Supporting Patients Waiting for hospital treatment
Supporting you while you wait for hospital treatment
The Covid-19 pandemic has meant some operations and procedures have been postponed, leading to understandable concern for those waiting. The NHS is working hard to get people seen as quickly as possible.
If you (or someone you care for) are waiting on delayed medical care, you are likely to have concerns and questions. This site aims to provide further information and advice, along with handy resources, to help you manage your physical and mental wellbeing while waiting for hospital care.
This website includes:
- Information on how you can look up an average waiting time for your specialty.
- Answers to frequently asked questions (FAQs) you may have, including what to do if your condition gets worse.
- How to manage your physical health and mental health while you wait and any long-term conditions you may have.
- Dedicated advice if you are waiting for orthopaedic surgery on your shoulder, wrist, hip or knee.
- Dedicated advice if you are waiting for a gastroenterology investigation, such as a colonoscopy or gastroscopy.
- Dedicated advice if your child is waiting for a hospital appointment or treatment.
We will provide updates to ensure the latest information is available, so please do check back on a regular basis.
Waiting Times
Waiting times will depend on what treatment you are waiting for and your individual needs. Hospitals are working together to treat people as quickly as possible but you may still wait longer than usual.
The list of people waiting changes daily and it is very hard to tell you how long you will have to wait exactly. You can however look up an average waiting time at your local hospital by visiting My Planned Care.
The average waiting time on My Planned Care is currently the best indication of how long you may wait. It should be noted that this will give you an average for the specialty you are waiting for. The waiting time for different procedures within that specialty will be different.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Here are a list of questions that you might be asking if you are waiting for an appointment, operation, other procedure or tests at a hospital. This refers to non-urgent or routine hospital care. Urgent care for things like cancer are prioritised differently and are not included as part of this document.
These FAQs will be updated regularly to ensure they contain up to date information and contacts.
Last updated: 15/08/2023
Our consultants are looking at who has the greatest clinical need and who has waited the longest, and prioritising people against these two key criteria as each service gets back up and running. We want to ensure that this is done as fairly as possible to ensure that people are not disadvantaged.
The length of time you have to wait will depend on your specific treatment and clinical needs. Hospitals in Greater Manchester as well as the independent hospitals (private sector) are all working together to treat people as quickly as possible and increase the number of people who can be treated daily We are treating people in the evenings and at weekends and asking some people to go to different hospitals so we treat people as quickly as possible.
If you could be treated quicker at a different hospital, your clinical team will discuss it with you and offer support to enable you to access the alternative site wherever possible. You can check the waiting times at your hospital.
My Planned Care
You can look up your hospital and specialty on My Planned Care. You will be able to see an average waiting time for the specialty you are under. Whilst you can see an average waiting time for the specialty, please note that the waiting times for different procedures within that specialty will differ. Click here to visit My Planned Care.
Waiting times and lists are recovering after Covid-19 but the lists are constantly changing so it can be very hard for your hospital consultant or your GP to say exactly when you will be seen.
Please contact the hospital specialist secretary/booking team or contact PALS. The number and e-mail for this should be on the hospital appointment letter. If you are unable to reach the specialist secretary/booking team then please contact PALS. Find Patient Advice and Liaison Services (PALS) services across Greater Manchester.
If you have not heard from the hospital and your condition is getting worse, you need to contact your GP. Your GP surgery is still open and is able to provide care, so you shouldn’t put off getting any help you need.
You should contact your GP who can then assess, advise and help you manage your new condition.
No, your GP won’t be able to help you get seen any quicker as your GP does not have access to the hospital appointment or waiting list system.
Hospital appointments and waiting lists are looked after by each area of the hospital.
People with the most urgent needs are being contacted first therefore it may take longer than normal for you to receive a letter/ appointment from the hospital. The hospital Patient Advice and Liaison Service (PALS) offers confidential advice, support and information. They provide a point of contact for patients, their families and their carers. You can find PALS officers in your local hospital.
It is also important that you contact your hospital if you think that you would like to be removed from the waiting list.
PIP (personal independence payment) is a non-means tested benefit that helps people deal with some of the extra costs associated with long-term illness or disability. You’ll be assessed on things such as your ability to prepare food and drink, wash, dress, go to the toilet, manage health conditions and make financial decisions.
Further information can also be found here.
This website provides many links to national and regional support and advice.
Waiting for treatment, surgery, or tests can be worrying and may also be making you feel anxious or low. It’s a good idea to talk about how you are feeling with a friend or family member. If you are really struggling to cope or feel things are getting on top of you have a chat with your GP or primary care team.
If you are waiting for a procedure or treatment under any of the following specialties you can visit our new pages for more detailed advice:
Yes. If you choose to be transferred to another hospital for the same condition, you will be reviewed by a senior clinician and are likely to wait a similar length of time as for your current hospital. Our consultants are looking at who has the greatest clinical need and who has waited the longest, and prioritising people against these two key criteria as each service gets back up and running.
The exception to this is where your hospital offer for you to have your appointment/procedure transferred to one of our Independent Sector (private) hospitals, when they believe that will be more appropriate and quicker for you.
Transport or help with travel costs, may be available to help you. Visit www.gmintegratedcare.org.uk/transport for information on:
- Planning a journey by public transport
- Information on help with travel costs
- Transport services available across Greater Manchester
- Community transport services available in different parts of Greater Manchester