Page 5 | Been given a face to face appointment at my GP… AIBU to call and push back?

tulipsinbloomnow · 2026-04-20T09:35:50+00:00

I have another ongoing issue which I am under the hospital for, but I’ve been told I need to approach my GP for pain relief at the moment. I did this a couple of months ago and got a phone call and a prescription no problem. I’m running out and need some more. This time I filled out the new AI questionnaire and it’s given me an urgent appointment for tomorrow. I called up the surgery and they said it’s because the AI has flagged me as being at risk of arthritis (???) or a DVT!!! I asked the receptionist if this was right as a DVT is pretty serious and I’m sure I don’t have one, but apparently because I’ve ticked that I get swelling it’s a risk factor and I now need to come in. I just think this is so silly and I’m taking up an appointment for something that’s really not that serious! I just feel like I’ll look such a knob tomorrow sat there. AIBU to call back and push back?

Original poster

tulipsinbloomnow · 20/04/2026 11:25

Duckiewasthefirstniceguy · 20/04/2026 11:23

You certainly seem bothered. Disproportionately so, for what should be a quick painless appointment.

Why are you being so weird about this?

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I’m not being weird. I just really resent taking a morning off work for something so minor.

OP posts:

Duckiewasthefirstniceguy · 20/04/2026 11:24

tulipsinbloomnow · 20/04/2026 11:22

I’ve currently got naproxen and was looking for some more of that. I’m mainly peed off because it means a morning off work, and a morning of leave used!

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I’m mainly peed off because it means a morning off work, and a morning of leave used!

Really? As that’s not what you said in the OP and you haven’t mentioned it at all till now.

Duckiewasthefirstniceguy · 20/04/2026 11:23

tulipsinbloomnow · 20/04/2026 11:21

I’m not after opiates, I’m not bothered if I do need to go in it just seems so silly to me.

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You certainly seem bothered. Disproportionately so, for what should be a quick painless appointment.

Why are you being so weird about this?

ilovesooty · 20/04/2026 11:23

tulipsinbloomnow · 20/04/2026 11:21

I’m not after opiates, I’m not bothered if I do need to go in it just seems so silly to me.

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If it isn't opiates it might still be something that needs to be looked at in conjunction with the swelling. ETA I thought it might be Naproxen. Asking to see you doesn't seem silly to me.

Original poster

tulipsinbloomnow · 20/04/2026 11:22

LordofMisrule1 · 20/04/2026 11:10

Hmmm... what pain relief are you after?

I'll be honest, reading between the lines it looks to me like you were expecting to just be able to ring, have a quick check in over the phone and have your pain relief issued. And now you're feeling anxious and scared that they want to see you in person, because you think they will query the pain relief or may not issue it. I'm curious why you're so set on avoiding seeing them in person.

They want to see you, so you do need to go if you want your pain relief issuing.

I’ve currently got naproxen and was looking for some more of that. I’m mainly peed off because it means a morning off work, and a morning of leave used!

OP posts:

Original poster

tulipsinbloomnow · 20/04/2026 11:21

crowfollower · 20/04/2026 11:17

You can't just keep ringing to get pain medication. Of course they are going to flag that and assess it. I think that is what is bothering you tbh.

I’m not after opiates, I’m not bothered if I do need to go in it just seems so silly to me.

OP posts:

TheyGrewUp · 20/04/2026 11:21

Of you are right and it's absolitely nothing to worry about, just smile sweetly and apologise for the waste of time. If the systems inappropriately identifying non urgent issues they'll sort it swiftly. It beats a phone apt because you won't be hovering over ypur phone for half a day.

CornishPorsche · 20/04/2026 11:18

tulipsinbloomnow · 20/04/2026 11:09

I’m not refusing, I just feel like it’s such a waste of an appointment. I’m also going to go in and get emotional (because despite it being minor, it’s really starting to have an impact on my day to day life), which is just going to make me look even worse too. I work in the NHS, so I know how bad people have it and me crying over some joint pain just makes me feel like an arsehole to be honest

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With the greatest of respect..... Piss off with that attitude.

Crying over pain is a HUGELY valid reason for anyone to seek medical care.

I don't know what you do in the NHS - you could be a cleaner, a morgue assistant, a neurosurgeon or a CEO, but imagine working in healthcare and thinking that someone in enough pain to be left crying is wasting an appointment?

Woman up. You need to be seen. You know perfectly well you are not wasting anyone's time. No, you probably don't have a painful terminal cancer but someone will always "have it worse" and that doesn't invalidate anyone's need for care.

Someone with a broken leg requiring a simple cast doesn't have it as bad as someone with a broken leg that requires multiple surgeries - but they still have a broken leg.

crowfollower · 20/04/2026 11:17

You can't just keep ringing to get pain medication. Of course they are going to flag that and assess it. I think that is what is bothering you tbh.

HoraceCope · 20/04/2026 11:16

VeraWang · 20/04/2026 10:57

Have you not read the OP?

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oh are you in charge of this thread?

brunettemic · 20/04/2026 11:14

tulipsinbloomnow · 20/04/2026 11:09

I’m not refusing, I just feel like it’s such a waste of an appointment. I’m also going to go in and get emotional (because despite it being minor, it’s really starting to have an impact on my day to day life), which is just going to make me look even worse too. I work in the NHS, so I know how bad people have it and me crying over some joint pain just makes me feel like an arsehole to be honest

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Being in pain doesn’t make you an arsehole in the slightest.

Moveoverdarlin · 20/04/2026 11:13

I find face to face appointments far more beneficial than any telephone appointment.

Theonebutnotonly · 20/04/2026 11:11

tulipsinbloomnow · 20/04/2026 10:54

I just feel a bit of a knob going in person for this, it’s so minor in the grand scheme of things

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But you can make it clear to the dr that you didn’t request a face-to-face appointment and it has only happened because their system insisted on it. Then if the dr agrees it was unnecessary he/she might use your case as evidence to try to change their system.

But even if they do decide a face-to-face appointment was unnecessary in your case, or even if it’s unnecessary in 95% of cases, that doesn’t mean it’s not worth doing if it picks up the 5% for whom it does turn out to have been necessary.

LordofMisrule1 · 20/04/2026 11:10

Hmmm... what pain relief are you after?

I'll be honest, reading between the lines it looks to me like you were expecting to just be able to ring, have a quick check in over the phone and have your pain relief issued. And now you're feeling anxious and scared that they want to see you in person, because you think they will query the pain relief or may not issue it. I'm curious why you're so set on avoiding seeing them in person.

They want to see you, so you do need to go if you want your pain relief issuing.

Original poster

tulipsinbloomnow · 20/04/2026 11:09

brunettemic · 20/04/2026 11:06

No you’re not. No mans land would be you need to be seen, the hospital say see your GP and the GP says see the hospital. You’ve got an appointment, which is exactly what you need.

I imagine someone refusing to be seen whilst asking for painkillers is quite the red flag.

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I’m not refusing, I just feel like it’s such a waste of an appointment. I’m also going to go in and get emotional (because despite it being minor, it’s really starting to have an impact on my day to day life), which is just going to make me look even worse too. I work in the NHS, so I know how bad people have it and me crying over some joint pain just makes me feel like an arsehole to be honest

OP posts:

brunettemic · 20/04/2026 11:06

tulipsinbloomnow · 20/04/2026 10:47

i’ve been assessed by the hospital and I’m on a pathway, I’ve called multiple times to see if I can be expedited and they’ve said no, so I’m in a bit of no man’s land

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No you’re not. No mans land would be you need to be seen, the hospital say see your GP and the GP says see the hospital. You’ve got an appointment, which is exactly what you need.

I imagine someone refusing to be seen whilst asking for painkillers is quite the red flag.

Laserwho · 20/04/2026 11:00

tulipsinbloomnow · 20/04/2026 10:54

I just feel a bit of a knob going in person for this, it’s so minor in the grand scheme of things

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That's your issue, not the doctors. He has to safeguard himself by seeing you

BillieWiper · 20/04/2026 10:59

Just go in and get checked out. And explain you need the pain relief on your repeat prescription. If there's any other quick queries you've got you may as well ask them at the time.

TotHappy · 20/04/2026 10:58

I had a DVT where swelling and discolouration only manifested on exertion 😬 mine was upper arm so more rare.
I wasn't on any pathway though, those were my only symptoms so it probably isn't that but you can see why they want to check...

VeraWang · 20/04/2026 10:57

HoraceCope · 20/04/2026 10:56

you know better than AI
give them a call/message

Have you not read the OP?

HoraceCope · 20/04/2026 10:56

you know better than AI
give them a call/message

ilovesooty · 20/04/2026 10:55

tulipsinbloomnow · 20/04/2026 10:54

I just feel a bit of a knob going in person for this, it’s so minor in the grand scheme of things

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That's for the professional to judge.

Original poster

tulipsinbloomnow · 20/04/2026 10:54

Laserwho · 20/04/2026 10:53

You won't denying anyone else of an appointment. You would be having one anyway, in person or on phone, they take the same time. If the GP thinks you need seeing in person then you should go. I very much doubt they will prescribe anything else if you don't

I just feel a bit of a knob going in person for this, it’s so minor in the grand scheme of things

OP posts:

ilovesooty · 20/04/2026 10:54

Just attend. You won't be able to get a prescription without being seen by the look of it.

Laserwho · 20/04/2026 10:53

You won't denying anyone else of an appointment. You would be having one anyway, in person or on phone, they take the same time. If the GP thinks you need seeing in person then you should go. I very much doubt they will prescribe anything else if you don't