How on earth can I improve my health if I can't see a gp??

[Bemyclementine]

I am beyond exhausted. Absolutely on my knees.

I am anaemic and have hypothyroidism. I'm.assuming one of both of these issues are in need of further attention (I take 100mcg thyroxine and also iron ). Went into Drs to ask for a blood test, I can have one because its not due. If I have symptoms I need to call at 8.30am to get a GP appointment.

7 days I've been calling. 8.30am is the worst possible time (en route to school then work). We've been very late for school/work a couple of times, very early so I can start calling while parked at school. I can call up to 80 times by 9am by which time sll the appointments are gone abd "call back tomorrow".

I can ask for a callback from the GP but wont get it for 3 weeks.

I was falling asleep at my desk today. My house/life in general is a mess. Struggling with meal planning/healthy eating because I'm just so tired and foggy I keep forgetting things.

What can I do??

[vipersnest1]

Go to the surgery in person. It's the only way if you can't do an e-consult.

[Coronationstation]

i have you tried ringing quite late in the day? If you ring my GP practice at 8:30am and you can’t get through but if you ring at 4:30-5pm you get straight through and a number of times I’ve been given an appointment for first thing the next morning even though it wasn’t really urgent. My theory is that they hold back a number of the first appointments for emergencies and if they aren’t used they offer them to anyone who rings just before they close! Failing that, my parents always go round to their practice as they open (but they’re lucky it’s at the end of their road).

[LittleMonks11]

Ring 111 on a Saturday

[Lavenderu]

Is there no e consult? Look on the website?
Do you have the NHS app? You can message via the app and book appointment at my surgery.

[RosesAndHellebores]

At the pharmacy the other day they had a range of finger prick blood tests including one for thyroid. I'd try it if you can afford it.

I'd also be tempted to get a pill cutter and split some pills in quarters and try 125mcg before you can get a blood test. I'd be minded to drop the GP a note of what you are doing because you can't get a blood test. That should shake them into action.

[LadyTemperance]

Can you get an out of hours appointment?

[Tighginn]

Call 111 after 6pm you will hopefully get to see a out of hours to that evening, it's ridiculous.

[Bemyclementine]

I dont want to sound like I do t want to take advice but I really have tried everything.

@vipersnest1 I was at the surgery in person when I was told they couldn't book a test without seeing the GP, and I'd have to call in the morning.

@Coronationstation tried that, its a no. I actually cried to the receptionist..

@Lavenderu no econsult. I do have the app, the ability to send messages is suspended, no way to book online either

Im not sure OOH is the way to go. I waited 18 hours for a call back for dc with a temp of 40 recently. Im not sure I can call and say "I'm.tired" and expect any sort of response.

@RosesAndHellebores I will have a look for that tomorrow, although I'm not sure they test everything needed. I also need anaemia checking too.

My dr us very good if i ever get to speak to him.
.

[vipersnest1]

It's a bit manipulative, but in your shoes I'd call 111 over the weekend and tell them your situation. You might have to wait an age for a call back, but they will eventually respond.
Tell them you can't cope and can't get a GP appointment, and most especially that you are finding yourself falling asleep during the day, and that as a consequence of that you don't feel safe (to drive, for example).
You should get some form of response from that.
If that doesn't work, take the advice of a PP and get yourself some home tests for thyroid, anaemia etc.

[FlopsiesAngrySandwich]

You say your doctor is very good, so I would hand write him a letter, explaining your situation and inability to access healthcare. Mark the envelope "private and confidential". He can then book you an appointment.

[Needmoresunshine]

Like a pp says hand write a letter. I have found that to be the most effective way of contacting a GP, and have usually got a call the same day.

[healthadvice123]

I have same issue Many go and drs surgeries are on their knees, mine told me to go to a&e or call 111 out if hrs
ridiculous advice and explains why a&e is struggling as my issue does not warrant a&e.
many people are heading down tothe surgery now at 8.30 to book but some of them are even getting turned away.
its a mess the NHS at the moment in many areas
we have less drs now at our surgery than we did 5 years ago but many many more patients with all the new builds etc
but if you can get there in person to book def try , I did resort to calling 111 in the end and to be fair they were pretty helpful,

[DoubleYolker]

@vipersnest1

It's a bit manipulative, but in your shoes I'd call 111 over the weekend and tell them your situation. You might have to wait an age for a call back, but they will eventually respond.
Tell them you can't cope and can't get a GP appointment, and most especially that you are finding yourself falling asleep during the day, and that as a consequence of that you don't feel safe (to drive, for example).
You should get some form of response from that.
If that doesn't work, take the advice of a PP and get yourself some home tests for thyroid, anaemia etc.

As a doctor who works for 111, this is unlikely to help. 111 services have no access to blood testing which I think it sounds like she needs. 111 is for emergencies that can’t wait until your GP surgery opens. Our local service is currently completely overwhelmed due to people doing this, and that leaves people who are ill and need same day help waiting longer.
But I completely sympathise as to why people do it, the nhs is on its knees and there are more GP consultations and less GP’s each year to do them thanks to the current government policies.
If all else fails, private home blood tests to check for anaemia/thyroid problems etc. but do try emailing the practice manager too.
And remember this shit when you next go ti the ballot box.

[vipersnest1]

@DoubleYolker, oh, I'll definitely remember this the next time I go to the ballot box. If you want more info, check out the latest thread I started.

[RosesAndHellebores]

At double yolk GPs could help themselves by stopping 56 day prescribing for thyroid problems. Last week my GP's admins phoned me every 20 minutes and then left a voicemail for me to have a blood test. Then did it again the next day. Four calls on day one; two on day two. One call and one message was needed. The problem is their inefficiency doesn't smack of overwork. No commercial organisation would have pfaffed like that.

[SayrraT]

If you can afford it you could try something like Thriva for a private blood test. They test a huge range of things so you can pick what you need.

You get the results plus a report from a doctor.

Not what you should have to do but an option.

[Walruswithbraces]

GPs are private businesses. So yes, there is inefficiency, but nothing to do with NHS Vs private corporations. Privatisation won't help.

Take the appointment for three weeks, unless you want to go private. I know that doesn't feel good enough, and it isn't, but people voted Tory, and therefore it's either wait, or go private. It's not the fault of your GP or their practice.

Vote accordingly at the next election. This is what people voted for.

[RosesAndHellebores]

It isn't what people voted for. The NHS is a behemoth and has been unsustainable yet worshipped for years because of the sops fed to the public to make them grateful. No party has dared do what needs to be done for decades. The Thatcher Government knew and didn't deal with it. The Blair Government knew it but threw money at it and expanded PFI which made the problems worse. Cameron didn't deal with it, we had the banking crisis and there wasn't any money to throw at it. Then we had Brexit and Covid. The country has bankrupted itself to save the NHS. We locked down for the NHS. We could have adopted the Swedish model but no, we clapped instead and let the NHS left wing propaganda machine do it's worst although Boris has a lot to answer for because when the chips were down he didn't stand up to it.

I still want to know where SirnSimon Stephen's was during Covid. He has a great deal more to answer for than any politician.

[Bemyclementine]

@Walruswithbraces it isn't what I voted for. Its a call back I was offered in 3 weeks, not an actual appointment . If they'd offered an appointment I'd have taken it. It's not an actual emergency (they only see emergencies, apparently). I just need an standard appointment.

I will look at Thriva but am very much struggling financially.

[Walruswithbraces]

A telephone appointment is an appointment. The NHS is collapsing. I can hear you're suffering, but this isn't an emergency, and you have been offered an appointment in three weeks. It's not good enough, compared to many countries, but actually it's better than many others.

I'm sorry you're so unwell.

[PickAChew]

You can get at home teststhst would at least help you to work out if your tiredness is what you think it is. I've used this one. https://monitormyhealth.org.uk/?gclid=Cj0KCQjwnrmlBhDHARIsADJ5b_nWL3Z5-KGoFXd_bHZS6iyAeJorFMtmEiH_gcpQ-0MRJ8KcyyDeE5YaAiKIEALw_wcB#

[AnnaMagnani]

A telephone appointment is still an appointment.

If you need bloods your GP can book you, if you need seeing face to face the GP can bring you in.

Sorry but you should have taken the telephone appointment.

[ProfessionalTeaDrinker]

You need to take the telephone appointment. A GP can arrange for bloods over the phone. If they want to see you first, they will sort that. Have you specified you only want to see a GP? Is there an Advanced Nurse Practitioner or anyone else you can see? Most clinicians can request bloods and if they feel it's out of their remit, again they will sort something out. Call back and book the first thing you are offered. You can still try calling for something sooner.

[bellac11]

Yes you need the telephone appointment, you need to be able to have an opportunity to talk through the symptoms

From that, your GP is able to book you in for testing

Your other options are to have a private test as people say above, but they do cost

You could make a complaint to the practice manager but Im wondering how that will be viewed, given you turned down a telephone appointment.

[Bemyclementine]

The telephone call isn't an appointment. It's how my surgery works. The GP will call back, have a brief chat then book a blood test. I'd like to see the GP in person, for a proper consultation. There are more issues than just this.