Waiting Well

Waiting for an appointment or surgery can feel worrying at times, but you are not alone.

Whether you are waiting to be seen by a specialist, undergoing tests, or preparing for a procedure, this period of waiting can place demands on both your body and your mind. Taking steps to improve your health and wellbeing now can help reduce risks, support your overall health, and, if surgery is needed, contribute to a smoother recovery.

Your appointment, treatment, or operation is an important step towards improving your quality of life. By looking after your physical and mental health while you wait, you can give yourself the best possible chance of a positive outcome.

If you become unwell while waiting this may lead to delays or affect your care. Staying as healthy as possible can help you avoid setbacks, recover more quickly if a procedure is required, and may even reduce the time you need to spend in hospital.

The good news is that there are simple things you can do while you wait. Small changes to your lifestyle can make a real difference, helping you feel more confident, maintain your independence, and prepare your body and mind for any treatment, surgery, or recovery ahead.

Looking after your overall wellbeing during this time can make a real difference to how you feel now and to your health outcomes in the future.

You do not need to make major changes overnight. Small, positive steps can help improve your physical and mental health, boost your confidence, and prepare you for your appointment, treatment, or surgery. Here are some tips to support your health and wellbeing while you wait:

Stay Active

Staying active while you wait for an appointment, treatment or surgery can help improve your strength, fitness and mobility. It can also help you manage symptoms, maintain your independence, and support your physical and mental wellbeing.

If you are eventually offered surgery, being as fit and active as possible beforehand may help your recovery. Even if surgery is not needed, regular physical activity can help improve your overall health and quality of life.

Physical activity can:

  • Improve your heart and lung health
  • Help you maintain a healthy weight
  • Increase muscle strength and flexibility
  • Reduce stress and improve mood
  • Support better sleep
  • Boost your energy levels and overall wellbeing

You do not need to take part in intense exercise to see benefits. Choose activities that feel manageable and enjoyable for you. Depending on your health and mobility, this could include:

  • Walking
  • Gardening
  • Swimming
  • Cycling
  • Gentle stretching
  • Chair-based exercises

If your condition causes pain or limits your movement, try to stay as active as you comfortably can. Even small amounts of activity can make a difference and help prevent your strength and fitness from declining while you wait.

If you are unsure what activities are suitable for you, speak to your healthcare team for advice. You may also find the NHS guide useful: 10 ways to reduce pain - NHS

Eat Well

Good nutrition is important as your body needs energy and nutrients to stay healthy, fight infection and repair tissues after surgery.

Eating a balanced diet can help:

  • Support your immune system
  • Maintain muscle strength
  • Improve wound healing
  • Increase energy levels
  • Reduce the risk of complications

Staying hydrated is also important. Drinking enough water helps your body function properly and can improve your overall wellbeing. Try to drink regularly throughout the day unless you have been advised otherwise by a healthcare professional.

Get enough sleep

Sleep plays a vital role in preparing your body and mind for the next day. When you sleep well, your body carries out many of its natural repair processes, helping to maintain your physical and mental health.

Benefits of good-quality sleep include:

  • Improved concentration and memory
  • Better emotional wellbeing
  • Stronger immune function
  • Increased energy levels
  • Better recovery from illness and physical activity

It is normal for concerns about surgery to affect your sleep. If worrying thoughts are keeping you awake, consider writing them down before bed or speaking to someone you trust about how you are feeling.

Look after your mental wellbeing

Waiting for an appointment or surgery can bring a range of emotions. You may feel anxious, uncertain or worried about a procedure, recovery, work, family responsibilities or the impact of your health condition.

These feelings are completely normal, and it is important to be kind to yourself during this time.

Looking after your mental wellbeing can help you:

  • Feel more in control
  • Manage stress and anxiety
  • Sleep better
  • Maintain motivation to make healthy choices
  • Feel more confident about your surgery and recovery

Some things that may help include:

  • Talking openly with family and friends
  • Practising mindfulness or meditation
  • Using breathing or relaxation exercises
  • Listening to music or reading
  • Spending time outdoors in nature
  • Keeping up with hobbies and interests

Remember that you do not have to manage difficult feelings alone. If anxiety or low mood is affecting your daily life, support is available. Speak with your GP, healthcare team or local wellbeing services if you need additional help.

Understanding your wait

We know that waiting for care can be difficult. That is why we are focused on bringing down waiting times and reducing our waiting lists, ensuring patients receive treatment as quickly and safely as possible.
You may need to wait up to 42 weeks from point of referral to commencement of your treatment, but this can be sooner in certain specialties in our hospitals with lower waiting times. 
We are working hard on bringing our waiting times down in line with the national 18 week referral to treatment standard. 
  1. Managing Your Appointment
  2. Viewing your appointments using the NHS App
  3. Our Hospitals

Patient Initiated Follow Up (PIFU)

Many patients with long term conditions, or following hospital treatment, do not need regular follow up appointments with our hospital team.

Instead, some of our patients will be offered 'patient initiated follow up' appointments (PIFU for short). This is where you arrange a follow-up appointment as and when you need it, rather than at routine intervals. This means you avoid unnecessary appointments, saving you time, money and stress.

If PIFU is available and suitable for you, the healthcare professional responsible for your care will discuss this option with you and if you are happy, will add your name to the PIFU appointment list.

How it works

You will not be given a routine follow up appointment as you may have been in the past, instead you will need to contact your service directly to arrange an appointment if and when you need one.

The health care professional responsible for your care will tell you what symptoms or complications after treatment to look out for that would mean you should make an appointment. They will also provide you with the information you need for contacting the service to arrange this if you need to.

You will also be told how long you will be on the PIFU waiting list. This will depend on what you are being treated for. If you do not need an appointment within the specified time period, you will be discharged from the service and you will need to contact your GP. They will re-refer you if you need to be seen again.

How do I book an appointment?

It is quick and easy to book an appointment when you need one. To do so, you should contact the service using the contact details provided to you by the healthcare professional responsible for your care.

To arrange a PIFU appointment you must: 

  • Have agreed with the healthcare professional responsible for your care that PIFU is appropriate for you and have been given the relevant information confirming you are on the PIFU waiting list
  • Contact us within the timeframe advised by your healthcare professional.

You can also try the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Integrated Care System who have compiled some useful information about what you can do to stay healthy while you are waiting for treatment.

This includes advice on: 

  • Keeping up to date with flu vaccinations
  • Opportunities to keep moving
  • Nutrition and Healthy eating
  • Pain Management

You can find out all of this information on the CPICS website: 

 

  1. Waiting Well - CPICS