Referred at last

[markwsteele]

Hi, today I’ve been told that a referral has been made for me to see an endocrinologist...any idea what the standard or maximum waiting time should be? Am I looking at weeks or months? Thanks

[bantam12]

Usually many months.

[MaisieGray]

This is the NHS guidance:

"The maximum waiting time for non-urgent consultant-led treatments is 18 weeks from the day your appointment is booked through the NHS e-Referral Service, or when the hospital or service receives your referral letter.

However, your right to an 18-week waiting time does not apply if:

-you choose to wait longer

-delaying the start of your treatment is in your best clinical interests – for example, where stopping smoking or losing weight is likely to improve the outcome of the treatment

-it is clinically appropriate for your condition to be actively monitored in secondary care without clinical intervention or diagnostic procedures at that stage

-you fail to attend appointments that you had chosen from a set of reasonable options

-the treatment is no longer necessary"

[craigleese123]

i waited 5 weeks for my first endo appointment

[msp66]

I have an appointment in 2 weeks time, this is 6 months since referral.

[markwsteele]

Got my referral today...21 Feb. Talk about the nhs postcode lottery....

[5678sar in reply to markwsteele]

Wow! That's amazing. Good luck with your appointment.

[5678sar]

My GP told me it would be 'a few months, maybe more' so I have paid to go private (£200 consultation fee) and have my appointment in 2 weeks time.