How to jump NHS waiting list by 3 months
If you follow all the advice below, you can jump NHS waiting list by 3 months – sometimes 6 months.
5 Top Tips before being referred to hospital
1. Use the NHS’s My Planned Care website – i.e do some research before you see the GP, to help them
Waiting times can vary considerably between hospitals. And, accept that it might be sensible to choose to have your operation at a hospital that is not close to home where the waiting lists are shorter.
2. Be politely persistent at your GP (and see the right person first time).
Hint 1. Proactive communication – with your GP (and hospital consultant after you have been seen by them) can make a big difference.
Hint 2. Write everything down – everything, Names, dates, phone numbers .. the lot.
3. See your GP early
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.
4. 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).
5. Use NHS App
You can chase 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.
5 Top Tips after being referred to hospital
1. 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.
2. Names
Find the names of the:
- Consultant you have been referred to
- Department they work in
- Consultant’s secretary. Get to know them. Be nice. They are very important. Check the date that you are to be seen.
Write all this down.
3. Ask the consultant’s secretary
- Ask if there is another consultant in the department if they 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.
4. Get ready
Ok, so you are waiting to see someone. You may wait 3 months. But, whilst waiting ask yourself ‘what am I doing to help myself?”
5. Keep yourself fit
- Do what you can to improve things, e.g. get diabetes or blood pressure better controlled, lose some weight. Update your medical record and medication list/
5 Top Tips after being put on waiting list for an operation (or procedure)
1. 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.
2. 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.
This approach may allow you to access surgery in weeks rather than months.
3. 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.
4. 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.
5. Be politely persistent [“yes, we have GOT THAT NOW .. thankyou” MyHSN Ed]
As we said, proactive communication can make a big difference. This is so importnat we are saying it twice.
Note. Re a waiting list for an operation etc, you also need to check 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.
