Waiting times - Scotland

• Go to A&E on a weekday and say that upper been referred with an appointment in 4 weeks,  but the pain is really bad and you are struggling to sleep and control the pain. They could scan you if it's considered to be affecting you that badly.  Which hospital is it?

That’s outside the national protocol for waiting times for the urgent breast clinic - I would ring them direct on Monday and query this waiting time. I was seen within 2 weeks - your waiting time is nearly 4!

You could also ring the team on the helpline here here for advice as to how best to proceed under these circumstances.

It’s a very anxiety provoking time and of course there may be lots of reasons for your symptoms. So hard not to overthink but try not to as it will only take you to the place of no return. Find things to do that help you feel a bit more settled and distract you from intrusive thoughts. In the waiting period (always the worst - everyone will feel you that), I made sure I got out every day in the woods near me, talked about things other than ‘the situation’ as well as acknowledging ‘the situation’, built in small treats for myself - even coffee out more often than usual for example! And cuddled my dog more than usual (only just about possible). These kinds of things didn’t take it all away, but they did help keep me sane.

Jan x

I went to A&E. It was during a Covid lockdown. I knew someone local who wasn’t seen for three weeks by the GP and I wasn’t risking that. Admit that I was in pain, and duty doctor felt a mass. The next day I was in the breast clinic, and all scans done. Two weeks later I’d had a PICC line put in, started chemo the next day. Four weeks does sound long time.