Utterly stupid GP receptionist

[BrereRabbit]

Snotty stupid woman who just couldn't be arsed doing absolutely anything to help. I have a flu jab every year. It's much needed. I missed it one year and was blue lighted to hospital ending up very poorly.

I swapped surgeries over summer. turned up late October asking to book a flu jab and was told by the receptionist that my medical records had not been moved over onto the computer system yet so she couldn't book me an appt as she had no confirmation I needed one. Apart from the fact I have asthma and get one every year, I was standing there with my maternity notes and she said she couldn't help me, if I was entitled to one I would receive a letter inviting me and to wait for it. which I did. nothing. After having the same conversation again with her I came down with some kind of cold/virus/flu.
My throat has felt like razor blades for nearly three weeks now. It's not getting better. Really hurts to swallow and I have no voice. fine. But at night time it's making my asthma play up to the point where I spend all night coughing and it's really painful. struggling to breathe and getting no sleep. nothing is making it better and my nose is blocked too. I just want to sleep. This wouldn't be happening If she had just been helpful and booked me in. three weeks. I know people have far worse problems but I'm so so so fed up.

Tips for help with asthma attacks and sore throats that are safe for pregnant women below please?

Please

You need to see your GP and explain all this. And let the practice manager know.

She didn't have your notes though. They take 12 weeks to be transferred from one practice to another (even if that practice is in the same building) as they need to be sent to the PCT, then to the new GP. I'm so sorry you're feeling unwell, there are different strains of colds and flu though so it's unlikely that you'd have been protected by the jab anyway. You should get your asthma sorted though, do you have an inhaler?

Chamomile tea always makes me feel better.

Honey can help coat the throat if it's scratchy. If it's sore to swallow, again tea being warm.

Mint leaves in boiling water, and breathing them in can make your airways open up.

That's all I got on home remedies. Can you call your midwife and ask for safe over the counters?

Yes, you need to see your GP!

I was advised by the nurse who gave me an asthma review recently that if I had an asthma attack, and used my blue inhaler 5 times without any success, to go straight to hospital.

For sore throats I find gargling with salt water works wonders. However if you've had it for three weeks I think it's time for a visit to the gp. There are antibiotics which are safe to take in pregnancy.

PS I'm pregnant.

Speak to the practice manager and get them to sort out what happened there.

It does take a stupidly long time for records to be transferred and flu vaccines will get prioritised to risk groups first of all and of course if you belong to one of them you should have been offered it in a timely manner.

I agree that it might be helpful to speak to a GP about a complex situations like yours (asthmatic, pregnant and just moved practice).

The flu vaccine protect against influenza, various strains of it that can change from year to year. It does not protect against coughs, colds, runny noses, sore throats or even asthma exacerbations.

I am sorry you are unwell and that you feel less than well treated by the receptionist. However there really is no way of knowing whether having the flu vaccines would have prevented your current illness and speaking to somebody with more/higher authority would be more constructive than being rude about a member of reception staff who may well not have the authority to 'book you in'.

Paracetamol, Difflam spray, hot drinks, rest are all safe in pregnancy.
I hope you feel better very soon.

You can get free flu jabs at some pharmacies if pregnant, maybe try that? I hope you feel better soon.

Can't you just go to a chemist for one? They're only 9 quid.

My husband got his flu jab at the local chemist, Saturday morning, walk in , pay £7 , jab . All done in five minutes.
No jumping through receptionists hoops, wait three weeks , take time off work, etc etc etc .
Don't know if it's only Scotland but Boots, local chemists, chemist in Asda and various others all offering flu jabs.

Ironically, OP will now have to wait until she's better before anyone will give her the vaccine. It can't be given if someone is unwell/has an infection. Common sense on the part of the receptionist should have prevailed and she should have asked her seniors for advice if she wasn't sure what to do.

The maternity unit at our hospital are doing free flu jabs for pregnant women... Might yours be doing the same?

I don't see how this is the receptionist's fault if they didn't have your notes. Could you not have gone through the GP or midwife?
A sore throat isn't the flu either.

I'm really sorry you're poorly but it doesn't sound like you've had/have flu.

The jab doesn't prevent sore throats or colds (unfortunately).

Why didn't you just pay for it?

I'm a gp receptionist and it's so annoying that patients think everyone is responsible for their heat except themselves!!

I agree she was unhelpful as I'd have booked you in with a gp, you really should have just paid for one than risk being poorly though come on!

Oops my fingers are too fat for my phone

It really doesn't sound like you have flu.

£12.99 at Boots Im having mine done tomorrow. Sorry you are not well OP Hope its sorted soon

Milly not everyone can afford to pay for a flu jab Just so you know.

Write and complain

The flu vaccine (for flu) wouldn't have stopped you getting what you have now (not flu) so I don't really see how it's her fault? I also don't see how following the guidelines, policies and procedures make her "utterly stupid".

If you're pregnant you should get a flu vaccine. But what you have now isn't flu.

Good luck with a child then if she can't find £9 for something that could keep her out of hospital

I'm not sure I'd have a flu jab when pregnant