Hospital waiting times :(

simpywimpy

Is there rules on how long you have to wait to be seen by a consultant?

My son has just received an appointment for a follow up after a serious assault in December but its not until July!! Meanwhile, last week I paid £150 for a consultation privately and even they couldn't believe the delay we have had with the nhs.

The problem is with his eye and sight and we are now told requires scans, and a referral to maxillofacial to repair his eye socket.

Is there anyway I could push to claim the £150 back from the NHS based on the unacceptable waiting times? Surely there must be some rules somewhere on the maximum you are expected to wait!

I've made numerous phonecalls etc to keep pushing for an appointment since January.

Optimist

I believe the target is 90% for inpatient and 95 % for out patient to be seen within 18 weeks from referral GP. So your son falls out of the target. There is no facility as far as I am aware to claim for a private consultation that is your choice.

You might even find that the private consultant you saw is the same one who will do your sons NHS treatment

olias

And the same one he would have seen if he waited till July!

Olias

molerat

The 18 week referral to treatment rule starts in Dec 2011.

My wife has just receved a letter to say that the hospital has received her GP referral and she will be receiving an appointment.

Now we know where the NHS money goes. 3 sheets of A4, envelope, postage and admin time to send out this pointless letter :mad:

Wolfsbayne

The 18 week referral officially starts in 2011 but every hospital, especially foundation trusts, are encouraged to make every effort to meet that target now. They get extra rewards from the government if they do (I think foundation trusts actually get penalised if they don't).

I work in operating theatres at a foundation trust and we are doing so many extra lists on a weekend to meet the target its unbelievable really (and evidently its been like this for the past 3 years).

Optimist

Wolfsbayne wrote: »

The 18 week referral officially starts in 2011 but every hospital, especially foundation trusts, are encouraged to make every effort to meet that target now. They get extra rewards from the government if they do (I think foundation trusts actually get penalised if they don't).

I work in operating theatres at a foundation trust and we are doing so many extra lists on a weekend to meet the target its unbelievable really (and evidently its been like this for the past 3 years).

Mmm I'm betting your in Scotland in which case I believe it is 2011. According to the 2004 NHS improvement plan this should have been up and running in the NHS in England by 2008.

Wonder where the OP is ?

brightonman123

perhaps these consultants should be banned from doing private work, while also taking the NHS shlling- might cut down the queues, too?

funguy

No, there is no way of speeding up a Consultant appointment in the NHS and there is no maximum time limit of your appointment. Most appointments are based on the severity of the issue as compared to everyone else on the waiting list.....

And no they cant refund your private clinic appt fee.

funguy

brightonman123 wrote: »

perhaps these consultants should be banned from doing private work, while also taking the NHS shlling- might cut down the queues, too?

These consultants do private work OUTWITH the hours that they are contracted to work for in the NHS. Therefore if they were banned from private work, it wouldnt make any difference to NHS waiting lists. And because of European Working Hours Time Directive, they couldnt do any more hours than they do already in the NHS.

In any case, what anyone does in their private time is not "ban-able"!!

Colin2511

OP, I agree with you here, I took my daughter three weeks ago to the docs about a large (6cm), mole on her back, which she has had from little as it is changing shape and uneven..he took one look and said he wanted an urgent referral, as he was not happy with it try as he did, the closest he could get was 11 weeks away. We have opted to go private for the appointment, I don't really want to, as on principal (and cost) I am against, but I think by mid July I will be a nervous wreck whilst we wait for a consulatants opinion on what could be a serious issue for my daughter

funguy

The above situation is very common - and its not right! the NHS is just not able to cope with the demand that is placed on already stretched finances....plus it is nowhere near as efficient as a private set-up would be!

I think more and more people would be keen to see a private insurance based system where everyone can be dealt with quickly and efficiently!......maybe retaining A+E services within "free" NHS access.