How to jump the NHS waiting list (15 top tips)
We at MyHSN are very, very sorry that waiting times in the NHS are more than poor. It is a disgrace and the NHS is partly to blame. It’s not all the governments fault. We doctors decide how we work, and how we use the NHS’s massive resources.
But there is still alot you can do. We will now describe 10 top tips to skip the NHS waiting list. You may be waiting for
- The first appointment with a hospital consultant
- Having been seen by a consultant, you may be waiting for ab operation (or procedure).
So here are tips that deal with both stages – i.e. before referral, after referral, and after listing for an operation (5 each).
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 you can use the My Planned Care website to compare waiting times at different hospitals.
This is especially useful for patients who live between hospitals, or live in large cities (with multiple hospitals) or who don’t mind travelling. Often waiting times in distant rural hospitals are less than local urban ones.
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 GPs (and see the right person first time).
Try to see an experienced GP face-to-face that knows you and you trust [“that’s not that easy .. actually.” Sorry, you are right. MyHSN Ed].
Ask be examined (a good GP will examine you without asking). Make sure they follow you up, not ‘the system’ – e.g. don’t see a locum (temporary) GP initially or have them do the follow-up.
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).
If this does not lead to a diagnosis, ask for a CT of the chest, abdomen and pelvis (or MRI if its the spine); again, when there is no clear diagnosis, and your symptoms persist.
If all is negative, see a different GP and start again.
5. NHS App
The NHS app can now be used in some bits of the UK to help you. For example, 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 (continuing to be politely persistent [“OK OK .. understood.” MyHSN Ed])
- 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?”
There are things you can do, e.g. update your medical record and medication list (and take them with you).
5. Keep yourself fit
- Do what you can to improve things, e.g. get diabetes or blood pressure better controlled, lose some weight
- When you are near to the clinic date, make sure you know the way there (bus or taxi may be better than driving), where the clinic is, and get there 30 minutes early
- Ring the secretary or e-booking department and try to get the 1st (or 2nd) appointment of the day. The consultant will be more likely to be on time, and have their freshest brain ready.
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.
In other words, whilst the waiting list in your area might be long, hospitals in the next county or in another region of England may be shorter. You have the right to choose which hospital you have your treatment, so it’s worth doing some research before deciding.
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.
For example, you may spend £40 on a round of drinks, or £20 on a takeaway – twice a week. If you add those up over a month or year they could be 5-10% of your salary. Consider selling something. Or ask a close friend or family member to help you financially (a gift not a loan). Then use that money on your health.
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. Why? Its their job to keep you in work (and fit), with as little time off as possible.
If you work in the NHS this is a particularly good option. They will be inside the NHS so have a very useful network.
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. Many patients are unaware that the NHS contracts private hospitals to perform surgery at no additional cost to the patient. 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. Obtain the name, phone number and email address of your consultants secretary. Regularly (every 2 weeks) call her/him to check for cancellations – i.e. be politely persistent. You need to emphasise you are available at short notice, and are very grateful for their time and help. After the operation send the secretary a card +/- small present.
Note. 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.
Oh yes. Can I pay to jump the NHS queue?
In a word: no. However, there are some ways to get your treatment quicker as described above.
Summary
We have described 15 top tips to jump the NHS waiting list; with tips before referral, after referral, and after listing for something. We hope it has been helpful.
The most important general tip =
Push push push. Politely. Chase chase chase. Don’t assume no news is good news.
