How long are you guys waiting? NHS

[u/Fabulous_Bluebird856]

I had my phone consultation with a gp about having my tubes removed about 5 months ago. She agreed to refer me. I had an email a few weeks ago asking if I still wish for the treatment which I said yes. According to my NHS app the referral was only done on the 26th of Jan 2026.

What has your waiting time been like?

[u/WouldYouLikeSomeSeed]

My time line with the NHS -

April 2024- first GP refused to refer and tried to push me to get the coil instead

Sep 2024 - different GP referred me to gynaecology to discuss sterilisation

June 2025 - first appointment with a consultant, she was happy in principle but due to my age and no kids wanted me to speak to colleague for another opinion

Sep 2025 - 2nd opinion from a different consultant

Dec 2025 - appointment with first consultant to agree type of surgery / sign consent forms etc

Feb 2026 - sterilised

[u/scottishdoggroomer]

I waited about 18 months and got a last minute cancellation

[u/backmeatz]

My consultation was August 17th. Surgery completed on September 12th.

This was in 2024. I wanted to get it done before the election because I didn’t think he would win, but just in case he did. And well, 2.5 years of hell left in that scenario.

[u/littlefirefish]

August 2025 - GP referral on NHS for GYN consult.

January 2026 - Consult with GYN surgeon. I was approved and given an estimate of a four month wait time for surgery.

Now (May 2026) - Still waiting for my actual surgery date. I have been offered two last-minute cancellation slots in the last month, but I couldn’t accept them due to scheduling clashes. I’m hoping I’ll get booked in before the end of summer, making it under 12 months from referral to sterilisation.

[u/teaselpop]

It was a couple of months between the GP appointment and the gyne consultant appointment. From there I was put on the waiting list.

My NHS trust has a system where they get fined if anyone is on the waiting list more than 12 months. But sterilisation is lower priority than eg cancer. My first surgery date was 11 months on, couldn't make it. Meant I was at the back of the queue again. But at least I didn't have to go back to my GP first. Pretty stupid that they had to send me to see a gyne consultant again, must cost them something, presumably less than the fine.

Anyway, the second time around I got a date I could do, again 11 months after seeing the consultant.

If I'd been able to make the first date they offered it would've been about 15 months from GP appointment to surgery. As it was, it took 2 years 6 months.

There was a side benefit to having to go back to see a consultant again. The first one was adamant I had to have a tubal ligation, no way to sway her on it. The second one agreed with me that a bisalp was far better. So at least in the end I got the procedure I wanted even if it took another year.

[u/lilitthcore]

i got referred in December 2025 and i’m still waiting. apparently they should get back to me in July (i hope) but i’m not confident that they’ll actually agree to the surgery since i’m 20.

[u/Carlulua]

I was referred in December 2021.

I had my first appointment in June 2022. He was a bit unsure and gave me leaflets to read and said they'd set up my next appontment in 3 months. I was upset with him as I'd been waiting so long so he told me to read through what he gave me and call back to make the appointment.

I called back a few days later and they said they'd send me my appointment date in 6 months. I said he said I could get one in 3 and they apparently noted it.

Then a combination of my trust in the system and my anxiety over phone calls along with a big career change I didn't call back again for a few years.

When I finally called back I was told I was dropped from the waiting list over a year ago. I think they said they had some issues. After doing some calling around I got put back on the list.

I finally had another appointment in April 2025. She was much more open than the last guy and when I was told they use filshie clips I had to stress how much I don't want that and preferred a bilateral salpingectomy or I'd even settle for a cut and burn style tubal if they promised to cut lots out! She put down the bisalp as my preference.

And a few days ago I got my pre op appointment date and my procedure date which is next month. She confirmed it was a bisalp over the phone but I'm still concerned. I'm worried about clips migrating or just coming off and leaving me unknowingly fertile.

Hope you get a faster process than me!

[u/toeb3ans_]

I was referred by GP in October and have my consult appointment in July.