Waiting Lists for NHS endos...?

[Gilbo72]

So end pf September I was referred back to endo for T3 being low and out of range. I got my appointment through which was end of March 2019 - which was long enough. Now I’ve just got a letter through saying they have had to reschedule and appointment is now mid-June 2019. Is this normal??

[bantam12]

Waiting lists for most things are very long right now, I will have had a 6 month wait for Cardiology appt in Jan but it's likely to be rescheduled.

[spongecat]

Sadly this is the way things are now. Maybe a cancellation might crop up but then there is a queue for those as well.

The only option to be seen quickly is to go private, something that many cannot afford.

[MaisieGray]

You can ask to be referred to somewhere else where the waiting time is shorter, if there is anywhere. The central booking people should be able to tell you this.

[Hennerton]

I am sure waiting lists are very long but this seems totally unacceptable to me. Firstly I would speak to my GP, who presumably referred you and see if she can speed things along and then I would join up for cheap private medical care via Benendon Health. It will not be able to help you for six months (or maybe it is three) as there's an automatic time lag after first joining to ensure that you have not joined just to get a quick appointment. Thereafter they will allow you to use their services if your NHS appointment is more than three weeks wait. You can use other services immediately, such as phone advice from a doctor and once fully in the scheme you can use your local private hospital of your choice, as long as your consultant is an accredited NHS consultant and is on their lists. I have never been refused the one of my choice. You pay the fee, send the receipt and it is credited straight into your bank. All very efficient and lovely people at the end of the phone. It started to help TB employees of the Post Office in the early 1900's but opened up to everyone in the past ten years or so. My father was in the Civil Service, hence we had this cover as a family. Definitely a good way to overcome the shortcomings of the NHS! (They also have a stunning new hospital in Kent if you live anywhere near! )

[SlowDragon Administrator]

Have you researched the endocrinologist you are seeing?

Got the recommended list of T3 friendly endocrinologists from Dionne at Thyroid UK?

Otherwise it's likely to be a Diabetes specialist and often a huge disappointment

Obviously there are very, very few specialist thyroid endocrinologists. Which is ridiculous considering Levothyroxind is the 2nd most prescribed medication and taken by almost 2 million patients in the U.K. and they admit that 10-20% of patients fo badly on it and need further evaluation (so that's over 200,000 people!)

The insistence that all thyroid patients on T3 prescribed by NHS are seen every 6 months by NHS endocrinologist is obviously going to vastly increase waiting lists

Presumably they hope many will give up and go private

[Gilbo72]

Well today I managed to speak to a secretary and voila I have an appointment with another endo this month! The endo in question is one that has been recommended privately here, and I was considering to see privately. Double result! But now I am worried if he poo poos the whole T3 issue for me then that is pretty much the end of my journey!... I’m now worri g he will also want to reduce my levo...arghh!

[serenfach]

I recently waited 42 weeks. In and out in 5 minutes and no help at all. (Wales)

[DeeD123 in reply to serenfach]

I can beat that on the length of appointment. Hello he said your a very unusual case. Out in 4 min. Yep wales 😢