Referred for oral biopsy, long waiting time in Belfast

Hi and welcome. 
Leukplakia has the potential to become cancer but is itself not malignant hence the 6 week wait. 

Skate said:

Does private health insurance cut the waiting time?

Yes it might. A private consult with Maxillofacial might well be quicker. If you have had the white patches before you took out insurance you won’t be covered. 

Many thanks for the advice Dani, I'll follow that up. Should be ok insurance-wise.

Great. Then book that private appointment. If you do need further treatment there should be a seamless transfer to nhs if you wish it. Good luck. 

I was lucky enough to have private health insurance and had 30 doses of radiotherapy and 5 doses of chemotherapy all at Genesis care and am still recovering as it’s been exactly a year. If I had the treatment on the NHS I would doubt that I would be alive to tell the tale because of all the waiting and lack of services locally. Privately I am checked every 3 months.

Regards

Dave

Hi I'm from Northern Ireland and also have private healthcare insurance. I had an ulcer on my tongue that didn't heal last year and I was referred by my dentist to max fax. I was seen within the two weeks, Feb 2024 operation march and RT may. All NHS. Absolutely excellent service and no waiting around. Although mine turned out to be stage 1 cancer. I now get seen every month for the first year and then it's every two months second year. I asked my consultant at the time if going private would be quicker and he said no and he was right. Could you go private for the biopsy then NHS for the rest. I couldn't have faulted my treatment whatsoever. Hope all goes well.