1 month wait for an urgent appointment?

[elliejjtiny]

Finally got my son's appointment sorted after a lot of faff with choose and book and it's for 1 month away. I know I should probably be thankful it's not longer but he's in a lot of pain and the GP marked the referral as urgent. The school keep phoning me and saying he is in a lot of pain and needs to see someone and I just feel awful that I can't fix it for him. He is likely to be waiting another year for surgery after this appointment as well.

Our local podiatrist will remove nails for £300

Whoops. Sorry, it might have been the person you replied to? Yeah I'm just agreeing that you shouldn't go to a&e 'before' you have an ailments or illness.

Yes that’s fast. My husband is about to lose his job due to neurological pain and his referral wait time is 4 months.

Maybe the problem is the surgeon??? Set in his ways, always done it like this? I was talking to a GP this week, in a profession capacity, who 'doesn't believe' in telephone appointments!! Fortunately he's retiring soon.

It really is a minor procedure. If you want the problem solved, with minimal fuss and no associated GA complications just find a suitable qualified and experienced private podiatrist. This doesn't need a doctor. Nor does it need the fuss, complexity and likely anxiety a hospital inpatient visit brings. You really could have this sorted and the toe starting to heal a couple of days from now.

I wondered that. But 2 different GP's referred my 2 different sons to 2 different surgeons. Both GP's recommended and operation under GA and at least 1 surgeon has agreed. I will ask a private podiatrist but I'm reluctant to go against medical advice when several of them have recommended this be done under GA.

Oh and ds2 had his operation in November and 3.5 months later it's nearly healed but not quite. I don't know if that makes him more complicated than average or not.

ingrowing toenail

Book him.in with a podiatrist privately for a few hundred £.
How old is he?
Is the appt for general surgery or community podiatry?

He's 12. Appointment is for orthopaedics. My 17 year old had his appointment and surgery done by a general paediatric surgeon.

Orthopaedics in my trust would chuck that referral right back to the GP, an igtn is not an orthopaedic condition. Isn’t really a general surgery problem either unless they are really complex patients. If those are the pathways then it’s a diabolical use of NHS money. Normal (and safe) pathway is via community podiatrist using LA as everyone else has said.

Have you tried Gehwohl nail fluid? It could help ease it until he is seen. Works wonders for me.

OK I will phone GP on Monday and check. I just assumed as my 17 year old was referred to the general paediatric surgeon and had his toenail removed under GA then that is how it's usually done. My 17 year old had to wait 11 months to have the operation and he saw several different GP's whe he had infections. He also saw 2 different practice nurses several times each to have his dressing changed afterwards. None of them said anything about seeing a podiatrist or queried him having a general anaesthetic.

Filled in the form on the gp surgery website, will let you know what happens.

Just thought i would update to say that ds had his appointment with trauma and orthopaedics today. He has been referred for surgery to remove part of the toe nail and it will take about 3 months to a year. The dr said not to bother going private as they won't treat him as he is aged under 18.