NHS gynaecology delays: 'If I didn't pay to go private, I might have died from cancer'

An Elgin mum who discovered she had cancer after going private has warned that lives are being put at risk by NHS gynaecology waiting times.

Sarah Beaton, 43, was referred to Dr Gray’s Hospital after experiencing painful periods. An initial NHS scan revealed a fibroid, but she was told she faced an 18-month delay for treatment.

Concerned about the delay, Sarah paid £15,000 for a private scan at Aberdeen’s Albyn Hospital in January, which revealed cancer in her uterus.

Just two weeks later, she underwent a full hysterectomy.

“If I’d waited, I’d be none the wiser,” Sarah said. “It’s frightening. I have to stop and think sometimes; where would I be if I hadn’t done that?

It comes as women’s health services in Scotland face mounting pressure, with nearly 13,000 women currently on waiting lists and 324 facing waits of more than three years.

Women face agonising waits for NHS gynaecological treatment Adobe Stock

Gynaecology is now one of the worst-hit areas for delays in Scotland’s NHS.

“I was shocked because I didnt think any waiting list was that long,” Sarah said.

“It’s horrible because people need the treatment and they deserve to get the treatment.”

Sarah is now recovering from the operation at home and awaiting news on whether she will need further treatment.

She has warned patients waiting for gynaecology care could die if delays continue to worsen.

“In all effect, people are dying on the waiting lists because they’re not getting the treatment they need when they need it.

“It’s scary. It’s not fair. There are so many other people like me, there are so many stories like mine, and they need to get the treatment they deserve and they need before it’s too late.

“The NHS is incurring so many more costs, because when people are diagnosed they’re so much further down the road than if they had been if diagnosed earlier.

“So they’re having to spend a lot more money on treatment that could have had early detection and less treatment.”

Sarah went private for a full hysterectomy after cancer was found in her uterus STV News

Scotland’s women’s health minister Jenni Minto said she does accept people could be dying early as a result of long waits.

“It’s very wrong that any woman is having to wait that length of time for gynaecology treatment,” she told STV News.

“I have been working with the women’s health champion Professor Anna Glasier to ensure we can direct funding where its needed. In the Programme for Government we have allocated £8.8m to support reducing waiting lists specifically for women’s health.”

An NHS Grampian spokesman said: “Behind waiting time figures are real people, with real concerns about their health, and an extremely hard-working clinical team doing their utmost to care for them.

“We are aware patients are often waiting longer for services than they or we would like and we’d apologise to anyone affected by this.”

A decade without diagnosis

Jeanette Miller, 27, from Lochgelly, has been living with painful endometriosis symptoms for nearly ten years, but is still waiting for a specialist diagnosis.

“It’s like you’re basically the zombie in your own life,” she told STV News. “Having to deal with constant pain, even painkillers don’t solve the pain.”

After contacting her MP, Jeanette’s appointment was fast-tracked to July 2025.

But instead of being seen at the new gynaecological unit at her local hospital – Queen Margaret in Dunfermline – her appointment is almost an hour’s drive away in St Andrews.

“I personally feel let down by NHS Fife,” she said.

“I was disappointed because women shouldn’t have to travel 62 miles to attend an appointment when I’ve got one on my doorstep practically. I campaigned for the new gynae unit at Queen Margaret too.

“It is a long wait and its not acceptable, even the Scottish Government are acknowledging that.

“But we don’t need to you acknowledge it, we need you to actually take realistic action to reduce waiting times.”

Jeanette has suffered from painful symptoms for ten years STV News

A spokesperson from NHS Fife said: “NHS Fife is committed to ensuring all patients receive timely, safe, and effective care.

“Patients living in Fife may be offered appointments for planned procedures at any one of our hospital sites including the Victoria Hospital in Kirkcaldy, Queen Margaret Hospital in Dunfermline, St Andrews Community Hospital, or Adamson Hospital in Cupar, depending on the nature of their procedure and where capacity is available.

“By using all of our hospital sites for planned care appointments, we are able to reduce waiting times and maximise access to treatment for patients across the region. This approach is a key part of our wider efforts to recover planned care activity post pandemic.

“We understand that travel can be a concern for some patients, and transport assistance is available in certain circumstances to help those who may have difficulty attending planned appointments.”