Advice needed - Gallbladder Surgery Waiting List

No, you are not being unreasonable. Contact your MP via email - mine is actually being helpful.

I went to my GP about my gallstones in February 2024. I had an MRI scan and the results showed stones in my bile duct. I was given an appointment for an endoscopy in August to remove the stones in the bile duct. Unfortunately I contracted covid and couldn't have the procedure. I had another MRI scan in September which showed stones still there but bile duct wider. When I saw the consultant he said that the cholecystectomy could go ahead but it would probably be into early 2025.
Happily I received a date at the end of November for laparoscopic cholecystectomy with robotic removal of bile duct stones. It went ahead as planned on 28th November.
It took 9 months between seeing my GP and having the operation. I thought that was pretty good.

MiniMoon yes that is pretty good. I’m glad you got it sorted quickly.
It’s not really the length of time I’m worried about. The nature of it is that I will need a specialist surgeon, who will also treat cancer patients or those with acute onset symptoms who need treatment urgently, so I can expect a longer wait than a straightforward cholysystectomy.. .
Having said that, I seem to have gone to the back of the queue as a new patient when I would have thought that as I had already had surgery that was abandoned, I would already be in the system and be given a degree of priority, albeit not urgent (at the moment) .
The real problem for me is that I just don’t know how they prioritise (after the urgent cases) or how many ‘routine’ cases are ahead of me. Surely they are able to give this information without causing any problems?
I was also annoyed that she wouldn’t tell me how long (approx) the wait was, other than that it was longer than 17 weeks. If she knew this, she must have known how much longer!
And why doesnt the info in the NHS app correspond with the info the admissions team have?
I am tempted to write to the consultant’s secretary or contact PALs. I don’t feel I can follow OldFrill’s suggestion about my MP just yet - although it is reassuring that someone thinks I’m not being a pain.

Well I can only go by my experience, which was imo excellent.

Diagnosed in A&E during May/June 24. Decision made to remove after x-ray - Jne 24.

Pre-op September Removed in October.

The whole experience was smooth, professional and impressive.

Of course I had to wait, but I knew that if necessary I could go to A&E if another crises occurred.

Whitewavemark yes that is impressive - as was my first experience which was only 14 weeks from diagnosis to op.

Thankfully I haven’t needed to go to A&E at any point. My symptoms, while very painful, have been more manageable than I believe some people experience. But I’ve had them for more than 10 years (was told I had IBS) and was only referred for a scan when I had quite a severe infection.

Contact the consultants secretary? They may have more detailed knowledge than the person you talked to. Usually they may have more understanding on a human level of you need to just know! Good luck.

I waited 9 months for my keyhole removal despite the app saying 28 weeks the entire time! I phoned the appointments line several times after about 7 months in case there was a cancellation and established a kind of bond with the lady! I think I was at the top when a spot actually came up…might be worth trying.

Back in 2015 I woke in the early hours in agony. OH was overseas. I hung on until 8 am and rang the surgery. They told me to go in straight away so I drove myself! The GP told me to ring a friend to drive me home and wait for an ambulance. The ambulance arrived a couple of hours later. This was Monday. I was told I had an infected gall bladder and put on an antibiotic drip. OH flew back from Albania the next day and I had the operation to remove gall bladder (key hole surgery) on Thursday and home on Friday. The hospital was in Oxford.

Aveline I think I will do, although when I did this initially, not knowing there was an admissions team, there was a recorded message redirecting waiting list enquiries to them. I think the way to go is an email to the secretary - that way I won’t forget to ask all the questions I have and as you say, better chance of being able to get a human response
.
Angst ridden I don’t think there’s any chance of establishing a bond with her - it’s really like taking to a brick wall - you get nothing back except the stock answer!

Ladyleftfieldlover, it’s not good that you had to go through that but at least you got it sorted quickly.👍

Ladyleftfieldlover

Back in 2015 I woke in the early hours in agony. OH was overseas. I hung on until 8 am and rang the surgery. They told me to go in straight away so I drove myself! The GP told me to ring a friend to drive me home and wait for an ambulance. The ambulance arrived a couple of hours later. This was Monday. I was told I had an infected gall bladder and put on an antibiotic drip. OH flew back from Albania the next day and I had the operation to remove gall bladder (key hole surgery) on Thursday and home on Friday. The hospital was in Oxford.

Yes I think that we are prioritised according to seriousness.