Cancer waiting times article

DebbieJ said:

Dani - it was so lovely to meet you and Stan at the Conwy Honey Fair.

With had a good fair and meeting up with you and Julie was the icing on the cake. Good to see you both xxx

I'm in Wales too and my wait from first seeing the consultant and starting treatment was 170 days (ish). It probably would have been quicker, but there were questions around whether they could do surgery because of tumour location and then I asked for a referral for proton beam therapy so that added time. I think I still would have been outside the recommended time, but not by so many days.

Where did you have proton,  ? 

University College Hospital in London. I think that added a round 5/6 weeks to my wait.

Hi Dani

That is so frustrating for Stan having to wait so long for knee surgery. I used to work as an O.T. in the health system and I often used to see clients waiting for hip replacements. Many of them were almost wheelchair bound as their mobility got so bad before their name came up for surgery. Then it was almost a miracle after their surgery they were so mobile again. That sort of wait time makes me very reluctant to give up my private health cover especially with my cancer medical history. Fortunately I am in a reasonable financial position so I can keep up the private health cover but not everyone is so lucky. Even if you do get private cover there is usually a year wait time for pre-existing conditions.

Paying privately for surgery out of your funds is one answer but that puts a huge dent in pension funds. Private health cover would not fund my jaw surgery for the titanium bracket and dental implants and it would have cost about $20,000 privately. I did not have those funds but did think about taking it out of my superannuation which would have put a big dent in it as I don't have that much. I had to wait to be approved to become a public patient. Fortunately it only took a year wait before I could have the surgery so not as long as many. I think the maxiofacial team helped push it through which sped things up.

Lyn

I was put on the two week protocol on 25.11.22 and by the 25.01.23 had my operation.  I think this was reasonable as there seem to be a progession between initial diagnosis and treatment.  I do worry about the people who could fall between the cracks due to admim errors and who cannot face dealing  with the beauracy at a time  when they are considered to be at the most vulnerable which makes these forums worth there weight in gold!  

I was 123 days  before surgery - same health board as friend Debbie J, yet the intial referral from Dentist to first hospital appt was 15days seen day after boxing day - what a Christmas this was.

Dani - I may ask your advice in future if needed about Stan and his knee - I was told last month by GP it is  too soon to refer as not serious enough at present - boy did walking down the steps to lower car park with Debbie cause so pain, even though I was prepared with the double tubigrip on leg -still it was worth it for the honey and wonderful company plus a few hours rest eases it along with some Paramol and Voltarol gel. P.S Physio ref 6 weeks and still waiting.

I must admit our health board is back in special measures for third time where the problem lies I am sure the management has a lot to answer - but there seems to be no real answer and we can do without politics enough on TV etc.

Hubby likened my early morning dash to A&E when I had post op bleed to a war zone hospital - it was pure devastation.  I was one of the lucky ones - the Dr on call from Max Fax was there within minutes - but still it was a nightmare to see A&E

It is a mess .............

Lanclassie said:

Dani - I may ask your advice in future if needed about Stan and his knee - I was told last month by GP it is  too soon to refer as not serious enough at present - boy did walking down the steps to lower car park with Debbie cause so pain, even though I was prepared with the double tubigrip on leg

Julie. What will your knee be like in five years time? This is the question that I posed to Stan. To my mind if a replacement is inevitable it makes no sense to wait. You might as well be pain free straightaway 

I think your GP is procrastinating because he knows you don’t stand a chance getting on a waiting list until you can’t walk. 
It is your GP who should at least send you to orthopaedics for an opinion. 
My advice would be to get an xray on the NHS. Your GP should be fairly easy to convince, get a private opinion then save up to get it done half the price abroad. Sad! 

Lanclassie said:

still it was worth it for the honey and wonderful company

It was a joy to meet you both. The pleasure I get in giving folk who have been through what we have and who I have got to know through these pages a hug is indescribable xx

Have had the xray late July and referred physio - hubby intends to come with me to tackle GP in couple weeks he can take in better than me xray result and ask for ref - just waiting for what physio says- as for private it is the option - may have mentioned have spoken to someone in Llandysul who went to Lithuania at recommendation of physio who had op over there also. If push comes to shove I can speak with her.

Did Stan need ref from GP to see consultant and scan private or not.

NHS up here have a specialist day surgery for hip and knee state of the art !!! 

Hope this is allowed on here - verbal telling off maybe in order.

Take care - hello to Stan

bcuhb.nhs.wales/.../