Waiting Time For Appointment At Breast Clinic.

[LD_DOLL1611]

My sister has found a lump in her breast and has been told that she wont be seen at the breast clinic for over 11 weeks.....Please can anyone confirm if this is a normal time to wait...She is not sleeping or eating and I am worried that her health will suffer in the time she is having to wait.

[emmie]

no it isn't, generally one gets seen very quickly. I saw someone within less than two weeks.

[emmie]

suggest she go back to the GP or whoever it was she saw and tell them it's not acceptable. Complain if need be or see someone else in the practice, assume you are in the UK?

[LD_DOLL1611]

Thank you em10. I thought that was too long....I am going to get another docs appointment for her and go with her to ask why it is so long....We are in Scotland so I dont know if its a different waiting time.

[emmie]

nowhere in the UK should make you wait that long, my surgery called the hospital immediately, and as i said was seen very quickly.

[sara3]

http://www.breastcancercare.org.uk/breast-cancer-information/breast-awareness/referral-breast-clinic

it says 2 weeks here. 11 weeks is an unfunny joke. she needs to get them to sort it out. I hope it's all fine for her

[marval]

I didn't have to wait that long, I was seen very quickly. I hope she can get it moved forward and that all is ok.

[237SJ]

The Patients` Charter stated that everybody in your sister`s situation should be seen within 2 weeks. I have a vague recollection that the current government abolished that but the 2 weeks or less guideline still seems to apply within the NHS. An eleven week wait is unacceptable.

[LD_DOLL1611]

Many thanks to everyone who answered me....We even thought about trying to get some money together to go private as she is so worried...I will let you all know if we get an earlier app....thanks again.

[Maydup]

Good luck LD-DOLL, be strong for your sister and don't leave the GP until you have an appointment for next week.

[Sqad]

If the facts are as you have stated, then this is totally and utterly unacceptable.........a substandard of healthcare that one would associate with a third world country......astonishing.
Notice that there are no signs of any of our left wing Socialists, to comment..

If there is any way......go Private.

The only excuse I can fathom is that your lump is clearly only in the skin, not attached to breast tissue and your doctor knows that it is an innocent cyst.

[emmie]

sqad, LD doll sister is the one with the problem. And quite frankly no one would tell you that you had to wait for an examination for 11 weeks even if they thought it was a benign cyst, you can't tell as you know without a biopsy. I hope they get seen a lot sooner.

[Sqad]

em.....not true....if it was in the skin and not attached to breast tissue as I explained.......it could be a sebaceous cyst.

[yogasun]

That is totally unacceptable. I think a one to two week wait for an appointment here is the norm, don't know of anyone who has had to wait longer (including myself but that was 15 years ago).
I'd get her to kick up a big stink about it. Good luck.

[emmie]

but who would expect to wait that length of time to find out either way.
I had a biopsy done and it was benign thank goodness.

[BlueToffee]

Mrs BT went for a routine mammogram in 2010, a cancer was found, she was operated on within 4 weeks and has just been told by the oncologist that she doesn't have to see him again for 18 months. Bravo NHS.

In your sister's case I urge her to become a badger her doctor and local breast clinic until she is seen, 11 weeks is NOT acceptable.

Good luck to her.

[LD_DOLL1611]

Hi All, The latest is "yes" the soonest she will be seen is 10 to 11 weeks...We phoned the breast clinic at the hospital this morning and they have actually admitted that they cannot cope with the number of people being sent....What do we do now apart from try and get some money together for a private consultation.... Even if the doctor thinks its not serious this is still not acceptable...Most people in this situattion are still going to worry...Away to phone citizens advice medical dept.

[Sqad]

Go Private....the NHS has broken down in your area.

[woofgang]

You might try phoning your local PALS department (patient advice and liaison) and finding out what the local breast lump policy is for referral and timescale. You MUST be given this information. If your sister's treatment is breaching the policy then start a complain procedure. What has the GP actually said about the lump and what it its likely to be?