What’s it like facing a 58 week wait for treatment?
Over six million people are currently on NHS waiting lists and many people tell us that they are often left with little support or communication about when they will be treated.
Kimble, 69, who is on a waiting list of over one year to get treatment for his kidney stones, tell us his story and what it’s like waiting to be seen.
In early October, Kimble visited his GP with symptoms of kidney stones. He'd been treated for them three years ago, so he was aware of the symptoms. He was referred to the urology department at his local hospital for a scan that found three new stones and would require treatment.
However, after not hearing any news for several weeks, Kimble contacted his doctor to ask how long he could expect to wait. His doctor went online to find out.
Kimble was shocked to find out that he won't 'hear from them for ages' and the waiting list for treatment is 58 weeks! He also learned that treatment had moved from his closest hospital, Ipswich, to one more than an hour's drive away in Colchester.
While he waits, Kimble is more or less left to cope as best he can. He's only spoken to a receptionist at the hospital and doesn't have contact details of anyone who will be treating him or would be able to give updates on waiting times or even confirm he was on a waiting list.
"Anyone who's suffered from kidney stones knows it's excruciating," he says.
"It's like getting stabbed. It's totally incapacitating. I'm drinking lots of water and lemon juice to see if that helps to shift them while I wait for my appointment."
Kimble's kidney stones are uncomfortable, but he's not had an acute flare-up so far this time around. During his previous experience, the pain was so bad on one occasion that he had to visit A&E where treatment was administered immediately . He's worried that waiting for a long time might result in a repeat of this experience.
Kimble looked at private treatment options, but these will cost between £10,000 - £16,000 and are therefore out of the question.
"I'm not in excruciating pain yet, but if I have a flare-up, I'll have to get to hospital quickly by Ambulance as I will not be able to drive myself or be driven in a car its an ambulance trip. And of course, Kidney stones don’t go away they get worse over time."
What's being done to cut waiting times?
We have shared thousands of stories like Kimble's with NHS England and the Department of Health and Social Care. Too often, the experiences we hear paint a picture of people feeling lost, forgotten, unsure about when they might get treated, and stressed at the prospect of long waits for care.
The Government has launched the NHS Elective Reform Plan to cut record NHS waiting times and to return to the national target of 92% of people being treated within 18 weeks of a referral by March 2029.
The Government is taking forward several of our recommendations thanks to people speaking up about their experiences of care.
The plan includes:
- By the end of the year, more surgical hubs will be opened, and diagnostic centres will remain open for longer.
- Enabling people to view appointment information through the NHS App at 85% of hospital Trusts.
- New standards and more training for administrative staff to ensure everyone feels supported and comfortable while waiting for NHS care.
- A drive to ensure people understand their right to choose where they receive treatment.
Learn more about the plan and what it might mean for you.
