Clinical Review of Waiting List

Suspension of some services at the start of the pandemic caused our waiting times to increase.

We are now almost back to our pre-Covid levels but the build-up of patients waiting during the suspension and the new measures that we have in place to keep everyone safe, for example social distancing, using personal protective equipment (PPE) and additional cleaning means that patients are waiting longer than usual for admission to our hospitals.

Unfortunately, at the moment we can’t be certain. The pandemic has had a big impact on the NHS and we are trying to resume services and keep patients safe at the same time as we continue to treat COVID-19 cases. We are reviewing all patients to see what they want and prioritise those in most urgent need. We are doing our utmost to ensure you get the treatment you require as soon as possible.

The NHS constitution says you have the right to access certain NHS services within maximum waiting times or, if this is not possible, for the NHS to take all reasonable steps to offer you a range of suitable alternative providers. However, the pandemic may be limiting these alternative services.

If your symptoms get worse, please contact your clinician. Alternatively, you can contact your GP or call NHS 111 for advice. In an emergency, dial 999.

We are contacting all patients on our surgical waiting list to find out what their symptoms and needs are now, rather than at the time their surgery was booked. This will allow you and your clinician together to agree what is best for you now. If you still require surgery, you can choose between going ahead or postponing it. You may be offered treatments other than surgery, where these are appropriate for you.

Parental responsibility is a legal term that refers to all the duties, powers, rights and responsibilities that a parent possesses by law in relation to their child and any property belonging to that child.

Additional information on parental responsibility can be viewed here.

The Clinical Team looking after you will be reviewing the answers you provide and may need to speak to you to get more information or discuss your options. Where possible this will be by telephone or video call, unless we need to see you in person or you cannot speak by phone or video call. Speaking to people by phone or video call is one of the ways we are keeping patients safe by minimising exposure to COVID-19.

Our Trust is registered with the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) to process personal and special categories of information under the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and Data Protection Act 2018 (subject to parliamentary approval) and our registration number is Z6078102.

Additional information on our data protection and privacy policy can be viewed here.

You are always free to change your mind. If we agreed that you would come in for surgery/treatment and you decide you no longer wish to have this, or you now decide you would like it when previously you chose not to, you can contact us in the following ways and we can discuss your options with you.

Birmingham Women’s Hospital – to cancel your planned surgery please contact the Admissions Team on 0121 335 8121 or if you  had previously cancelled and now wish to go ahead with your surgery please contact your Consultants Medical Secretary via switchboard on 0121 333 9999

Birmingham Children’s Hospital – contact your Consultants Medical Secretary via switchboard on 0121 333 9999

Before you come in for surgery, we will give you clear instructions on the COVID-19 test and how to self-isolate after the test until you come into hospital. Those who live with you do not have to self-isolate and can leave the house and continue with regular activities and work, but they must follow social distancing and face covering rules when not at home plus wash their hands frequently. However, the guidance around COVID-19 precautions does change with government guidance and national advice so please check our website for the latest information before each visit.

The test involves taking a swab of your nose or throat. We will send you clear instructions on how, where and when the test will take place.

New tests are being developed and within a few months we may be able to test your spit (saliva) instead.

If we need to contact you for more information we’re most likely to ring you. Where we can run video consultations, we can use this if you have the right electronic equipment.

Our hospital follows very strict rules for preventing all types of infection, including COVID-19. You will be cared for in a low risk area and all patients who are admitted to this area will have had a negative swab test, like you. No procedure is completely risk free, but the chances of catching Covid-19 in our hospital is very small. 

It’s impossible to give one answer to this question as it will depend on how our local services are organised and whether this is appropriate for you. However, cancellations do occur and we may consider introducing a system to allow patients to be called in at a late stage (allowing for pre-operative screening and testing).