Waiting time for 1st apt

Hi and a warm welcome to the online community

I'm sorry to read that you're worried about a mole on your back. I used the search bar in the group to see if anyone else has mentioned being in Scotland but unfortunately drew a blank.

Normally people get seen by a dermatologist within 14 days of referral in England but I understand that we are the only one of the 4 nations that has this target.

I have found this information which I think is saying that a first outpatients appointment in Scotland should be no more than 12 weeks from referral. However, you would probably be better asking your GP what is the 'normal' timeframe to be seen for the first time at a hospital in case I've misinterpreted it.

One possible option for you, if the referral time is normally up to 12 weeks, is to go for an initial consultation privately. I did this four years ago and it cost about £150 for the consultation. In my case I paid because the wait was going to be several months as the GP didn't think my lesion was cancerous so I wasn't being referred under the two week wait.

The consultant didn't think the lesion was cancerous either but wanted to biopsy it to see what it was. As I didn't have private health cover he asked my GP to refer me to see him at his NHS practice where he performed the biopsy. 

Let us know what your GP says about referral times in Scotland.

x

Thanks for the reply and additional info, my GP has no idea as she says the appointment time is outwith her control as it would be decided by the dermatologist based on her referral letter and the medical images taken so don't feel any further forward. 

I have had a Google for private dermatologists and they appear to be thin on the ground for this type of thing, they were either more for cosmetic stuff or temporarily closed, will keep searching.

HI Orchid 

I am in Scotland and had a similar experience to yourself. In November i went to my GP and he looked at a suspicious freckle and referred me to Dermatology as an " urgent " referral.  This meant that i should be seen in 2 weeks. I waited for the two weeks but didn't hear anything back from Dermatology  . I started to get very anxious as its really vital to catch cancer and in particular melanoma at an early stage for a good prognosis.

I called the Dermatology department  and was horrified when the person i spoke to told me i would maybe wait " up to 14 weeks " to be seen due to covid. I wasn't having that. I immediately made a formal complaint to the NHS and also got my local MSP to advocate for me too. In the meantime i decided i had to go private to get the suspected melanoma cut out by excision.

It cost money but it was well spent as i got an appointment within a couple of weeks.   Ironically i then got an appointment with the NHS the next week. I am positive this was due to my complaint and the advocacy of my local MSP.    

I got a diagnosis of stage 1a in mid December. I had my wle in mid Jan and got all clear in early Feb. However i will still need checks every 3 months etc.  The stress of potentially not being seen for up to 14 weeks really got to me. I would advise you strongly , if you haven't heard anything back to get your local MSP involved and also complain too. I dread to think what my diagnosis might have been if i hadn't kicked up a fuss as such . Its your life. I must say that my GP was very good and was appalled about the possible wait for me. 

I wish you well

Kind regards

Adam 

Adam55 thank you for replying. I spoke to my GP who also said that tbe referral was urgent but only because that is protocol for all skin issues, she told me that Scotland doesn't officially have tbe 14 day referral but that the dermatologist would have looked at the medical images taken and from those decided on tne timescale for my first appointment and that I should be reassured by this because had they been concerned then I would have had a fast tracked appointment. I am not convinced or reassured by this.

If you don't mind me asking how and where did you complain, as when I contacted referral management for tbe appointment timescale I was also told that my local hospital has temporarily closed it's dermatology department due to Covid and that she couldn't even tell me which hospital my appointment would be for. This just left me more stressed.

Could you also tell me, even privately which private hospital you went to for your surgery and diagnosis as I have been looking but struggling to find one anywhere near me.

Thanks 

HI Orchid. 

It all depends where in Scotland you are to make a complaint. It tends to be the " Patient experience team" of each health authority.  I went private with Spire hospitals , There are many throughout Scotland and depends where you are too.  Hope this helps.  Adam

Thank you, I did find a Spire hospital but couldn't find much info about it, the nearest one to me, I think is Edinburgh which is about 40 miles away, think I will contact t them on Monday.

There are two in Edinburgh.  Murrayfield and Danderhall.  You would need to make an appointment with a consultant to discuss the suspected melanoma.  That costs £200 .  Then if you proceed you will need to get the excision operation too.  However maybe by that time you will have heard from the NHS but its always good to parallel plan as such. 

Hi

How are you doing? Have you managed to get a date yet either with the NHS or privately to see a dermatologist about your suspicious mole?

I complained to my local NHS and received a phonecall from the Patient Services Team to 'reassure' me that the lead Dermatology consultant had reviewed my case and looked at the medical images taken and was standing by the decision not to issue an urgent appointment and that I should be seen in the 8-10 week timescale and not a minute before. I have since spoken to my GP who to me that Dermatology have sent a letter to her downgrading the urgent referral to a routine referral as from the images they have decided that the chance of the lesion being a melanoma is highly unlikely and that I should be reassured by this but I'm not as I know they can't always tell from an image. I have since contacted the private hospital for an appointment with one of their Dermatologists and am waiting to hear back with a suitable appointment time. 

Hi. I am also in Scotland and have been going privately to Ross Hall hospital in Glasgow for treatment. I am lucky to have private medical cover with BUPA through my work. The dermatologist and subsequent plastic surgeon I have seen there have been excellent