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"Wait for Endometriosis Surgery"

About: New Victoria Hospital / Gynaecology Clinic

(as the patient),

I had a consultation with a gynaecologist in GGC in 2023 who gave me some advice about endometriosis. I came away from the appointment quite disappointed and I opted for a private appointment as a second opinion. During this appointment I was advised that they believed surgery was my best option at that point and advised I contact the gynaecologist's secretary to ask them to consider if that could be an option.

I contacted the secretary and they advised in the notes that gynaecologist had said that surgery was an option, I was never spoken to about this at the appointment and was only advised to change the contraceptive pill I was using.

In October 2024, I was becoming frustrated as I had no word or letter to to update me about anything and I became worried that I wasn't on a waiting list at all. I contacted the gynaecology unit over email, who were incredibly helpful and kind, and was advised the overall wait time was 160 weeks and I was at 73 weeks. I'm assuming the overall is 160 weeks but who knows, as no updates are ever provided. I was advised if my condition has worsened that my GP could put in an urgent referral which I have been refused.

I've still not had anything through or even a text to confirm I still need the appointment and I think this is incredibly poor. It's so unnerving and feels completely out of control to sit and wait and not really having an idea of where you are on the list or a check in to see if your condition has worsened. Why is the onus put on the patient to contact the hospital to find out where they are on a list or how long the list even is? I understand staff are incredibly busy and I appreciate that things are very difficult just now, but more needs to be done to contact patients who are on long waiting lists for reassurance or even just a realistic measurement of how long they should expect to wait.

My condition has considerably worsened over the time I've had to wait and if I had known at the beginning I would be waiting over 3 years I would've probably considered going private at that time. If what was said in October still stands, then realistically I still have over a year to wait. For those with endometriosis whose condition seems to deteriorate and the potential ramifications of that, I think the waiting times are absolutely unbelievable. The potential impact that endometriosis can have on a person's quality of life can be so severe. I think senior management in hospitals needs to seriously consider putting more funding into recovering gynaecology services/ surgery, as I truly believe this is an equalities issue. 

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Responses

Response from Nikki Harvey, Lead nurse -Gynaecology, Gynaecology, NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde 6 days ago
Nikki Harvey
Lead nurse -Gynaecology, Gynaecology,
NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde
Submitted on 30/05/2025 at 11:14
Published on Care Opinion at 11:14


picture of Nikki Harvey

Dear

Thank you for taking the time to share your experience. On behalf of our gynaecology team, I want to sincerely apologise for the distress, frustration, and uncertainty you've faced throughout your care journey. Your feedback highlights a number of concerns, and I want to assure you that your voice is heard and valued.

I am deeply sorry that your initial consultation left you feeling disappointed and without clarity on all available treatment options, particularly around surgery. Patients deserve to leave appointments with a full understanding of their condition, choices, and next steps. The discrepancy between what was documented and what was communicated to you is concerning, and I will ensure this is followed up with the clinical team to learn from and address such gaps in future consultations.

It is equally frustrating for you to feel you have been left with so little information and support while on the waiting list. I fully understand how unsettling it must be to wait—particularly while your symptoms worsen—without any contact or updates on where you stand in the process. I can only apologise for this.

Endometriosis is a chronic, painful condition that can severely affect daily life, and we recognise the importance of timely intervention. It is deeply concerning to hear how significantly your condition has worsened and how unsupported you’ve felt. There are many support groups available if you search online including:

www.endometriosis-uk.org

While resource challenges remain across NHS services, I fully agree that long gynaecology waits are unacceptable and represent a broader issue that demands urgent attention. Your comment that this is an equalities issue is valid. We are actively raising these concerns at senior management and health board levels, advocating for more investment in surgical and specialist services, and pressing for more robust communication systems to keep patients informed.

In the meantime, I would welcome the opportunity to speak with you directly to review your current situation and explore what options may now be available to support you. If you would feel comfortable doing so on:

Nikki.Harvey@nhs.scot

Once again, I am truly sorry for the experience you've had and the impact it has had on your life. Your feedback is powerful and highlights where we must do better. Thank you for bringing this to our attention.

Kind regards,

Nikki

Nikki Harvey Lead Nurse Gynaecology

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