Have I been a twat or should the GP surgery have given me an appointment?

I would usually agree with what everyone is saying about them doing almost nothing for a broken toe is it wasn’t for my experience!

I broke my fourth toe twice, each time by catching my foot on the door frame. Both times it was swollen and bruised all the way up my foot. I couldn’t be bothered getting it xrayed as it seemed like a right faff when I didn’t think there’d be any treatment anyway, so just let it heal.

1 year later it was still sore and making me walk funny, so I went to the GP who sent me to the fracture clinic, where it was xrayed, and they confirmed the two breaks, which were misaligned in the way they’d healed. They were talking about surgery to pin/fuse the joint and all sorts. Fortunately some special toe physio fixed it, but it ended up being quite the palaver.

In hindsight getting the xray straight away would have been much easier!

In my area, you’re told to call 111 because they’ll sort an appointment at minor injuries. We don’t really have a proper “minor injuries” drop in because there are several in different towns in the area and the sort of rotate which one is open. So you call 111 and they tell you where to go and can usually give you a time.

I wouldn’t go for a toe though 😂

Can you ring 111 and see if they can get you a slot at MIU?

You want a GP appointment for a sore toe? So much so that you’ve started a mumsnet thread and are thinking of complaining?

What exactly do you think a GP can do? Other than look and say, “yes, that’s swollen… go to minor injuries for an x-Ray.”

Also, most people really wouldn’t seek medical treatment for a swollen toe. They can’t do anything for it. I do a lot of “extreme sport” and have had lots of hurt toes. Just strap it up and move on.

Baffling that someone thinks a GP should be wasting an appointment on this. What do you think they can actually do for it?

GP is 100% right, if they gave you an appointment you’d just be wasting it because they’d send you to minor injuries anyway. No need to put unnecessary pressure on a GP that is likely already stretched.

You just seem so irritated rather than angry then, i didn't understand the reasoning why you were dismissive.

Can you move it? I don’t think I’d waste anyone’s time with a bashed toe unless it was hanging off 🤣
A quick search on the nhs website tells you what to do. If you really do think it’s broken, then you need to go to A&E or as you have been the minor injury unit. Any other toe, take ibuprofen and rest.

I work in a GP surgery too and it is frustrating when we get calls like this.
I appreciate you work, but so do many people and if you feel you need to find out if something is broken, you have to do what everyone else does and tell work you need to go to A&E.
GPs will only send you there anyway and you'll have wasted more time off work.
Sorry if that sounds blunt x.

Yes, you hold your toe up to your phone and they send special x ray thingies through the camera which then bounce back and make an x ray that the 111 person can read and decide if it is broken. Honestly, the advances in medical science blow my mind sometimes.

Even 35 years ago when I broke my toe I was directed to A and E as it needed an x Ray.

Your GP is right. It wastes an appointment for them to tell you that they can't tell without an x Ray.

They can't do much for a broken toe. You just need to rest it until it heals, and don't put pressure on it. I was given a crutch at the hospital.

Really sorry if I’ve already missed someone saying this but I work at a GP and unfortunately this is correct. A standard GP wouldn’t have the equipment needed to give you a definitive answer you would have to have an xray

If it’s your big toe it needs an X-ray. Smaller toes, unless misshapen are usually just strapped to another toe. Big toe fractures can extend into joint lines and cause problems in the future. I dropped a weight on my big toe. Phoned 111 as I could only hobble a few steps and they gave me an appointment time for minor injuries that night. I had an x ray and was given a flat shoe that Velcroed shut and was told to use it while needed but gradually reduce use as the pain decreased. I think you need to get it checked out.

Couldn't agree more. My niece jumped off the back of a sofa and hurt her leg when she was 3/4. Because she could still walk on it everyone thought she was ok. A few days later she was still complaining so her my DSis took her to MIU, she had two hairline fractures in her tibia.

Where I live that calls for a 111 call to request a walk in appointment at the non emergency X-ray department.

What do you expect your GP to do? either you think its broken so it needs an x-ray or its just bruised in which case you do not need a Dr at all. To be making the appointment you are stating you think it needs X-raying. Nothing a GP could do.

If you just want advice on bandages/support, painkillers, heat vs ice etc... that what a pharmacist is for.

You should because if you leave it and it's broken you could get in more trouble. Dont be silly about your health.

Rule of thumb - you cannot tell the difference between a sprain, break or bruise with the naked eye, unless of course it is a green stick or at a very wonky angle.

as has been stated the gp no more than me or you could make that judgement.

minor injuries and an x-ray would be the most appropriate course. If it was any other toe then strap it and pain killers, but it’s worth getting a big toe checked as it can cause balance issues longer term - so best to go via minor injuries and if broken then they may refer you to the fracture clinic

As it's your big toe you should get an x-ray. If the bruising was black or purple, it is probably broken. Bone marrow escapes and turns the skin that colour. They will probably give you a rocker boot where you don't put weight on it for a few weeks. They may strap it to the next toe.

You need an x-ray. Go to minor injuries. My local minor injuries sees people within three hours.

Do not avoid this because if it's seriously damaged you may need more treatment.

If the bruise is red and has not gone purple, it's probably fine.

I injured my little toe recently. A GP I saw informally confirmed it was likely broken. This could only be confirmed with a minor injuries x-Ray, but as the treatment was the same either way, we agreed I wouldn’t waste my time. I used ice packs (found a lovely gel one on Amazon that was like half a slipper with a sling back Velcro strap. The best strapping I found was a length of fabric plaster. Micropore just bunched up. The toe/finger straps I found on Amazon didn’t keep the toes together, I don’t think my feet are the right shape.

GP wouldn't have been able to do anything as they wouldn't have access to an x ray. So all they could have done would be to say yeah that needs an x ray, and it would be a waste of everyone's time.

Most of the time you don't do anything for a toe even if it is broken. Unless it's visibly bent out of shape or something I'd just leave it.

It's shit that the minor injuries unit is so far away from you, but that's where you need to be (if anywhere) for the injury you have. It's not what GPs do!

You're in for a shock on here if twat offends you dude.

GPs don't have x-ray eyes OP. Why the cost of 2 appointments when you only need 1?

If you went to the gp and they decided you need an x-ray. Then what? The logistics will still be the same won't they?

Because MIU are paid to manage injuries and have the facilities to manage them, GPs don't. Nobody is being a martyr but the more stretched the NHS is the more pragmatic we have to be. These types of injury are exactly what MIU is commisioned for and GPs aren't. Could someone take a feverish child to MIU? Would MIU be able to decide how to manage somebody who has multiple comorbidities and is on multiple medications and is suffering with chronic shortness of breath? Is it fair then that somebody with an injured toe is taking an appointment from the many people who will have also likely presented to the GP that day with these problems or similar? On the flipside would you expect MIU to see your feverish child and assess whether they needed seeing by the GP just because MIU is closer/easier to access or would you accept that GP or walk in centre is the best place? Playing another devils advocate if the GP agreed to see you for a query broken limb but the appointment was hours away and when they did assess you the limb was critically ischaemic or there was severe blood loss would you blame the GP then for essentially delaying access to the appropriate treatment and diagnostic equipment that is available in emergency departments? Once again the GP's priority is providing a safe and fair service not your convenience.

Unless your gp has xray vision there is no way of knowing if your toe is broken!!

A thread diversion but I do think these Minor Injuries Unit and MEC for eyes are really brilliant.

My DD had a big cut to her finger which she was panicking about - got seen right away by nice nurse who reassured and made sure it was dressed properly.

And this year had to go back and forth to the MEC people with my left eye - got appointments right away and not taking up space with the GP.

Grow up 🙄