Waiting time

[AmandaSlater]

Has anyone else had to wait for their yearly check up appointment at St James, Leeds? I normally go every April but this year , as yet no appointment. I have given them a ring and it’s a long waiting list apparently. Not a problem for me ( apart from getting repeat prescriptions when docs query having no updated info), but it might be for others 🙃

[Candy12]

I don’t go to St James, but I had an additional 3 month wait before.

When all non urgent appointments were put back one winter, when the sickness bug levels in the hospital were high. It never affected my medications though. Maybe there just a bit slow sending them out, as it’s that time of year again.

My consultant now gives me a signed form, to take to reception to make my next appointment , so I’am already on the list each time.

[MissusTee]

I go to St James and had to wait for 18 months for my follow up appointment. It's the sorry state of the NHS I'm afraid, in fact most of my hospital appointments are 3 months behind.

[AmandaSlater in reply to MissusTee]

At least I know this is the norm! 😒

[Dotyy]

Hi Amanda Slater, I certainly never had to wait for a yearly appointment. My appointment was made for the next appointment at my clinic visit . Not sure if you mean you have had an initial appointment? Or your waiting for first visit. About your medication, if you already assigned a liver consultant you could try emailing or phoning the secretary to explain your Gp needs advice about prescribing. Failing that I wonder if you can ask to go to a different hospital. Good luck with it all.

[AmandaSlater in reply to Dotyy]

Thanks for replying,. No I am not a ‘newby’ to PBC, was diagnosed 6 years ago. This is the first year I have not been for my yearly appointment on time for bloods, scan etc.I have never seen the same consultant twice but will give them a ring if my local docs want an update on my prescription as I can’t do without the Urso, it works for me x

[Ballymahon2 in reply to AmandaSlater]

As far as i am aware the gp can prescribe urso

[Dotyy]

Hi Amanda Slater, sorry I misread your message firstly, I should have seen it wasn’t your first appointment. Yes I often almost always in fact see different people, if you feel comfortable with them and they know their stuff I find that compensates. I’m sure they will make sure you receive your urso, glad it’s working well for you. Ok for me too at moment although my history a bit more complicated. All the very best to you.

[GrittyReads]

It seems this sort of massive backlog is common in relation to most conditions, and in most hospitals. One of the main causes is supposed to be an increasing shortage of staff, in most hospitals. In addition, we have an increasingly ageing population, plus, the increased ability - now - for many conditions to be properly reported on and described by the population. Many online sites, such as this one - as well as much more general health info online - is helping people to realise that they genuinely have may have something wrong, and they go to their GP.

[Lets face it, about 50 years ago, women with severe endometriosis generally put up with dreadful, unbelievable pains for years, or decades (imagining, or being told that they 'just' had heavy periods) before anything was done. Now such conditions are being dealt with (although still quite slowly in the case of Endo)]

However, one of the major current reasons for the backlog of appointments and treatments, in most areas, is most probably 'Brexit'.

In the last few years, vast numbers of NHS staff who come from other European countries have simply gone back to their own countries, or other EU countries which are not trying to leave the EU.

This will get worse if Brexit goes ahead. Plus, if the NHS is hit further - eg increased privatisation, or the US system muscling in on our wonderful NHS, post-Brexit, as is likely - then the treatment that we have come to rely on over the past few decades may well disappear, completely.

Cheers, Gritty

[Ballymahon2 in reply to GrittyReads]

This will get worse post brexit coz the staff from other countries even european countries will need visas etc.

[janine541]

Hi no not at all. But my last appointment I had to phone as it hadn't been made

[kimphoebe]

Hi there,

No my appointments in the last 6 years have always been on time and I used to have every 6 months, but now every 3 months as I’m on a trial.

[fudge13]

Hi there, yes I go to St James’s and have been waiting about 18 months now. I also phoned them, but they just said there’s a back log. This has happened to me a few times before. 18 months is the longest I’ve ever waited , but it looks like it’s going to be longer this time 😕

[AmandaSlater in reply to fudge13]

Yes, so do I . I think if we have a problem they would see us sooner, so I am just going to feel grateful that I feel ok 🤞

[fudge13]

Yes and if we were unwell our GP would ask them to see us sooner, so we are lucky that we are ok x