The nhs is such a tricky one.
I've really struggled to get an apt with a Gp and only ended up with a telephone call because I was told to do nhs triage via 111 online and it was deemed I needed to speak to someone urgently. So I finally after 6 weeks of trying for in through the gatekeepers to a GP via this service within a few hours. I got a telephone call and was given a prescription and said if after 2 weeks I saw no improvement I could have a f2f.
I'm lucky that I could afford to pay to see an optician (£24 including OCT scan) because my eyes are part of the issue and turns out might be lots going on. Also that I could then afford the £12 for drops and £66 for reading glasses on top the £200 a year ago for general eye test and my glasses I need which I then got fee sunglasses too)
But the optician yesterday wrote to my GP via the computer system and I've already had an appointment for a months time with a glaucoma specialist.
I've found it isn't just the waiting lists as such but the ability to actually get an initial primary care assesment to get onto the waiting lists.
Mainly because if you have a job (especially certain jobs) you can't do the 8am gauntlet daily just to get through the door (until you do) to then wait all day for a phone apt that may come at anytime.
So you end up with people off sick with conditions that may have been preventable.
In my case it looks like I am at risk of developing glaucoma. Someone who isn't as educated, doesn't have the funds etc may not have been as lucky as it looks like I may be whereby some laser surgery could prevent it. That's not a dig. That's the sad truth of the situation whereby certain skills and money do talk