Two year wait for urgent gynaecology appointments for Derry women 

Women across the North West currently face up to over a two year wait for an urgent gynaecology appointment and nearly two months for red flag appointments.

From Western Trust Data, a new outpatient appointment for the speciality of Gynaecology currently has up to a 110 week waiting time for urgent appointments and a seven week waiting time for Red Flag appointments.

These results are based on the longest waits for these appointments.

This data comes after waiting times remain extensive for contraception and other sexual health practices.

Healthcare professionals continue to work under extreme pressures as women face long and agonising waits to be seen and treated.

One outpatient, who made the decision to be seen privately to avoid the long waiting time, said a light has to be shone on women's healthcare, "Women's healthcare has long been overlooked with a lack of funding and urgency.

"Everyone in healthcare is doing their very best with the resources that they have but the resources that they have are not enough.

"Women's health should not be overlooked and to be told I could be facing a two year waiting time when my condition was affecting my quality of life and ability to work, like so many others, was scary.

"I made the decision to be seen privately, which although doable, meant other sacrifices had to be made. I know many would not be able to make the decision to go private due to their personal circumstances and that is heartbreaking, it is not okay.

"There has to be more funding to allow for women to be seen, treated and hopefully get on with their lives; quickly and with empathy."

SDLP Foyle MLA Sinéad McLaughlin has long been an advocate for more funding due to what she describes as 'unacceptable waiting times.'

Ms McLaughlin said: “I have repeatedly highlighted the unacceptable waiting times facing women in the Western Trust area and right across the North for gynaecology appointments and while the news that waits have increased to over two years is sadly not surprising, it is completely unacceptable and once again highlights the failure to properly invest in women’s healthcare here.

“I can only imagine the anxiety faced by patients who go to their doctor hoping for treatment for an urgent medical issue, only to be told that they face years for an initial consultation.

"This is yet more evidence of a healthcare system that is falling apart due to the failure to implement long overdue reforms and a refusal to prioritise the needs of women within it.

“If we are ever going to address the problems with our health service then we need the DUP to end their boycott and the restoration of the Executive and Assembly.

"Whether we’re in Stormont or not, I will keep highlighting the issues that women are facing and fighting for our healthcare services to be treated with the seriousness they deserve.”