Typical NHS Waiting Times - Almost 2 Years And Counting...

[saggyhaggis]

Hi.

I was first referred to the NHS from a consultation with a private orthodontist in August 2012 (my newbie introduction is on this forum) and had my first NHS appointment in Dumfries in November 2012 during which I was told I was ellegible for treatment due to my facial asymmetry and narrow upper palette and my treatment would take 2 years. I was also told at the time that my gums were not in great shape for surgery and was referred to the local dental school to get treatment and monitor my gum health. I had to wait a few months just to get an appointment at the school. However during this I have had numerous appointments with the maxillofacial orthodontist and 2 or 3 joint appointments with the surgeon. Every appointment is 2-3 months apart, sometimes I have to chase them for one, and not once have I been given a timescale.

I got the all clear from the dental school months ago and was then told in June this year that I was being referred to Glasgow (60 miles away) for all my treatment: sarpe, jaw surgery and fixed appliances. As I write this I have received no treatment other than moulds and measurements taken.

I have had my first appointment in Glasgow and the people there appear to be more switched on, and they are trying to arrange a CT scan to be done locally in Dumfries (don't ask!), so things seem to be moving (I hope).

Has anyone else in the forums from the UK had to wait this long for NHS treatment?

I was really excited and optimistic following my first appointment almost two years ago now, however
I now feel totally deflated and frustrated with the whole situation. I keep thinking that I should have had all my treatment done by now.

[Ridingboots]

Hope your treatment starts soon. I am newbie but in Australia hence doing it under private health still very expensive though and I have only just started my journey

[saggyhaggis]

Thanks Ridingboots.

I'm hopeful that things will start kicking into gear once the ct scan has been done and I have a plan in place.

If you don't mind me asking what treatment are you getting done?

[Ridingboots]

Hi Saggyhaggie
For me it is braces and then in 12 months jaw double surgery but now that I have decided To go ahead I just want to happen

[saggyhaggis]

Quick update. Almost 3 years and still no surgery!

Had my CT scan done in December and following my Glasgow appointment in May (don't ask), I've been put onto the surgery waiting list in Glasgow and was told to expect surgery in 6 to 9 months.

I was in position 74 in May and was 57th last week, which is translating to an 18 month wait.

My orthodontist in Glasgow suggested that I complain given the time I have been waiting.

I've since written a complaint letter to NHS in Dumfries and was told to expect a response in 20 days. I have asked them to speak to the manager of the waiting list in Glasgow to see if they can bring my surgery date forward. Failing that I will be writing to Glasgow to complain.

I'm hopeful that this will be enough to get things in motion.

The only problem now is that I have a family holiday booked for Disneyland Florida in April which has been booked since last year and with my luck I'll be given a surgery date for Sarpe before this. I don't want to be over there with my expander in place in case something goes wrong.

I'm getting ahead of myself a bit here aren't I?

[EWUgal15]

The only problem now is that I have a family holiday booked for Disneyland Florida in April which has been booked since last year and with my luck I'll be given a surgery date for Sarpe before this. I don't want to be over there with my expander in place in case something goes wrong.

I'm getting ahead of myself a bit here aren't I?

I'm in the US, so I don't have a lot of familiarity with NHS and that waiting. But I will say that I don't think there is such a thing as being ahead of yourself when it comes to this sort of stuff. I'm having trouble believing that it's almost October...and even more so that I've been in braces for almost a year. It doesn't feel like its been a year. I'm also a surgery patient and I started planning for mine when I got my braces on...mostly on the work side trying to bank paid time off so that I can still enjoy a paycheck while I'm in recovery. I got clearance from my orthodontist today to schedule surgery, which right now is looking to be November (a no chew diet just in time for the holidays) because of work policies and commitments. To most people, there's still plenty of time to plan, but I don't feel that way. With how fast the last 10 and a half months in braces has flown by, it will be November before I know it and I don't want to be unprepared in the slightest.

The point I'm trying to make is that being unprepared when it comes to this trip and planning your surgery is really not an option. It is my hope that, even with the NHS, you get to pick the date so that it falls after your trip. It never hurts to have a plan in place and I think it can be really difficult working with doctors in that respect. Everything always seems to be on the doctors schedule and nothing on your schedule matters. And then, when they have to work around you, its your fault that the schedules don't line up. I don't think you can be held at fault for planning a vacation when you have no idea when you'll be at the top of the waiting list.

[saggyhaggis]

Thanks EWUgal15,

November ain't far away at all. You must be pretty excited / nervous / blasé *delete as appropriate *now!

Is your medical insurance covering all the work, cos from what I've read on these forums it can be a struggle?

When I booked the holiday, I fully expected to have had surgery and be braced up by April. I would prefer to wait until I got back from holiday until I have to deal with surgery, recovery then braces.

If I get offered a date Before the end of the year, I'll jump at the chance as that should be enough time to recover and be able to eat most softish food.

[EWUgal15]

Thanks EWUgal15,

November ain't far away at all. You must be pretty excited / nervous / blasé *delete as appropriate *now!

Is your medical insurance covering all the work, cos from what I've read on these forums it can be a struggle?

When I booked the holiday, I fully expected to have had surgery and be braced up by April. I would prefer to wait until I got back from holiday until I have to deal with surgery, recovery then braces.

If I get offered a date Before the end of the year, I'll jump at the chance as that should be enough time to recover and be able to eat most softish food.

I've been more nervous about planning for surgery than I am about going under the knife and general anesthesia. I think as I get closer to the whole thing, I'll start to get more anxious, but I think it will be the recovery and what I will look like after. I'm not in this for looks at all, but it is something to consider.

It is complicated working out the financial pieces. My braces aren't covered by insurance at all, so I'm paying those out of pocket 100%. I do have an orthognathic surgery benefit through my medical insurance (which is separate from my dental insurance) and they have a lifetime benefit of $5000 USD...so I'm going to pay about $6000 USD out of pocket for BSSO and upper 2nd molar extractions (part of the extractions will be covered by dental insurance). The only reason I know what to expect for my cost is that I had a pre-authorization for surgery, but it was submitted a year in advance so it has expired. Now I'm waiting for a new one and I scheduled my surgery this morning. I've always been in favor for a subsidized health care system, but I never thought about the waiting conditions. That's really terrifying.

I'm not super familiar with the SARPE procedure, but I have 6 weeks of no chewing as part of my recovery. If you have surgery before your trip, I hope you have it far enough in advance so that you can eat all the yummy foods at Disney World.

[occamsblazer]

Hey SallyHaggis,

Not sure where you are with this, but I would definitely write to you trust in Glasgow where you're under - I know dentistry has it's separate rules but if you're under an orthodonic/orthognathic surgical team then they'll have set breach times - if you kick up enough fuss then they'll have to do something. I know it's not the nicest approach to have to take, but I work in the NHS (albeit NHS England) and know how slow the system can be! Good luck

[metalliKa]

Even here in the USA, private insurance for dental/ortho also has a waiting period specific to the type of procedure being done.

[saggyhaggis]

Hey SallyHaggis,

Not sure where you are with this, but I would definitely write to you trust in Glasgow where you're under - I know dentistry has it's separate rules but if you're under an orthodonic/orthognathic surgical team then they'll have set breach times - if you kick up enough fuss then they'll have to do something. I know it's not the nicest approach to have to take, but I work in the NHS (albeit NHS England) and know how slow the system can be! Good luck

Hi there. I got a response from my complaint to NHS in Dumfries, which was disappointing and did not explain the timescales and basically said that it has nothing to do with them as I am now being treated in Glasgow. They said they had contacted Glasgow as part of the complaints process who confirmed that they have appointed another surgeon which should help reduce the waiting time. They could not give me a date however....

I'll try to find out where I am currently on the list in Glasgow and if the numbers are still panning out to be another years wait, then I may lodge a complaint.

[40withbracesUK]

Hi there
I have just got braces on the NHS in Edinburgh. (I declined the jaw surgery route.) My waiting time from initial referral by my dentist was about 4 months to getting braced and that was influenced by my limited availability due to work/kids. I am being treated at Lauriston Place Dental Hospital which is a teaching hospital. Maybe you could try for a transfer to Edinburgh? I've certainly been impressed (to date) with their care. The lead consultant is Dr Niall McGuiness and I know they do jaw surgery on-site too.

Perhaps go back to the beginning. Have your dentist refer you to Edinburgh for an initial consultation? That should only take a few weeks. Your wait time is really unacceptable so good luck!

[Dureena]

I've got my joint consult with ortho/jaw surgeon in a couple of weeks. Mid/South Warwickshire area.

Took about 8 weeks between referral from orthodontist before I saw the orthodonist, it'll be 12-weeks between seeing NHS ortho and the seeing the surgeon and ortho together.

The ortho was talking about SARPE and then double jaw surgery so hopefully they'll crack on as SARPE which presumably add on additional time to treatment. The ortho was saying something about lower expansion which hopefully I won't need.

[saggyhaggis]

Hi there
I have just got braces on the NHS in Edinburgh. (I declined the jaw surgery route.) My waiting time from initial referral by my dentist was about 4 months to getting braced and that was influenced by my limited availability due to work/kids. I am being treated at Lauriston Place Dental Hospital which is a teaching hospital. Maybe you could try for a transfer to Edinburgh? I've certainly been impressed (to date) with their care. The lead consultant is Dr Niall McGuiness and I know they do jaw surgery on-site too.

Perhaps go back to the beginning. Have your dentist refer you to Edinburgh for an initial consultation? That should only take a few weeks. Your wait time is really unacceptable so good luck!

Congratulations!

I think around 4 - 6 months is generally the norm from what I understand and there is an NHS 18 week treatment guarantee window which they are supposed to adhere to. I have since found out that whilst my orthodontist was trying to get my treatment started, he was being repeatedly refused by the people in charge in Dumfries as it was a funding issue. It is down to him that I was eventually transferred to Glasgow.

I was 44th on the waiting list in November and I have asked for an update yesterday.

I am too scared to be taken off the list in Glasgow and get referred to Edinburgh just in case the timescales are worse given that I am not from the area, not only that but the travel links to Edinburgh are not the best from where I stay. Not to mention that I would have to ask for a referral from the people whom I have issued complaints against!

[saggyhaggis]

I've got my joint consult with ortho/jaw surgeon in a couple of weeks. Mid/South Warwickshire area.

Took about 8 weeks between referral from orthodontist before I saw the orthodonist, it'll be 12-weeks between seeing NHS ortho and the seeing the surgeon and ortho together.

The ortho was talking about SARPE and then double jaw surgery so hopefully they'll crack on as SARPE which presumably add on additional time to treatment. The ortho was saying something about lower expansion which hopefully I won't need.

Hi there.

Your timescales were very similar to mine initially and I hope things get moving for you quickly.

The SARPE surgery and recovery alone will add another 4 months (1 month for recovery and expansion / 3 months for the palate to fuse together once expansion is complete ), then you've got a year and a half for the teeth to be moved back into position .

This is what I have been told. I also have lower jaw surgery to deal with at the end of this.