To complain to GP practice?

Sorry didn't see your update. So glad you have the referral. Hope it's a false alarm obviously but if not glad you're being seen quickly now and will hopefully get treatment quickly too. Best of luck.

Our town has a walk in GP surgery at the hospital. Have you checked your local a&e to see if they do?

Please see someone asap. Skin cancers are usually easily treatable but I know from family experience that there are rare ones which are time sensitive and need treating very quickly.

This sounds crazy but post a letter to them! It’ll get there the next day, it’s in writing and they’ll have to acknowledge it!!

My previous surgery wouldn't let you make an appointment if you called in person. Insisted you had to ring. Once I stood in reception ringing them and could see the receptionist answer it ( after letting it ring for ages) only to tell me no appointments. This was way before covid

OP, here is my suggestion:

1. Visit this website to find your local ICB: https://www.nhs.uk/nhs-services/find-your-local-integrated-care-board/
2. Look for a contact us section, even better if it mentions 'primary care' or 'GP practices'. Find a phone number at the ICB and call them.
3. They should be able to tell you how to get in touch with the GP formally (if they are ignoring you) or even put you in touch with commissioning teams.

Glad you’ve been seen but that’s awful. Definitely complain.

Practices are given funding in line with their patient list size and they should be making sure there are enough appointments.

To have to wait 4 and a half weeks to be referred on to a two week cancer pathway is absolutely appalling.

edit: also complain to your local ICB not just the practice. It may be a system problem but the ‘system’ needs to know.

I'm very glad you've been seen, but it must be worrying that you had to wait 4-5 weeks before starting on the two week pathway.

If you can face it, maybe write to the practice manager saying that you understand why the wait was so long but pointing out that you've now had a 5 week delay to diagnosis and potential treatment. You could even say that you are happy for them to share your complaint with the ICB / other authorities as evidence as to GPs need to be better resourced.

Our GP's normally ask for a photo of the lesion then review and give appt if concerned. Could you take a photo and send to GP by email? I have an app called skin vision where you can upload photos of concerns and they are reviewed by doctors and tell you if you should see a GP/dermatologist. They picked up a BCC which was then removed by dermatology.

Link for the Push Doctor website.....might work!

https://patient.pushdoctor.co.uk/register/login

I would 100% be going in and asking to speak to the practice manager. The service they are providing is unacceptable and it's their job to find a solution.

I always call mid afternoon - after lunch and get though-especially if I explain what it is and that it's urgent. I appreciate every practice is different though.
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This is awful. I'm so sorry OP. I would demand to speak to the practice manager and very firmly explain to them that you have concerning symptoms of cancer, you've been turned away for 2 weeks, and if you don't get to see a doctor & get referred urgently under the 2 week wait asap then it will be on their conscience if it is cancer!!

If all else fails OP, could you afford to see a private GP? They're usually about £100 for an appointment. Or a private dermatologist might be about £200. They can usually refer you back to the NHS. Expensive, but would put your mind at rest!

I would say go private but I noticed that in one of your posts you explained that wasn't possible. Write a letter to the GP practice and explain that you are concerned that you may have skin cancer and although you have tried many times to make an appointment you have not been able to do so. Then ask them to recommend to you what the next step you should take should be. Then take the letter to the surgery. Go to Reception and say that you have a letter asking them what your next step should be because you think you may have skin cancer and you can't get an appointment. That may well be the nudge they need.

As others have said, try 111.

Alternatively, if you can afford it or have insurance, find a local private dermatology clinic that will do a complete body mole check. You shouldn't have to do that though.

I would also complain, initially via PALS. GPs are the gateways to the NHS and it should be possible to get an appointment. They are not operating a safe system if it'simpossible to get an appointment for a serious issue.

@Cluedokeys do you know if there are any private skin clinics near you? Some of these have mole checking and mapping appointments - images or moles are reviewed by a dermatologist. Not cheap but probably affordable. Incidentally, how long have you had the rash?

Put the details of your situation in writing to the practice manager. They won’t fancy the possibility of any responsibility should your concerns turn out to be correct and should get you seen asap.
If it is skin cancer, and hopefully it is not, don’t think the worst because there are types that are not systemic so not that much of an issue and in the rare chance it is melanoma there are treatments now that have really improved in just the past decade or so.
I have melanoma myself so been there got the tshirt.
Feel free to message me if I can be of any help at any point.

I spoke to a lady in Boots but she said because I have other symptoms they don’t advise that I use their service and I should see my GP instead

I would mention that to 111, or in your letter/email to your GP. You tried for an option and they signposted you back to your GP.

You've filled in an econsult and they've said they won't even review it until the end of April? Did I read that right?

That's what we have to do too.
I have also found that if you ask for an appointment to see the nurse, they get you in and then the nurse looks at it and goes and gets the doctor anyway.

I would be walking in and say that you are seeking a referral for cancer under the two week guidelines. Do not take no for an answer. This is truly despicable.

Op, I know you might not want to go private but I had a mole on my face and my gp told me it was skin cancer (she had sent off a picture of it she took with a special camera.) I received a letter from the hospital to tell me I was on the waiting list.

I was waiting so long I was starting to worry and the mark was growing. I got a private appointment with a dermatologist and at the appointment he said, That’s not skin cancer but do you want me to remove it anyway? I said, Yes please and he did it straight away.

Consultation and minor op done in half an hour. I appreciate you might not have the money to do that but it is a straightforward option if you can.