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AIBU?

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Original poster

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

114 replies

Wintersgirl · 03/03/2025 17:47

And it's really frustrating, I've had a chesty cough (green gunk...sorry) for 4 weeks now (i've now developed a high temp in the last day) with no sign of it going away, I filled in the online form to get triaged, you can't speak to anyone at my Drs, the message on the phone just tells me fill in the form and we'll get back to you within 2 days, call cuts dead

So I filled in the form, they got back to me a day later saying phone 111 which I did who promptly told me I need to see a Dr, ok fine so I filled in the form again, the GPs come back and say see a pharmacist because they can give out antibiotics if needed, not true at all the I phoned our local chemist and the Pharmacist say we can't do chests , you need to see a Dr....argh! So I fill in another form online saying what they said isn't true, waited a while longer and they come back and tell me go to A&E if things get worse, I don't need A&E i just want someone to listen to my chest! I feel like death but it really doesn't warrant a trip to hospital, does anyone else have this rigmarole or is it just mine? Thanks in advance

OP posts:
FedUpandEatingChocolate · 03/03/2025 18:21

Ours are much better than this, thankfully. Phoned at 8.20 today and managed to get a phonecall appointment. Usually if they need to see you they'll get you in that day.

I would suggest turning up and insisting on seeing someone. We did that once with my DD when needed - she was seen before the clinics had opened.

Original poster
Wintersgirl · 03/03/2025 18:21

MargaretThursday · 03/03/2025 18:19

Oh no. They won't let you go round in circles. If you try and explain you haven't got a possible answer from that you get another text:
"Already answered".

Someone's going to die from this. With the bottom one, I don't think a text should ever be a response to someone who's phoned the GP with depression. Even if they have to say they can't do anything, then they should be phoning. One of those times when I was spiralling badly and that really didn't help.

Last 5 or 6 times I've contacted the GP for me or the dc these sort of things have been the answers. Result is none of the things, some of which were quite important haven't been treated/tested.

Show quote history

How can they say this is an improvement?

OP posts:
ZookeeperSE · 03/03/2025 18:20

Wintersgirl · 03/03/2025 18:09

Triage, they told me the team has looked at my form and no Drs are available

Show quote history

Not great is it? I’ve just got antibiotics today for similar, in to week six. I have asthma too and it’s really exacerbating it. At least you have Drs though, even if they’re not available. I called ours a couple of months back as DH was very ill (it turned out he had pneumonia, got seen in local hospital walk in, can’t believe I managed to get him there he could barely walk and he’s a unit compared to me) only to be told no Drs available. I said oh ok so do you know when there will be Dr appointments, only to be told no, you misunderstand, it’s not appointments we don’t have, it’s Drs 😮.

MargaretThursday · 03/03/2025 18:19

Wintersgirl · 03/03/2025 18:15

You feel like you're going round in circles

Show quote history

Oh no. They won't let you go round in circles. If you try and explain you haven't got a possible answer from that you get another text:
"Already answered".

Someone's going to die from this. With the bottom one, I don't think a text should ever be a response to someone who's phoned the GP with depression. Even if they have to say they can't do anything, then they should be phoning. One of those times when I was spiralling badly and that really didn't help.

Last 5 or 6 times I've contacted the GP for me or the dc these sort of things have been the answers. Result is none of the things, some of which were quite important haven't been treated/tested.

HelenWheels · 03/03/2025 18:18

Wintersgirl · 03/03/2025 18:17

I'm going to have to bite the bullet

Show quote history

do it, go via 111 though

Original poster
Wintersgirl · 03/03/2025 18:17

Velmy · 03/03/2025 18:16

If you have pneumonia or another bacterial chest infection you'll need an X-ray and potentially IV antibiotics, which you'll need to go to A&E for.

Go to A&E.

I'm going to have to bite the bullet

OP posts:
Munnygirl · 03/03/2025 18:17

Wintersgirl · 03/03/2025 17:47

And it's really frustrating, I've had a chesty cough (green gunk...sorry) for 4 weeks now (i've now developed a high temp in the last day) with no sign of it going away, I filled in the online form to get triaged, you can't speak to anyone at my Drs, the message on the phone just tells me fill in the form and we'll get back to you within 2 days, call cuts dead

So I filled in the form, they got back to me a day later saying phone 111 which I did who promptly told me I need to see a Dr, ok fine so I filled in the form again, the GPs come back and say see a pharmacist because they can give out antibiotics if needed, not true at all the I phoned our local chemist and the Pharmacist say we can't do chests , you need to see a Dr....argh! So I fill in another form online saying what they said isn't true, waited a while longer and they come back and tell me go to A&E if things get worse, I don't need A&E i just want someone to listen to my chest! I feel like death but it really doesn't warrant a trip to hospital, does anyone else have this rigmarole or is it just mine? Thanks in advance

That’s disgusting. I would be complaint to the practice manager as this is not at all acceptable

Original poster
Wintersgirl · 03/03/2025 18:16

BlackCoffeeAndSugar · 03/03/2025 18:09

Go to surgery.
Email practice manager.
Phone 111 and tell them the go won't see you and you have worsening lung symptoms.
Camp out at out of hours.

This is ridiculous.

My GP surgery are amazing and would see me within 2 hours for that description. Doesn't matter how lovely you say the GPs are. If they can't see patients with lung issues the practice isn't doing something right.

Yes I'm just wondering if I complain they can kick me off their list

OP posts:
Wibblywobblybobbly · 03/03/2025 18:16

Or if finances allow just book a private GP appointment for c.£80. If needed you'll get a private prescription, but for antibiotics they're not normally more than the NHS cost. Superdrug pharmacy is cheaper than Boots IME for private prescriptions.

Velmy · 03/03/2025 18:16

If you have pneumonia or another bacterial chest infection you'll need an X-ray and potentially IV antibiotics, which you'll need to go to A&E for.

Go to A&E.

HelenWheels · 03/03/2025 18:16

i had to go to a and e last week, gp surgery suggested 111 who said a and e and we wouldnt wait as long.
were there 10 hours
they were very good, very thorough, cannot fault them
met a neighbour who grumpily asked, are you here because you couldnt get a gp appointment.

Original poster
Wintersgirl · 03/03/2025 18:15

MargaretThursday · 03/03/2025 18:14

Ours now seems to send out texts where they clearly haven't read the message. Something along the lines of this:

I leave message: "ds has an infection and the pharmacy says they can't treat it, so he needs an appointment."
Text back: "Ask the pharmacy"
Or
"Struggling with depression. Had counselling a year ago, but they say they can't take me back without GP referral"
Text back: "You've used counselling before. Refer yourself."

You know really helpful.

You feel like you're going round in circles

OP posts:
Original poster
Wintersgirl · 03/03/2025 18:14

RolaColaLola · 03/03/2025 18:13

On what basis is it “clear” OP has a chest infection and “100%” needs antibiotics? Truth is antibiotics unlikely to make a difference BUT neither of us can be “100%” sure without examining the OP.

OP, hope you get to see someone soon.

Show quote history

I don't know of course but it's been 4 weeks of green gunk (sorry)

OP posts:
MargaretThursday · 03/03/2025 18:14

Ours now seems to send out texts where they clearly haven't read the message. Something along the lines of this:

I leave message: "ds has an infection and the pharmacy says they can't treat it, so he needs an appointment."
Text back: "Ask the pharmacy"
Or
"Struggling with depression. Had counselling a year ago, but they say they can't take me back without GP referral"
Text back: "You've used counselling before. Refer yourself."

You know really helpful.

Wibblywobblybobbly · 03/03/2025 18:14

Wintersgirl · 03/03/2025 18:09

Triage, they told me the team has looked at my form and no Drs are available

Show quote history

Do an econsult. As I understand it the GPs have allocated time for looking at econsults. And then generally there are slots reserved for people that need to be seen off the back of an econsult. So at a lot of GPs you can get seen that way when you can't get seen via the triage. I know it's ridiculous.

RolaColaLola · 03/03/2025 18:13

Pootlemcsmootle · 03/03/2025 17:56

God that's awful you've clearly got a chest infection. You 100% need antibiotics. Hospital? Which sounds ridiculous I know. But you need a antibiotics.

Sorry OP, no great advice from me I just wanted to send solidarity.

On what basis is it “clear” OP has a chest infection and “100%” needs antibiotics? Truth is antibiotics unlikely to make a difference BUT neither of us can be “100%” sure without examining the OP.

OP, hope you get to see someone soon.

Original poster
Wintersgirl · 03/03/2025 18:12

RuthW · 03/03/2025 18:10

You need an ANP appointment not a GP

Sorry what's an ANP appointment?

OP posts:
Icanthinkformyselfthanks · 03/03/2025 18:12

@Wintersgirl , have you been to your local walk in centre?

Original poster
Wintersgirl · 03/03/2025 18:11

Tarquinthecat · 03/03/2025 18:06

Once this is sorted you need to complain to the governing bodies of the practice, the NHS and to your MP.

We are PAYING for GP service.

I know it's so bad now, god knows how the tech phobe elderly can cope

OP posts:
RuthW · 03/03/2025 18:10

You need an ANP appointment not a GP

Original poster
Wintersgirl · 03/03/2025 18:09

Wibblywobblybobbly · 03/03/2025 18:08

Are you filling a triage form or an econsult? If the former, try the latter. Oddly it seems to work better with a lot of GPs.

Triage, they told me the team has looked at my form and no Drs are available

OP posts:
BlackCoffeeAndSugar · 03/03/2025 18:09

Go to surgery.
Email practice manager.
Phone 111 and tell them the go won't see you and you have worsening lung symptoms.
Camp out at out of hours.

This is ridiculous.

My GP surgery are amazing and would see me within 2 hours for that description. Doesn't matter how lovely you say the GPs are. If they can't see patients with lung issues the practice isn't doing something right.

Original poster
Wintersgirl · 03/03/2025 18:08

Fibrous · 03/03/2025 18:05

Yes our gp is like this now too. I preferred it when you could call at 8am and speak to a human.

Yes ours was the same, at least you had a fighting chance with that system

OP posts:
Wibblywobblybobbly · 03/03/2025 18:08

Are you filling a triage form or an econsult? If the former, try the latter. Oddly it seems to work better with a lot of GPs.

Tarquinthecat · 03/03/2025 18:06

Once this is sorted you need to complain to the governing bodies of the practice, the NHS and to your MP.

We are PAYING for GP service.