"Waiting times terrible!"

After trudging along with an undiagnosed thyroid issue for years thanks to various GPs blaming my anxiety and panic attacks for what was in fact Thyroid Storms (apparently I, as an untrained civilian, cannot tell the difference even though I am experiencing the sensations myself and happen to know a panic attack like the back of my own hand...) I finally find a GP with an ounce of common sense at the recommendation of a family member who manages to confirm Hyperthyroidism in one week flat and provide medication to handle the symptoms while I am referred to an Endocrinologist.

I called NHS Referrals attempting to make an appointment with an Endo in July 2017. I was told that there were no appointments available at the QE in Lynn (I cannot travel to Cambridge or Norwich due to health problems, ironically, though they had no appointments available either and this continues to be the case) and that I would be put on the waiting list and receive an appointment by 9th August.

This morning, 26th September, I suddenly realise it's been a while and I should chase this elusive appointment up. Eventually I speak to the Hospital Appointments department directly. At this point I was informed that the waiting time to see an Endocrinologist is currently at twenty eight weeks.

This means I will not receive an appointment until February 2018!!!

On the original letter I received for the referral it clearly states I have the right to be seen within 18wks of referral unless there is a good medical reason for not doing so. There is no such medical reason. I really do think this is an unacceptable waiting time, particularly considering how long I have been enduring the symptoms already without any assistance.

So the long and short of it is that I have been misled regarding the time frame, my so-called right to be seen within 18wks of referral is not being met and cannot be met, and there is not a darn thing I can do about it except hope that my health does not deteriorate more than it already has in the meanwhile.

If this hospital has a staffing issue (which it clearly seems is the case!) then it needs to be addressed as a matter of urgency as it seems pretty obvious from where I am sitting that there are not enough Endos (two according to the answering machine) on your team to cope with the demands of your workload. This is not the patients problem and patients should not have to wait over six months just to get their foot through the Consultants door. At this rate I will be lucky to have any idea what the cause of the Hyperthyroidism is before my next birthday, completely atrocious! Let's hope it's not cancer that's steadily growing while I languish on the waiting list. I am now looking into private options, though there is only one private Endo in the entire of Norfolk and they may not even deal with Thyroids, so as someone who is likely 100% reliant on your hospital for care I respectfully request that this matter is taken to the appropriate person/s asap.