This is why A&E is overwhelmed

[PackedintheUK]

And it's nothing to do with over anxious patients seeking "unnecessary" medical care.

I have a very sore very swollen ankle as a result of an insect bite. I've asked advice at the pharmacy and been told it looks nasty, see your GP, you probably need antibiotics.

So I've tried. I've been calling GP surgery all morning and finally got through to have receptionist incredulously say "you want to see a doctor for a gnat bite?" and then be told the next appointment is 16 Nov.

Me: but pharmacist said I need seeing urgently.
Receptionist: All the emergency appointments are gone for today. You'll have to call back tomorrow.
Me: but I've been calling all morning, won't the same thing happen tomorrow?
Receptionist: Well I can't do anything about that, if you're that worried go to A&E

So,I'm not sure that I am "that" worried, but I have been told by someone better qualified than me that I should be seen. We lost a colleague to sepis this year, a fit young woman and it happened incredibly quickly, plus I have a friend currently in hospital on intravenous antibiotics from a very similar looking bite he got at the same park.

I also don't actually feel that well.My body aches and feels heavy and I'm a bit queasy, which could be coincidence or my imagination.

Probably/hopefully it is nothing that won't heal itself in a few days but it feels irresponsible not to take the advice I've been given. Also to go to A&E

So A&E for something that could (probably) have been dealt with in a matter of seconds in a GP (telephone/video?) appointment?

There's no walk in or minor injuries here.

@1forAll74

Have you tried to deal with the bite yourself, I have had like insect bites many many times, as being a gardener. but always deal with them myself, as in cleaning them, bathing them, and applying a suitable lotion or cream,for bites. Usually works fine, for uk type insects, and not some exotic country type insect bites.

That's why I was in the pharmacy, I was hoping he'd recommend some cream. But this isn't the "bite". I've been very good and haven't scratched it, the skin isn't broken so there's nothing to clean. But my ankle and part of my lower leg are very swollen.

I sympathise. Our walk in centres closed near the start of the pandemic.

Our GP system is very stressful. You speak to the receptionist (if you can get through) then get a return call that can be anytime that day. Not useful if you have any commitments at all. Then you can chat and send in a photo.

My son has had to go to A and E twice in the pandemic. Once was reasonable enough but the other was for cellulitis which could have been diagnosed by the GP. The only A and E open was 50 miles away.

He DID manage to get to see a nurse by limping into the surgery and showing the receptionist all the pus running down his leg onto his sock!

[quote Moonopoly]@PackedintheUK can you ask the receptionist to speak to one of her medically trained colleagues to see if you can wait? As others have said I think you need to tell her your concern so an appropriate triage of your need can be made. As PP said sending a picture may mean someone can make that decision.[/quote]
Yes maybe I should have tried harder, but it's not just a matter of calling back when it takes all day to get through.

Please go to A and E, lower leg swelling is not to be ignored, good luck x

Had to take my daughter to the hospital because the pharmacy said I needed to see the doctor. doctor wouldn't see but gave antibiotics over the phone but it still kept tracking so I rang the doc again and didn't get a call back until I was in a&e with her. She ended up with a 2 night stay with iv antibiotics

OP I think you need to repeat what the pharmacist said again and like I said ask them to get the opinion of their medically trained colleagues.

As another poster suggested, use a felt tip or biro to draw round the redness surrounding your bite. If the redness gets bigger within a couple of hours it's an A&E situation.

I get this a lot as prior surgery on my leg makes me more vulnerable. The first time it happened I was on holiday with several GPs. They recommended A&E and that was well before the primary care crisis, so it is completely appropriate to attend.

It's a training issue for the GP receptionist if she didn't realize infected bites can be serious

And if not go to A&E!

Last year in April I had foot pain and endometriosis. I was on the phone to 111 asking for advice on what to do now as I did not really want to head to A and E due to the situation at the time. Accident and emergency is the place for people with conditions that are life threatening. Do not delay however, just head there and demand to be seen.

This is the whole problem with medical receptionists trying to triage patients. In June of last year my husband turned yellow and I told him he needed to be seen urgently by the GP so he called the surgery where the receptionist told him that sudden onset, painless jaundice was not classed as a medical emergency and told him he would have to wait over 10 days for an appointment. His whole treatment and subsequent diagnosis were delayed and it gave his very rare cancer a chance to get a hold and he is now for palliative care only.

He DID manage to get to see a nurse by limping into the surgery and showing the receptionist all the pus running down his leg onto his sock!

Wow! Our surgery is still like Fort Knox. You have to wait in the carpark until GP collects you for your appointment. No one else allowed in the building. Maybe if they used admin staff to do the "collecting" GP could squeeze in a few phone calls

@ChequerBoard nobody should have to use private health insurance. This is a failure of the government.

OP it does sound like the receptionist has judged your issue to be very trivial and not needing a GP time. She thinks you are a time-waster. Ring and speak to the practice manager.

I had a similar situation recently. Couldn’t get an appointment with a practice nurse or doctor for weeks. Ended up calling 111 and they were actually pretty good. A nurse called me back and then booked me an emergency appointment at hospital. I only had to wait about half an hour and it was all running efficiently. I was happy to not have to go into A&E as they’ve been dreadful round here.

There has to be a screening process though?
Yes receptionists are not medically trained, but they have to screen one way or the other.

If you go to A&E and say...I think I may have an infected bite, and there are no appointments available at the GP today, so could you please assess me?

That's perfectly reasonable. You need immediate treatment that your GP is unable to provide...because they do not have unlimited capacity!

A&E is overstretched because primary care services overstretched also...

If you are bad enough to need IV antibiotics (unlikely) then you can only have these in hospital. Go to A and E now

I agree to getting attention asap. My child had similar sounding but had let it go further (following nhs111 advice!) to the point of being delirious really.

@HalzTangz

I don't know why people aren't signing up for online services for their doctor's surgery. You can book an appointment online without trying to ring all day.

It was possible before covid to book an online appointment. Since covid they have removed this!

This has always been a problem. My DD burnt her arm quite badly and A&E said it needed to be properly cleaned and redressed with burns dressings every day for several weeks and to contact our GP's practise to arrange this with the nurse. GP's refused to do it, said the only appointment with the nurse was 3 weeks away and I could either take it or leave it. So I had to take DD back to A&E every day for 3 weeks for it to be done there instead. That was 20 years ago.

Can you call 111 out of hours say after 6pm and get some advice they might have appointments available with out of hours gp.

I was at a&e Friday morning with my daughter and we were the only ones there. Said 3hr wait, we waited less than 5mins before being taken in.

Could you get a video consult via the 'Livi' app?

Not sure if allGPs are signed up for it but it's worth a try?

www.livi.co.uk

This is bad service. Ds was bitten by a spider a few weeks ago and I spoke to the receptionist who arranged for a GP to call me. Within two hours I'd sent her a photo over and a script for antibiotics was sent electronically over to Pharmacy within the hour.

I think you should certainly complain. Insect and animal bites can become septic within hours.

I had the same think @PackedintheUK, used the Livi app and they sent me a prescription via that luckily.

But I do agree with you. My sister has a chest infection (she knows as has had them many times) but has really struggled to get an appointment. Nothing available at the doctor and even Livi said fully booked this morning when she tried. Luckily that changed and she has just managed to have an appointment and get her prescription. But she was going to have to go to the walk-in centre if that hadn't worked as it's getting worse.

YANBU ring the GP and insist, I’d ask for names and want it noted that I was told to go to A&E . If no joy, you’ll have to go to A&E and I’d write a strong letter of complaint to the GP.

Ps hope it’s nothing serious OP

If theres no appointments available there is no appointments.

Whose appointment do you think should be cancelled to make room for your appointment?

It's not right but unfortunately there is a shortage of GPs in this country and the government isnt doing anything to fix this. The surgery where I work is limping along for now. One more resignation or retirement and it'll probably be shut down.

@HalzTangz

I don't know why people aren't signing up for online services for their doctor's surgery. You can book an appointment online without trying to ring all day.

Well no you can't at a lot of doctors.