Arrrrgh! All I want is a sodding referral

[goneaway2]

Why, oh why is it soo hard to get a referral out of a GP practice in order to get private treatment? Been waiting two weeks for referral for private ENT as we have Bupa from husbands work. I've been deaf for nearly 3 weeks and am fed up as only ENT can suction my ears due to past issues. I phoned chasing last week and was told it would be done by Monday. Phoned today and not done and was told no notes on system so they would have to message the Nurse who was supposed to be doing it and I have to wait for them to phone me back but they don't know when that will be. The deafness is driving me and my family mad.

Because they are extremely busy and your referral is low priority.

Don't sugar coat it!

If you’ve got bupa with your husband’s work you might have private GP cover included, we do. Much easier to get an appointment and referral with them. I’d phone bupa and ask if your cover includes GP appointments.

It doesn't sadly.

Annoyingly for you it is in order in a pile of work waiting its turn. You wouldn't expect to be prioritised because you have private healthcare presumably. GPs' surgeries are horrifically busy .

The thing is, they aren't busy. As a family we've had to go in several times over the past few weeks due to various problems and there's hardly anyone in the waiting room, before covid they were heaving. The nurses, physios are doing the appointments and impossible to get a drs one but when my husband was there for an appointment for an 'interesting' issue with his foot, 3 dr's were able to suddenly appear out of the woodwork to take a good look!

I'm having a very hard time trying to deal with my youngest child especially, he demands constant attention as he's autistic and I cannot hear him and he gets upset with having to repeat everything and he won't speak up. I've got constant tinitus too. I already feel isolated and this has made it ten times worse.

Ring the private Consultant’s secretary and explain the situation, they may be prepared to see you without the referral. Otherwise I would pay to see a private GP.

Private GP.

Some workplaces offer it for a discount.

I've BuPa and they've done several referrals. If your policy doesn't cover it (I thought this was basic and standard) then maybe upgrade or pay for a private gp appt elsewhere.

Bupa have a GP you can access who do the referral. We use it.

Don't you have access to the bupa app? The GP service is on that.

OP - of course we are busy. Just because no one there it doesn't mean we aren't doing econsults and phone consultations.