Hi Moyra,
With the hospital I am at my first appointment with the surgeon was 12 September.
After that -- throughout: October, Nov + December ..... I have been going thruough the "pre-op" tests (lung function test, endoscopy, sleep apnoea test and ECG etc).
I have my surgery review on 16 Jan 2012 and likely op sometime in March 2012.
So from 1st appointment with consultant to "pre-op" is usually about 4 months, and then 6 weeks or so until the op itself.
But as Marie says, this does vary with each hospital.
When you're next back online, if you have some time visit the "User CP" area (top left) and you can enter some more details in your "edit profile" area with more about which hospital you are at and your surgery etc.
Best wishes.