Four months wait to see Neurologist

[Newcastlelover]

Hi has anyone else been told there is at least a four month wait to get a neurologist appointment? I wonder what it costs and whether you can go privately. I' m in the UK x

[wedgewood]

You will need to be referred by a G.P. COST? I believe in the region of £150.00 . at least .

[Newcastlelover in reply to wedgewood]

thanks Wedgewood, I have been referred but didn't expect to wait that long!

[wedgewood in reply to Newcastlelover]

Yes that’s a very long time ! But you still need a referral if you go privately . I didn’t think it would be as expensive as £325.00 !

[fbirder]

The neurologist I saw (on the NHS) charges £325 for a new appointment, £185 for a follow up. PM me for contact details.

[Nackapan]

Yes I was told 18 weeks last year when very I'll. I'd had a mri scan and the Gp d cared me by not wanting to discuss report.

I paid £210 . At the time needed to reduce stress and understand mri. It was for 39 mins I think. He also tested my reflexes and wrote to the surgery as I needed more I jections. That was in the November. My NHS appointment came through in February. So i fact was 10 weeks from referral I think.

The follow up with private one was short but worked out at £7 a minute!!

I looked into another senior neurologist and that was £500 for forst appt. I didnt go. So varies but expensive.

[Newcastlelover in reply to Nackapan]

I think it's a no go then!

[Nackapan]

The one I saw was also senior and worked in Harley street too. He had retired from the NHS.

London ones more I think.

[nano2]

Hi, Think it depends where you live as to NHS app. My daughters was 6 month wait we asked for referral for private. 1st app £250. 2nd £150 MRI £900 odd then Neurologist took her under NHS at Hospital he worked from.

Researching private I found 2 drs worked at same NHS hospital but different private ones vast difference in app charges.

[Newcastlelover in reply to nano2]

Oh no! 900 for mri!! It will be cheaper to quit work and live off peanuts 😂

[nano2 in reply to Newcastlelover]

Yes not cheap but not the most expensive out there.

[Coxeymcqueen]

NHS have a referral to treatment target of 18 weeks so you should theoretically get your first appointment before then, be diagnosed, and start treatment within that time. Sadly the reality is that a lot of organisations are struggling to meet that and the authorities are more relaxed about patient waiting and treatment times.

[Newcastlelover in reply to Coxeymcqueen]

Omg I will wait for appointment but continue self treating and try to keep my job going, if i make mistakes i can't help it!

[nano2 in reply to Newcastlelover]

Is your employer aware your struggling with your illness? have they got HR dep that could send you to see OH to see if any adaptations they could help make things in work a little easier for you to cope. Just a thought.

[Newcastlelover in reply to nano2]

Yes but I've got to use my brain and I'm afraid it isn't as sharp as it was! I'm seriously thinking about early retirement but can't afford it at the minute. Might have to bite the bullet, thanks for your kindness

[Newcastlelover in reply to Coxeymcqueen]

Even more so now!!

[Kennyatw]

No but I'm in the US

[CarlaEP]

hi

I have been told it’s a 20 week wait !

Trouble is if you pay for a private consultation who will pay if an MRI is advised ?

That’s what I think I need so I dare not go down the private consultation route ??

Good luck

[Nackapan in reply to CarlaEP]

I paid then the Gp got the letter and referred for MRI. You have to wait again but on NHS. Also helped with getting more b12 I jections

I would have rather waited for NHs as usually same doctors and I've never gone private before. Shouldnt have to. Another thing as so light sensitive the NHS one gave me the worse migraine of my life because of the environment.

That's why I paid a second time

I'm still waiting for a neuro opthalomogist appt. Made 3/1 I think. Thars a 14 week wait or can be.

[Newcastlelover in reply to CarlaEP]

Me neither after reading these experiences😢

[nano2 in reply to CarlaEP]

As in my Daughters case he only advised an MRI. We could have then got a letter from him to advise the GP to do an MRI but they don’t take much notice of what consultants say anyway.

[HeartyGilly]

Often £250 for the first appointment. But, make sure you ask for any tests you need to be done on the NHS, otherwise the cost will be much higher.

[Showgem]

I’m in the U.K. and I was sent for basic nerve conduction tests, waited about 2-3 months but that was only a technician. GP has now put me on the waiting list for a neurologist and said it’ll be at least 3 months, probably more.

[Coxeymcqueen]

How the referral system works is this - bear with me...

Hospitals use a system called eReferral (eRS) which used to be known as Choose & Book. When your GP wants to refer you to a hospital service (known as a specialty e.g. neurology, cardiology, orthopaedics) they will log on to eRS where they can see which hospitals have appointments available and can then book you your appointment there and then.

So they might see that there is an appointment for neurology at Hospital A in 12 weeks or Hospital B in 10 and you can choose. Ironically, this system was implemented to give patients choice over where they want to get their treatment but most will choose their local hospital even if the wait time is longer.

Anyway, if there isn’t an appointment available in eRS then your GP should make the referral anyway to the hospital of your choice who will then contact you when appointments become available again so you can make an appointment.

Your GP should also give you some details which would allow you to log on to eRS yourself and check to see if appointments become available - you would then be able to book the appointment directly. It’s good practice to log in to eRS a couple of times a day and see what’s available as hospitals could be publishing their appointments at different times of day.

The NHS constitution is that patients should be treated within 18 weeks of referral. If you feel that this is unlikely to happen you can make a complaint to the hospital and your local clinical commissioning group (CCG). This can result in the NHS using private hospitals to hit the 18 week standard at no cost to you.

Hope that makes sense and helps - if you have any questions about it then please ask and I’ll do my best to answer.

Good luck

[Coxeymcqueen]

Once you have a referral in to the consultant at your preferred hospital you can try a couple of things to speed up getting your appointment.

If you can be very flexible and attend at short notice you can ring your consultant’s secretary or the manager of the service and tell them that you can attend at short notice. Patients cancel at short notice and clinics aren’t often full and so offering this flexibility might see you get a call to come in that morning or afternoon. You won’t be obligated to take it tho.

Not all hospitals or specialties within a hospital will be this helpful but it doesn’t hurt to try. You could also ring the outpatient booking centre in the mornings and ask if they have had any cancellations and could they squeeze you in.

These tactics aren’t guaranteed to work but can help you, particularly as hospitals will have internal targets to run clinics at capacity and manage waiting lists.

[Newcastlelover in reply to Coxeymcqueen]

Thank you, it all seems that neurologist appointments are among the hardest to get and then disappointing when you finally go 😢

[Dogs6188]

I suffer nerve damage in my spine which effects my legs realy bad, gp said they cant do anything, except medication, havent even mentioned sending me to a neurologist.

[nano2 in reply to Dogs6188]

Ask to be referred.

[MissPinBG]

I was referred at the beginning of February, my appointment came through for DECEMBER 31st! I haven’t been diagnosed with PA but have low B12 and quite a few neuro symptoms - the Dr said it’s just to get checked out so I figured I’m not considered a priority 🤷‍♀️ 11 months is crazy though huh!

[nano2 in reply to MissPinBG]

Sorry to hear you have to wait that long . As in my Daughters case I wasn’t prepared to wait she was in agony couldn’t even walk still needs a wheel chair because of nerve damage & balance problems. I don’t think GP’s class many illnesses as priority these days.

[Caze]

Have a look at the Benenden Health care.Expects you to use the NHS but will consider paying up to £1800 for tests etc to get a diagnosis if you have a wait on the NHS. I belong and so does my husband. Both used it and can recommend.

[Newcastlelover]

Thanks Caze I defo will x