10 ways to jump the NHS waiting list
This is alot easier than you might think, but all the top tips below require some work from you. If you do them all, you can jump the waiting list by 3 months easily, 6 months with effort. We will now give you 10 ways to jump the NHS waiting list.
Before being referred to hospital
1. See your GP early .. and be politely persistent at your GPs
The earlier you see your GP with a problem, the sooner you will get the treatment you need. If things do not improve, you need to go back and ask the doctor(s) to start again.
And .. be politely persistent .. e.g:
- See the best GP that knows you first (see the right person first time) – and get follow-up with them. Say ‘please’ and ‘thankyou’ alot (hint: receptionists like chocolates!)
- Be proactive with communication with your GP. This can make a big difference
- Write everything down – everything – =names, dates, phone numbers .. the lot.
2. Ask for investigation
When you have seen your GP, and there is no clear diagnosis, and your symptoms persist, have a low threshold for asking for a battery of blood tests (everything they can think of). What’s the blood CRP (a good ‘trouble at mill’ blood test)? A normal one is reassuring (serious disease less likely).
If there is still no clear diagnosis, a CT of the chest/abdomen/pelvis (CAP) is a good idea. Go private if you can.
3. Chase your own test results
You can do this by using NHS App and Patient Knows Best website.
Help your GP by chasing your own blood tests and scans, and see the letters your GP (and hospital consultants) write about you. In this way, you can (and should) be the glue in the system.
You can do this with the NHS App and the very good Patient Knows Best (PKB) website.
Write all these results down.
After being referred to hospital
4. Look out for your referral letter
This will give you the details of your first hospital appointment, and is very important. Don’t lose it.
If it does not arrive within two weeks, contact the hospital, not your GP. You can do this by ringing either the e-booking service, or a secretary in the department you are being referred to, or both. He/she will help you.
Don’t assume that if the letter does not arrive, that all is OK. Big mistake. BIG mistake. The referral request may:
- Not have been sent
- Not have arrived
- Have arrived and not been looked at
- Been looked at but not acted on
- Been sent to the wrong department (yes, it happens).
Assume nothing.
5. Names
Find key names. This includes:
- Consultant you have been referred to
- Department they work in
- Consultant’s secretary. Get to know them, and their email address. Be nice. Say ‘please’ and ‘thankyou’ alot. Secretaries are very important. Check the date that you are to be seen.
Write all this down.
6. Ask the consultant’s secretary
- Ask if there is another consultant in the department who can see you earlier
- Ask to be informed if there are any cancellations. Be ready to have the referral at short notice
- Say you don’t mind travelling. For example some consultants do clinics in small hospitals away from the base hospital. Say you don’t mind being seen there.
Write all this down.
After being put on waiting list for an operation (or procedure)
7. Consider alternative hospitals
Your local hospital might not be your quickest option. If the waiting time for the operation or procedure is unacceptable (say over 6 months), ask for (re)referral to a different NHS hospital with shorter waiting times. Less crowded facilities, particularly in rural areas, can often schedule surgery faster than urban hospitals.
Right to choose (includes NHS-Funded private hospitals)
The ‘Right to Choose’ is guaranteed by the NHS Constitution, which “gives most people living in England the right to choose where to receive treatment”.
You can even choose to be referred to many private hospitals. So ask your GP if you can be referred to an NHS-approved private hospital.
8. Explore your Occupational Health (OH) options
Most large employers have OH departments staffed by doctors, nurses and physios etc. Make an appointment. They often have big ‘networks’ and with a phone call (or email) can push you up waiting lists.
9. Explore private medical options
If time is critical and your budget allows, private treatment can drastically reduce your waiting time. If you do not have private medical insurance in the UK (most people don’t) maybe you should consider using some of your hard-earnt money to pay for one off operations.
You may be happy to spend £30 on a round of drinks or a takeaway, twice a week. That = £3120 year. So why not spend that on your health? Or sell something. Or ask a loved one or friend for gift.
This approach may allow you to access surgery (or a procedure) in weeks rather than months.
10. Be politely persistent at the hospital [“yes, we understand .. thankyou” MyHSN Ed]
As we said, proactive communication can make a big difference. This is so important we are saying it twice (three times, see below).
Note. Re a waiting list for an operation etc, you also need to check with the consultant’s secretary intermittently that you are still on it. There can be admin errors and patients fall off the list. Keep asking how long you can then expect to wait for the operation.
Summary
We have described 10 ways to jump the NHS waiting list. There is alot you can do to jump NHS waiting list by 3 months (even 6 months), if you follow all the advice above. We at MyHSN are very sorry you may need to do this, as the NHS waiting lists are so long. But it’s really worth doing. Here is the ‘MyHSN’s tri-mantra’.
1. Chase, chase, chase
2. Assume nothing – never assume no news is good news
3. Be politely persistent and proactive”[“yes, we have GOT THAT NOW .. thankyou” Ed]
