ones. And yet they can be invaluable as past of the pain management. If I can help pthers i do.

Relieved to hear they found and removed your cyst.

You said you had a spinal procedure with follow up appt months later. David has spinal procedures but never gets follow up appts. Our clinic don't do them. When the pain in his back gets to the 10+ he rings up and gets booked in for the procedure. Some last a few weeks but mostly a few months. When he was outsourced to the Nuffield it was a dreadul one cos it was carried out by Dr not qualified to such procedures.

But that's another story.

His consultant knows that David id the best judge of how he feels.

The penalty is not actually paid back but our gov withhold an amount from the funding they give to our |NHS. So if they give £100 a month - you don't meet targets - they withhold £20.

All for now.

Pat x

[moggiemay in reply to Bananas5]

Hi Paton or Pat Thank you for the reply. I was amused to read your surgeon wore Roller skates, Was that a Joke?

Many years ago When I was an A&E Sister some one left roller skates in the department and the Lady Dr who was German put them on and rushed around in them. The next morning a patient remarked that the Drs were so busy they had to wear roller skates !! Happy days. I am sorry your poor husband is so unwell, It seems so hard for us pain suffers to get adequate relief and a good quality of life at the same time.I have Trigeminal Neuralgia in the mouth and am on new medication and not happy with the side effects. Take care and best wishes to you and your husband Moggiemay x

[Bananas5 in reply to moggiemay]

Hi moggiemay

Surgeon on roller skates? Yes but could be true! They do have wheels on their consulting chairs after all.They are always rushing hither and thither.

I hooted with your story!! One to be retold i think.

Out of interest do you live in sunny Scotland?

Didn't mean to paint a gloomy picture of david's life. His decline has been mostly gradual so time to adjust. I am an extrovert with a huge love of life which I do try to share.

Keep in touch.

Pat x

[Jamie186 in reply to Bananas5]

Hay you two I've been waiting for my turn,Gen Paton, I'd like to say how lucky you are, hospital fined if op not carried out within 18 weeks, and then on a Sunday. I have a back problem and after waiting 3 years for a correct diagnoses would consider moving to Scotland to get treatment, but a bit wary as my initial back injury was caused playing rugby up there against some big hairy Scots.

I live in sunny Wales and they must have different criteria I've been told I need a spinal procedure urgently after Xrays, MRI scans e t c (carried out privately) I was then told by the private consultant he could carry out the procedure in "3" weeks at a cost of approx £9000.

Went back to my GP to be told I would have to go through all the tests, Xrays, MRI scans and then if the specialist consultant considered I needed surgery, I would then be placed on a waiting list, total time of between 12 to 18 months. I have written to my MP (still waiting for a reply) my Welsh Assembly member who replied with with copy letter sent to the Health Secretary of the Assembly, asking for his help considering I'd waited 3 years being treated for the wrong diagnoses. I have now been sent a copy of the secretary's reply, in which he has confirmed the above waiting times, and wishing me luck. Politicians I don,t know who makes me scream the loudest, them, or my back. I'm i've decided to take the private option.

My best wishes

Jamie

[rowantree in reply to Jamie186]

You say it was the wrong diagnosis- I've recently found a letter diagnosing me with hypermobility syndrome in 1996!! My GP had no record of it. So that's what's been causing my wrist, fingers, heels, knees, toes pain all these years. And I thought it was just rheumatism! At last I've been referred to the hypermobility clinic in london. More waiting but at least they've decided on a diagnosis, and all the dots join up and explain that I'm not hyperchondriac.

[rowantree]

How long til the rheumatologist writes the letter to the GP recommending that I be referred to an orthopaedic surgeon?? That's the first step.

[moggiemay]

Hi Rowantree, Do you have Rheumatism? Have you seen the rheumatologist? He or she could refer to an Orthopaedic Surgeon, Were you told that the GP should refer you? When the letter gets sent to whoever wait a week or so and phone the appointments Departement and ask

Take care Moggiemay

[rowantree]

The waiting is so hard. I've been given a possible solution but I know it could be months! I have discovered that the rheumatologist has referred me directly to the surgeon, so that should speed things up a bit. I have oa.

[Jamie186]

Hi rowantree, In response to your question, it's difficult to give you a definitive answer, as I've never been on the NHS waiting list, and I can only respond regarding the situation in Wales where the NHS is "run" by the Welsh Assembly. In my case it's a long running saga which I wont bore you with (see my previous question's and replies. After 5 years of being treated by a NHS Orthopedic consultant and attending a chronic pain relief clinic, I was advised in the pain clinic

there was little more they could do except a drug regime. I discussed this with the head of the clinic who was sympathetic,and explained I was very unhappy and depressed and was there any Consultant he would recommend on a private basis. He sent a letter to him and following X-rays MRI scans nerve root pain killing injections diagnosed a Discometry ? compression procedure be carried out as a matter of urgency (3 weeks wait and a cost of approx £8750) to have private surgery I asked him how long would I have to wait on the NHS, he replied at his clinic the wait was between 12 to 18 months.

I went back to my GP to discuss it and to ask to be put on NHS list due to being diagnosed e t c I expected to be treated as a priority case, to be advised as I had gone to a private consultant I had in effect discharged my self from the NHS and the whole senario would have to be repeated e g wait to see consultant who had messed up then various tests and IF consultant considered my problem was severe . I would then be placed on the waiting list and if surgeon and my GP considered problem was getting worse they would try and reduce the wait to a maximum of 28 weeks, making a total for all the above to a minimum of 12 months.

I'm most sorry for giving you my sob story but I get so mad when I start explaining about it. I said I woulden't bore you but I'm sure I have.What I should have said in one short reply, is once you've been placed on the waiting list it should be a maximum of 28 weeks. I wish you the best of luck for a short wait, and a speedy recovery.

To conclude my sob story I'm having surgery next month, cant face waiting again, so I've sold my wife to an Arab slave trader and my car to a motor museum to finance the deal.

Thanks for listening

Jamie

[Sarahw13]

I am still waiting for surgery for spinal fusion and decompression,I've now been sent for 3 pre ops as they only last 12 weeks,I spoke to my specialists secretary today who has told me she doesn't know when I'm having my operation even though I was originally told June then provisionally September then provisionally beginning of November. I have now put a complaint in with the hospital and I'm waiting to hear back