Ask a Nurse
posted by PinkRose
25 June 2023

Referral from go and wait times?

Last reply: 29 June 2023 09:36

I wrote a post back in May but now I can't find it.

My whole entire body is covered in moles. I have a mole that looks different than all the rest of them on my arm. It's black. There is one thing in its favour in that it's small. However it still looks different than the rest of them.

I was at my GP nearly 7 weeks ago. She decided to refer me to the hospital for mole removal. I forget what she said but I think she said she was referring me to the surgeon department. Maybe day surgeon or plastic surgeon. I can't remember what she said. She referred me as urgent. I asked for a rough guideline of a waiting time. She said she can't say for sure but she hinted maybe about 2 months.

7 weeks later, not even a call from the hospital or a letter in the mail giving me a date for the procedure.

I rang the waiting list number that was on the soalta website a few weeks ago and I was rushed off the phone and the receptionist did say they received the referral but I am being triaged.

How long does a triage take? How many more weeks do they need to give me an appointment.

I have another mole on my leg that is questionable and I was going to get the hospital to have a look at that too when I went for my appointment.

It's nearly 7 weeks since my GP appointment. What is the point of going to a doctor and getting these things looked at when you are referred and ignored for how long?

1 comment

Comments

commented by Cancer Nurse
29 June 2023

29 June 2023 09:36

Hi Pinkrose,

I am sorry for the delays that you have experienced while waiting for review. It may be helpful if you could call one of us nurses on the Support Line so we could discuss this in detail.

Seven weeks is a long time for them to triage an urgent referral. We would recommend that you contact the hospital and the direct department that you were referred to get more information about a date for review. We would also suggest that you let your GP know that you are still waiting to hear from the hospital after they sent the urgent referral. The other mole on your leg also needs to be reviewed and you should mention it to your GP when you are speaking with them.

Pinkrose, please do call one of us nurses on the Support Line and we can discuss this in more detail. Our Support Line number is 1800 200 700, Monday – Friday, 9am – 5pm.

Kind regards,

Cancer Nurse

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