Waiting lists for Gynaecology appointments double, figures show

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Women are waiting double the amount of time for gynaecology appointments compared to four years ago, new research has revealed.

According to the BBC, around three-quarters of a million (755,046) women’s health appointments are waiting to happen – up from 360,400 just before the pandemic.

Waiting lists for Gynaecology

This suggests around 630,000 people – at the very least – are on the list to be seen for problems that range from fibroids and endometriosis to incontinence and menopause care.

Health ministers have said they are working on plans to improve the situation, but health leaders say that women are being let down.

How delays are affecting women

Delays to gynaecology appointments are not just frustrating for women experiencing pain and waiting on diagnoses, it can also cause conditions to worsen.

Anna Cooper, 31, from near Wrexham in North Wales spoke to BBC about how she has had severe endometriosis since her teens. However, for years, medics did not listen to her and she was often told the pain was “in her head”. As a result, she says that “the delay in my care has cost me some of my major organs.”

“Doctors have told me that if they’d caught it sooner, I wouldn’t have ended up the way I am, living with two stomas and being in early menopause at the age of 31,” she added.

Anna has had to have 17 operations, including a hysterectomy to remove her womb.

She also has two stomas in place for life because much of her bladder and bowel have had to be removed.

“The disease controls my social life, my work life and my ability to function every day.

“It is not just a period problem – it is a whole-body problem. It ripples through your body,” she says.

She says she is still in pain and is on the NHS waiting list yet again because she has experienced bleeding after her hysterectomy.

Paying for private care

In the last three years, Anna made the decision to spend £25,000 on private operations, borrowing money to help.

She counts herself lucky to get private care but feels she was “almost left with no choice” because the waiting lists are so long: “I can be a mum who isn’t just in her bed constantly because she is crippled with pain.”

Endometriosis has “mentally tormented” her for the most of her adult life.

“It is really difficult dealing with a condition where I look absolutely fine from the outside, but internally, I’m just in despair.”

‘Change is urgently needed’

Experts in the field, such as Dr Ranee Thakar, president of the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists has said that women are being let down.

“Gynaecology is the only elective speciality that solely treats women and has one of the worst waiting lists across the UK.

“This reflects the persistent lack of priority given to women and women’s health, “ Dr Thakar says.

“Women are suffering. We know it is affecting their mental health. They are not able to go to work, they are not able to socialize,” she said.

Meanwhile, a new report has researched the impact of delays on women suffering from gynaecological issues.

Waiting for a Way Forward Report

This new report illustrates that waiting times for gynaecology have worsened in all parts of the UK, with women living in areas of higher deprivation often waiting the longest for treatment.

Behind these numbers are real women living in extreme and often avoidable pain. Women who are desperate for help and support, waiting for months and in some cases years, for vital treatment and care.

Some of the reports’ findings include the following:

Waiting lists for gynaecology in the UK have increased by a third since the previous report in 2022.
Three quarters of a million women across the UK are now waiting for gynaecology treatment, and the data available nationally only captures a snapshot of the problem.
Women waiting for care are commonly in constant, chronic, and debilitating pain
A quarter of the women we surveyed for this report said they had attended A&E

What is obstetrics and gynaecology?

Gynaecology and obstetrics are two closely linked subjects that deal with the female

reproductive system. While obstetrics deals with pregnancy and its associated procedures and

complications, gynaecology involves treating women who are not pregnant.

What happens at a gynaecology appointment?

Gynaecological service diagnoses and treats any problems with your female

reproductive system. This includes your:

Ovaries and fallopian tubes
Womb (uterus)
Cervix (opening of the womb)
Vagina

Depending on what stage of your journey or investigations are, will depend on what happens in your appointment. However, you may need to undergo examinations, ultrasounds or procedures. According to the NHS, outpatient appointments can take up to 3 hours. It depends on the tests and investigations you need.

At your appointment, you’ll agree a further plan with the doctor or nurse. This may be:

To have a scan
Change your medicines
Have a procedure

When to see a gynaecologist?

If you are experiencing any of the following symptoms, you may need to seek help from a gynaecologist. These symptoms may indicate that something is not right and needs investigating:

Painful menstruation
Irregular vaginal bleeding or discharge
Trouble getting pregnant
Pelvic pain
Pain during sex or sexual dysfunction

Oakwood Solicitors Ltd – How we can help

If you have experienced a medical misdiagnosis or delay relating to a gynaecological condition, you may be entitled to claim compensation. For example, if you feel that you have been affected because of late diagnosis or incorrect or inappropriate treatment we may be able to help you.

Medical misdiagnosis and/or delay can occur in all areas of medical practice. However, are very common in the following settings:

Why should I use Oakwood Solicitors Ltd?

We have a dedicated team of solicitors and paralegals who have many years’ experiences between them in running cases of this nature. They are highly trained to deal with all aspects of clinical negligence.

We want to ensure that clients are not overwhelmed by legal jargon, medical terms that they don’t understand and to allow the claims procedure to be as transparent as possible.

We will strive to achieve the best possible outcome for you. We can also work on your case on a no-win no-fee basis, which means that you will not pay a penny unless your claim is successful.