A question about : NHS waiting times for children?
Does anybody know the guidlines for waiting times to see a consultant for children?
My 9 year old had some blood tests about 4 weeks ago, as she was having bouts of extreme fatigue, pains in her chest, muscle pain, headaches, dizziness etc! The blood tests came back showing she had a low white blood cell count, when I went to the GP to be told this, he said he needs to refer her to a consultant to do more investigations to find the cause of the low cells and her symptoms, he told me she would be seen very quickly as shes a child and there is a history of childhood cancer in the family. Plus the fact, she has low Netrophill levels which means shes picking up all kinds of bugs and can't fight them off very well (meaning shes losing lots of schooling)
Incidently she did have Gladular Fever about 3 years ago!
I got a letter today from the hospital saying there is a 9 week wait to see a Paeditrician Which means, it will be 3 months since first knowing about these low white cells, before she even sees someone, I really don't think thats good enough and frankly I am at my witts end with worry about her Do you think theres any point, speaking to the hiararchy at the hospital?
A very worried mum.
Best answers:
- Hi Mrsbojangles
Your first step is to go back to your GP, and explain your daughter's appointment is in 9 weeks time. If you GP is 'switched on' he should telephone the consultant's secretary and get you a more urgent appointment. If your GP does not suggest this himself, suggest it to him, he knows your family medical history and should be pressing for a closer appointment.
Otherwise, try telephoning the consultant's secretary yourself, very nicely explain your daughter's history stressing the family history of childhood cancer and asking if you could have an earlier appointment. Don't get cross or stressed with this person, he/she has a lot of power, you want them on your side whatever the outcome. You could ask for a cancellation appointment. Actually, the secretary may not be able to make these appointments, and re-direct you to medical records/appointments - be just as nice.
Another way forward, if either of these do not work and if you can afford it, is to make a private consultation appointment. You should get this very quickly, possibly in a private hospital, you do not have to go ahead with private treatment if you cannot afford it, at that stage explain you cannot afford it and would like to be treated on the NHS (you could pull at his/her heart strings by explaining you stretched yourself to pay for the private consultation in order your daughter could be seen as early as possible). The consultant has already seen your daughter, he knows what investigations or treatment she needs, as should be able to arrange these at the NHS hospital as though he first saw her there.
Sometimes, you have to work the system.
Hope this helps, hope your daughter is not too unwell, best wishes,
Jay - My advice would be to go through the Patient Advice Liasion Service (PALS)....every NHS Trust has to have one.
Whilst they are paid by the NHS they are kind of a seperate advocacy organisation and are very good. They will be able to tell you the best course of action (if there is one) to speed things up, as well as provide you with info on waiting times guidelines etc. They are also totally confidential.
You should be able to find details of your local PALS service on www.nhs.uk. Alternatively, you can call NHS direct on 0845 4647 who will give you contact numbers for your local PALS service (they may be able to offer some advice too but I'd still say go through PALS as they are local).
I really hope you can sort something out.
All the best. - You can, if you persist, find Paediatricians and compare their waiting times by searching Dr.Foster
If you start just entering your "postcode" and "Paediatrics" in the searchboxes. This will give you a list of possible consultants. You can then compare the waiting times by going to NHS waiting times - the above advice is right, start by visiting your GP,
[I was given an appointment in 28 weeks because my GP only sent in a routine referral letter, but on Monday another GP at the surgery saw me and sent a letter asking for an urgent appointment and I am being seen next week]
If your daughter does have any more episodes of dizzyness/headaches though, you could take her to the A&E dept where she would be seen by a Paediatrician immediately.
I hope all is well though, please let us now how she gets on - Hi all
Thank you for the replies! I went to see my GP on Tuesday morning to ask him to speed things up a bit as I had waited 2 weeks and not heard anything! He sent a letter asking for them to expedite an appointment to them on the Tuesday, we got this letter yesterday, so I phoned the surgery up and it seems both letters have crossed in the post. So in theory she should be seen much much quicker than the 9 week waiting time, if not I will take her private.
Thanks for all your well wishes, I will let you know how things go x
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