Can a GP refer for an x ray?

[TayOr]

Thinking ahead here! I tripped earlier and my left side of the foot is super sore - it’s still sore even as I’ve been taking some painkillers.

I wonder if I’ve done some damage to it and if perhaps I need an x ray to check if anything’s broken. But I don’t feel it needs A&E as I’m able to hobble around.

I wonder if anyone knew - if it’s still hurting on Monday, could my GP refer me for x rays if needed? Or would that have to be through hospital?

Yes. During Covid lockdown I was doing the shopping for my parents who were both shielding due to health issues. When unloading my boot at theirs, I dropped a box of 24 bottles of Corona from boot height onto the top of my left foot.

After a few weeks of continuous pain, bruising and swelling I did an e-consult with my GP sending photos and they referred me for an X-Ray at the local hospital to see if any broken bones.

Apparently nothing was broken but I can honestly say that foot hasn’t been the same since.

Definitely contact your GP and I hope you heal quickly.

Oh gosh that sounds so painful! Owch.

I hope they can send me for one (if needed!)

Yes, I was sent after going to the GP after an ongoing pain.

@gillefc82 Different circumstances but I had similar with my foot a good twenty odd years ago. Xrays came back fine. When it was still swollen to the point I couldn't put a shoe on and walking was painful, slow hobbling three months later, I went to the GP who merrily said it would be a hairline fracture as those don't necessarily always show up.

I still get the odd twinge in it now, although very infrequently, I'm glad to say.

Yes, but don't ask my doctor because they'll put you through for an arthritis x-ray and not an injury x-ray so you'll wait for months. Then they'll deny that you told them it was caused through injury.

I would go to A&E early tomorrow morning. Many are usually quite quiet at about 7 - 8am (before the Sunday morning sport and DIY rush starts).

It bloody was! My own fault for trusting the crappy cardboard handle bits on the box and for instinctively putting my foot out to cushion the fall. Silver lining was none of the bottles smashed…! 😂

I’m sure your GP will be able to help. Call first thing Monday of you’re still in pain - they may well ask for photos but the sooner you can know if there is any fractures/breaks the better as you can then arrange the appropriate treatment.

In a lot of areas the GP cannot see the actual pictures, so has to wait on the report by a radiologist, which can take weeks. In A&E they can actually look at the pictures.

Your GP can, but if you’ve access to a minor injuries unit you’d be better off going there. That way you aren’t using up a GP appointment for something that will definitely need onward care anyway.

@Lancrelady80 I wouldn’t be surprised if that was the case to be honest but as us women are wont to do, we just crack on through the pain and eventually come to tolerate/cope with it.

Glad to hear you aren’t suffering too badly/frequently.

Thank you all. My local hospital does have a minor injuries unit (although I’ve never been before) so perhaps I can pop in there. I just feel it’s perhaps wasting time if it turns out to just be nothing!

Yes GPs can refer you but as they are not an accident and emergency department it will be routine and an appointment could take a few weeks to come through. Just because you can hobble after an accident it doesn't mean you haven't done any damage so go to minor injuries or a&e for an xray. Waiting hours is better than waiting weeks.

Thank you. I will pop to a minor injuries unit tomorrow. Although it doesn’t seem it has an x ray facility so I am a bit confused!

Yes our is sit and wait xray so you can go whenever when referred by gp saves hours in a&e

Please don’t worry about that. It would be more of a waste of time to use up a GP appointment only to be sent to minor injuries/A&E for an X-ray anyhow as opposed to just going there directly and freeing up the gp appointment for someone else. The GP will likely have to send you anyway as a rule out even if it is nothing, and this is what minor injuries is for so you won’t be wasting their time.

Even if they don’t have X-ray facilities they can send you for one quicker than your GP, and they are specialists in injuries so will probably have a better idea of whether or not you need one or have a soft tissue injury than your GP, who will see far fewer injuries in primary care.

@gillefc82somewhat ironic you dropped a box of Corona on your foot during the coronavirus pandemic 😂

Tell me about it!! 🙄 And as they weren’t for me, I wasn’t even able to dull the pain by drinking one!! 🤣

This is so area dependent its instant where i live and in and out within 30 minutes

Your best to get it checked OP my partner jumped out his truck and hurt his foot drove on it a full week it was swollen and bruised but he works away all week. Came back drove to a & e and came out with a moon boot then had to go back on the Monday for a cast it was broken xxx

That's exactly what minor injuries is for. They'd rather you went there for an xray than made a GP appointment to likely be referred to exactly the same place.

Just to echo the last poster, this is EXACTLY what minor injuries is for. Limb injuries are their bread and butter!

Thank you all! I’ll be off to a minor injuries unit today as it’s absolutely hurting and throbbing! Thanks for your guidance.

sounds like you need an X-ray, a GP cannot X-ray your foot so making an appointment is likely wasting their time. You could try 111 to direct you to the appropriate place for your area.

You should go to a minor injuries, walk in or a and e. GPs can refer but given it just happened it would be quicker to self refer especially if you need orthopaedic input or physio.

At my GP surgery you can speak to a GP, get a referral and you have 28 days to attend the drop in facility at the local x ray dept which is happily at an out of city, easy to park little hospital.

What was the outcome @TayOr?