"Long wait due to missed referral"

I went for my routine smear in Aug 2020.  What the nurse thought was my cervix was not.  I was told I would need an urgent referral. I went private through my work, and got an appointment that evening at Ross Hall, I was finally diagnosed with stage 4 Endometriosis, which is also on my bowel. I have chocolate cysts on my ovaries.

Due to the severity of my condition the surgery I need would take between 5/6 hours so it can’t be done privately.  I was referred back to my GP with a letter with clear instructions. They referred me to the BSCG endometriosis clinic at QEUH  - that was in November 2020. Two doctors at my surgery told me the referral had been done. I found out in April 2021 that no referral had been made after numerous calls to my GP. I was instead referred to Monklands gynaecology who told me as soon as I went in there was nothing he could do for me , and the letter he could see on my file clearly states I should be at QEUH.  Hew did the referral that day.

I put a complaint into my GP surgery and had a meeting with them.  I was first told there was a technical problem the day my referral was made. I explained how I had called the day after to be told  the referral was definitely made. I also advised if there was a technical issue that day then surely it wasn’t just me, and that they would need to go back to that day and make sure every patient that day was properly treated and nothing was missed. The doctor then told me that there was no technical fault it was their fault as they had forgotten to do the referral.

At that point I left the meeting - I could not take any more. I was finally seen at the endometriosis clinic in June 2021. I was put on the waiting list for my operation (full hysterectomy, possibility a stoma bag depending on how badly my bowels are affected). I was given the prostap injection to put my body into a surgical menopause along with HRT. Lock downs had been lifted at this point and it was hopeful I would have my operation before Christmas 2021. Lockdown was reintroduced around September 2021 and everything was put on hold again. 

It is now June 2022 and I am still waiting.  Surgeries still have not resumed as of yet, due to the wards being full. I am now on long term sick from my work due to the amount of absences I’ve had due to severe cramps. I cannot sit for any length of time due to cramps in my back passage. I have heavy bleeding from my back passage daily.  I have also since been diagnosed with fibromyalgia and osteoarthritis.  don’t have confidence leaving the house anymore. I have severe swelling to the point I look like I am at least 6/7 months pregnant. I have bad anxiety, also the financial impact is stressing me out as I have used all my company sick pay with my work and ssp so I now have to rely on benefits which are almost impossible to get. My referral was delayed 6 months because of my GP, and because of this I am in pain daily and I know I just have to suffer it out, 

I strongly feel if my referral was done when it was supposed to have been done , the chances are  I would have had my operation when the lock down lifted the first time. Instead I now have to wait, and suffer. I have had no follow up from my doctor at the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital Glasgow Endometriosis clinic, I just have to keep taking my injections and HRT.