I can't see a GP is anyone elses like this?

Thought pharmacists couldn't do this for a child? They are trained in medicines not diagnosis.

I know this isn't the point of this thread but my son was given antibiotics at our local pharmacy.
I was shocked .
They do have a ' consulting ' room which is manned by ... not sure of qualification but handles flu jabs etc and approved a prescription while I was there.

That's ridiculous OP. I've got the same as you. Last week I filled in an online form for an appt at my GP. The next morning I was emailed a list of times to choose from for the same day. GP said it was a virus and didn't give me anything but at least I got to see mine really quickly.

I had a similar situation last week.
I had actually made an appointment 2 weeks ago for 9 am Monday.
It took me 17 phonecalls at 8 am to get through.
At 8 .50 on the appointment day the receptionist phoned me to tell me that the practice nurse(WTF!) could not help me as she was a new trainee- oh and all the appointments had gone for the doctor and there were no spaces left.
I, too was furious ( especially as I had specified a Drs appointment or practice nurse to help with my specific ( cancer) related problem.
I suggest you go down to the surgery as I did and ask to speak to the Practice Manager face to face.
I wasn't rude but I was firm and polite ( though I was seething inside!) and miraculously an appointment was found for later that day.
I have no gripe with the doctors and nurses but I do think that some receptionists are less than helpful on the phone.

You’re really not. GP funding has been eroded for years. The service you see now is what can be delivered on the funding the government gives GPs. It is absolutely not right but it is fact. Please write to your MP. They have the power to change the situation.

I personally can't see the benefit other than maybe they need fewer receptionists as they'll have less phone calls. I also find it strange as we always prefer patient to come in rather than a phone call because it's much better for doctors to assess them face to face. The doctor surgery I'm registered at does bookings over the phone, so I don't really understand how online triage works. At my surgery monday is the day we have the most doctors in and apps so something might not be urgent enough for a same day app usually but if it looks like we might have empty slots we would book more routine apps in. I wonder if these online triage systems would do that or would all routine app just get offered a routine slot and urgent on the day slots ones get left empty?
I personally think it's better to talk to someone. We have one day a week when for some reason we have less doctors than usual and occasionally then we have to triage, which involves taking the info from the patient and the duty doctor deciding if they can see them at the end of clinic or if we override a pm app or 111 or if they think it's routine and they can be seen another day.

It sounds like you need to change GP....

Ps fill in your online form as per the nhs guideline:

:See a GP if:
You have a chest infection and:

you feel very unwell or your symptoms get worse
you cough up blood or blood-stained mucus
you've had a cough for more than 3 weeks
you're pregnant
you're over 65
your immune system is weak – for example, you have a condition like diabetes or you're having chemotherapy
you have a long-term health condition, such as a heart, lung or kidney condition

So in your case in your form emphasise length of time you have had the cough, emphasise breathing issues and production of thick green mucas and symptoms not improved after following advice from pharmacy - include in form that 111 have recommended GP sees you

I work in a surgery and we use online forms and it’s brilliant. I know it’s not the same everywhere but patients complete forms they’re constantly monitored and actioned by reception staff and patients are contacted within 48 hours usually later that day. You can upload pictures on it, they’re so good. We do also have a phone line for patients who can’t/won’t use this system or need interpreters. The people who don’t use the online forms are the only ones who complain- those that do love it! So so easy.

Hope you’re ok OP.

I had very similar (for 9 weeks and not getting better, but thinking I just had to wait it out). Eventually my mum and my husband told me I really should get seen (they told me about lots of cases of pneumonia recently etc.).

Last week tried to get a GO appointment but it was impossible - fully booked for the day almost as soon as the lines open.

Went to the local hospital’s walk-in center (feeling really shit and with a temperature). Got triaged and told to wait. After an hour one of the receptionists came to put up a sign that said « waiting time 4 hours » then a little while later she came back and changed the 4 into a 5.

I checked out and went home.

Next day I tried the GP again and got an appointment. I had (have) severe bronchitis and needed antibiotics and an inhaler to help me breathe. He also sent me for a chest X-ray.

It has felt like such bloody hard work!

Thinking of you OP and good luck! 🤞

It’s interesting, is it frustrating for surgeries like yours that others aren’t seeing patients at all in person? Do you get a sense of why they’re not?

Yes that too. But by being spectacularly unavailable to patients it pushes them into the private sector and solves the problem of too many patients. Win win situation.

I work in a GP surgery we answer phone calls, no online triage. A few local surgeries only do online apps now and we have had so many patients move to us because of it. We always see infections the same day if we can. We also have a respiratory clinic we can refer to if we are full. The symptoms you describe would be a same day appointment.
I'd ask friends what their surgeries are like, and call up surgery's and if they don't have a triage system and you can talk to a reception ask about the wait for urgent and routine apps etc. I take a lot of calls asking about how we work before patients register with us. If you do change surgeries make sure you have a couple of weeks or more of your regular medication as generally they don't get added straight to your repeats, you need to book in for a review with a GP first usually.

I'm literally sat here as we speak - second time in a week - due to Aspirated Pneumonia!

Both days my GP saw me within a couple of hours of an e-consult, both times sent me to A&E for X-ray/ECG etc.

Had to be nebulized both times, just waiting for more antibiotics and steroids 🥳

it doesn’t sound like being on their list is doing you much good anyway!

That sounds awful
my GP is fabulous and I appreciate I am lucky
never ever had a problem getting an appointment-

I’ve seen them 3 times since Nov and got an appointment once same day ( pneumonia/ needed antibiotics ) I rang in the morning and they got me in by 2pm

2nd time within 3 days for HRT appointment with an amazing doctor who gave me everything I asked for and was lovely & kind

3rd time. Referred from a private nurse for a really bad wound and needed antibiotics and got them same day - doctor called me prescribed them and sent to boots for me to collect within 30 mins

then needed to see the practice nurse to check on a wound and got that next day

I don’t go to my doctors that often and these three appointments have been my first in the past year but previously they have always been very very good

No, mine has.been great, I filled in an online form at 8am and was in the surgery at 9:45.

I also had a blood test (6 monthly thyroid) and pharmacy blood pressure check around the same time which both indicated need for gp and they phoned me and made an appointment.

it would be lack of GPs
lack of training of GPs
better opportunity abroad for newly trained doctors, better pay and conditions in Australia.

I believe it’s on purpose to drive patients into the private sector. It’s certainly worked for me.

I would just go to A and E and tell them why you are there - because your GP won’t see you.

A while ago I sure there issued to be something sent to the GP if their patient had to go to A and E unnecessarily. Probably doesn’t exist now.

Apparently ours has approved because they now offer online appointments.

I've never yet seen one live on the website for booking. If you phone up, they refuse to engage and tell you to use the online system.

Someone posting on our local FB page that they'd had a wonderful visit to the doctors. They'd been in the waiting room and no one was there and they were seen super quickly. Had to be taken down by admins as the hilarity got too much for the original poster's nerves...

Silly thing is I do like the phone consultations most of the time. I think for a good number of things they are much better. No sitting around in drafty waiting rooms waiting for a call. You can stay at work/in bed/with your dc comfortably etc.
But there are times a doctor needs to see you.

Six years ago we had a lovely practice. If it was non-urgent they'd apologise that you had to wait until the afternoon, or possibly the next day. They popped round to check when they weren't happy with how a child was doing, they phoned up and asked if you were okay after a difficult time and you always got seen that day if you said it was urgent. I was even seen three times in a day (three different things with three different children!) once.
Then the practice manager retired and the practice merged with two others. Since then it's been a nightmare.

PATCHES - do you have this with your Health Centre?

it is online email service where you explain your problem.

doctor then phones you at home for consultation and gives prescription which he sends to local pharmacy. You can them have it collected or some will deliver to you.