How can I contact GP?

[flakymate]

Basically I don’t have a phone number due to leaving the end of contract admin too late. My new contract’s SIM card arrives next week and current number was disconnected at midnight!

Didn’t foresee this being an issue with email, social media & zoom covering most of my bases however my GP only accepts contact via phone! Do I need to wait until next week to seek medical help? Seems unfair and behind the times really, what do people in poverty do?

Do you not have a landline?

Borrow someone’s phone?

Most GPs can’t take details over email. Ours has an app now, although you’re not supposed to use it to book appointments, more to get advice that doesn’t require an appointment.

If the poverty question was serious, you can contact your mobile provider and some have low-cost schemes, and the same for landlines. They have schemes if you qualify for them.

Your new SIM might arrive before next week - they've always arrived within 48 hours whenever I've ordered one.

Is there no one in your household whose phone you can use?

You could buy a £1 payg sim and top it up with the minimum and use that.

You can call landlines through Skype - you'll need to put a bit of credit on your account though, as it's not free.

Use a neighbours phone?

I'm not sure many phone boxes still exist!

@dementedpixie

I'm not sure many phone boxes still exist!

There's one less than 5 minutes from my house

2 in the nearest train station...

The one nearest me has been vandalised and has no handset. The train station is miles from me and I have no idea if it has a phone box. Depends where you live surely

Don’t have a landline

Skype/pay as you go sim is a good idea actually. Knowing my surgery, all the appointments for today are probably taken already!

My partner is at work (paramedic) so can’t really ask him, they’ll be closed by the time he’s back.

An apps would be perfect- some surgeries in my city have them and/or patient access services online, such a shame mine doesn’t! Wonder what they do when photos of the issue are needed due to lack of face to face appointments

Doesn't your broadband need a Landline? Or do you just not have a phone connected?

We had one outside our house 5 years ago. Complete mobile blackspot on O2 (nearest signal 10 minutes drive in either direction or 10 minutes walk up the hill. It didn't work and never did in the time we lived there. We reported it not working and the only response was 3 years later it being removed because "no one had used it"! There are now very few phone boxes around!

@Workyticket

Do you actually need medical help or are you looking for something to be offended by?

Use a phone box surely

Ironic, you’re the one that seems to be clutching at straws to find something to be offended by? You seem like a very sad individual, hope you find happiness the desperately need

You can also call out via Zoom but you need a pro (paid for) account like Skype.

Fuck me - who needs GPs with happy little you psycho analysing on Mumsmet!?

Our nearest phone box is 14 miles away and as a one car family (DP has the car today) I am not sure I would be up for a 14 mile walk along country lanes with a baby in a buggy! Luckily we have a landline as the mobile signal is not great round these parts but it must be hard at times for those who find themselves phone-less for whatever reason, I can see that poverty could make it difficult for people to contact their GP if needed.

They sell sim cards for 99p behind the till in most corner shops, pick one up that’ll work in your phone and put some credit on

Thank you all for the tips. Managed to call them through WhatsApp!