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.

@PackedintheUK I would not ignore the pharmacist's advice. I react badly to insect bites. I have been bitten and needed antibiotics a few times. The worst one was when GP was shut but we do have a minor injuries and out of hours service at our local hospital. I had two lots of different antibiotics and when they gave me the second lot, I was under strict instructions that if the swelling didn't go down swiftly after I started those ones, I would be admitted and put on a drip.

You can get cellulitis

Also A and Es are overwhelmed because of a lack of good mental health care and social care.
Someone cant cope and having a breakdown out of hours? They end up in A and E. A lot of appointments at A and E are mental health ones.
Basically they deal with all the breakdowns in other services.

@Plantstrees

This is a few years ago, and I don't know how many years this was going on, but the number of trainee doctor places was seriously limited by the BMA themselves so I am sure we are now seeing the impact.

This has now changed and a number of new medical schools have opened since then (5 since 2018 alone).

I understand your frustration, but I don't understand what you expect be done, if all the appointments are gone for today? The GP
Our GP would make an appointment for after the main surgery if necessary or would phone the patient and see if an appointment was necessary. They wouldn't tell them to wait 2 weeks for an appointment when there is a danger of sepsis. It sounds as though the receptionist is not aware of the possible risks

Meanwhile…
www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-10128135/Cheshire-GP-blames-NHS-pressure-countrys-Amazon-Prime-mentality.html

I don’t know whether to laugh or cry.

I managed to get antibiotics for an infected bite from 111. This was back in the summer. Have you tried this option?

I had something similar - the pharmacist said it was an infected insect bite. This was over a weekend.

I rang 111 and they said it needed to be seen very soon and made me an appointment with the out of hours clinic for 90 minutes later!. As soon as the duty GP saw my arm he was reaching for his emergency supply of antibiotics as he didn't want to delay until the pharmacies reopened.

That system sounds dreadful!
You could v well have cellulitus & it's v nasty & dangerous. I've had it 3 times from mosquito bites.
It needs urgent attention & v strong antibiotics, at times needing hospitalization & iv treatment

Draw a line around the red inflamed area so you can monitor how fast it's moving & get back onto your gp or go to A&E

Honestly, I don't live in the UK & I literally CANNOT understand the adoration of the NHS when every third thread on here is a complaint about How people cannot access medical care

@Wincher

I took my son to the pharmacist the other day because of a nasty rash. She told me he should see a GP fairly urgently. Obv no appointments available so I called 111. They did the initial assessment and said a clinician would call back. They called three times over the day apologising for the delay and doing a quick further assessment. Then they called again at 4am and left a voicemail saying that as I hadn’t answered they were closing the case. I thought they were meant to call three times before closing it?? So 111 isn’t always the answer either!

We had the same thing a few months ago, but by that final call I had already taken my son to A&E after sitting up most of the night waiting for them to get back to us.

YANBU. It's an absolute joke.

My GP practice has about 9 doctors, only one (male) works full time, all the others (mainly female) do 3 or 2 day weeks. They don’t seem to need the money. Extremely difficult to get an appointment, in the last 2 years we have filled in very long forms/questionnaire online and within 2 days we get a reply leading to a phone consult. It feels like it’s how dare you ask to see your GP. I remember as a little girl in the 70s our GP did home visits even for tummy ache and the flu! Home visits! My parents didn’t beg him or anything, he just saw it as part of his job.

Does your GP surgery have a website where you can use an online form to request support? We have one where you type in what you are requesting eg in person consultation , video or phone consultation and what it's about and a clinician will either phone or email you back . It maybe that that will do a video consultation or just prescribe some antibiotics .

Honestly, I don't live in the UK & I literally CANNOT understand the adoration of the NHS when every third thread on here is a complaint about How people cannot access medical care

People don’t post threads asking advice about how good their care is so there is a bias.

The nhs isn’t perfect by a long shot, but it’s there and free at the point of care. I’d rather have what we have than a US style.

If I were you I’d book a private go rather than going to A&E. but obviously that is dependant on you being able to afford it.

Gp

YANBU OP. I suggest you call 111, they might be able to get you an appointment somewhere else. That's what I did a few months back, I ended up in the hospital as wasn't seen immediately by the GP!!

@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.

Online booking of appointments was suspended when Covid arrived and at our surgery it's still not been re-instated.

@nomoreusernames1244 I just don't see how it is of any benefit if you can't get an appointment to be seen?

I would far rather pay for the service & know I will be given the attention when it's needed not 3 weeks (or more!) Later

That's appalling @TheFnozwhowasmirage
Is that because of difficulties seeing a GP since Covid or has it been that way in your area historically ?

I have seen from MN what a big difference it makes depending on where you live and health services availability.

@Sloth169

111, should be able to make you an appointment at a walk in/minor injuries/OOH rather than waiting forever and a day in A&E

My mum had her covid booster jab on Friday. She was told if any probs phone 111 but if they didn't answer (because they're having a lot of issues at the moment) to dial 999. Also said no use phoning the doctor.

What a mess.

111, should be able to make you an appointment at a walk in/minor injuries/OOH .
This. It astounds me how many people think it's a choice between trying to persuade a GP receptionist to let you in or hours in A&E.

OP has said that there isn't a minor injuries or walk in service in her area. So her choices really are are either GP or A&E

I went to my surgery for a routine appt with the nurse practitioner this morning. While I was waiting I could overhear 3 people coming to plead for help getting care.

One was a woman whose son had a serious eating disorder. I thought it was awful that she had to haggle and push in public just to get the GP to fulfill his promise personally to oversee her son's care.

The GPS were all in and busy seeing patients but I think are so stretched that things like co-ordinating with other agencies etc is going by the wayside.

Either ring go again and insist on being seen r even just speak to a doctor on the phone. I'm sure they could prescribe without even saying you. Failing that, ring 111 and go to a&e or minor injuries. You need to be seen if feeling unwell!

Not read every post but yanbu OP. The receptionist was terrible to dismiss you for having an insect bite - anyone working in healthcare should know they can get infected and be very serious.

I ended up in a&e recently with infected bursitis - I thought they wouldn’t take it seriously but they were really concerned and acted fast. I felt ill in exactly the ways you describe and needed IV antibiotics. So you should get seen in whatever way you can.

"The nhs isn’t perfect by a long shot, but it’s there and free at the point of care. I’d rather have what we have than a US style.*

Absolutely. Of course people are only likely to post when there are problems. You won't hear about the very many good stories . No system is perfect But I would back the NHS over a USA type system every time.