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AIBU?

I know I am but arrghgghhhhh.... GP

77 replies

monkeymamma · 03/10/2016 11:37

I just want to make an appointment for my 4 year old to see the GP (or nurse practitioner) because there's something I'm worried about, and it's driving me nuts.

Called this morning at 8am and they were engaged. Tried again and again until it was time to take DS to school and had to run all the way there.

Called now and was told they have nothing bookable for at least three weeks. They said call 8am for same day appointment (can't get through) or come to walk in (don't want to, because they will tell me it's not acute/urgent and I need to make an appointment to see the GP). (Actually what they will say is 'he seems fine' (head isn't falling off, no temp etc), 'but come back again if you're worried'. Well yes I am already worried, that's why I'm here for fuck's sake).

I've made the appointment for 3 weeks' time, but I know I'll be worrying myself silly until then. So fucking cross that a FOUR YEAR OLD can't get seen by his/a doctor when he needs to be.

Need to pull up my big girl pants now and get on with it, but really I just want to cry.

OP posts:

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KitKat1985 · 03/10/2016 12:35

I feel your frustration because our GP surgery is exactly the same. Although to be fair if he's well in himself I really wouldn't be worrying too much about a small scabbed lump on his forehead, and just stick with the appointment in 3 weeks time. You can always call back for a more urgent appointment if he starts to get worse or he starts to look unwell in himself.

MrsLupo · 03/10/2016 12:46

I would explain to the receptionist that you've found a small lump on your 4yo child, that it's probably nothing but you wonder if it needs checking out promptly in case it falls under the two-week referral protocol. I'm guessing someone will fit him in at the end of their session.

It probably is nothing, tho.

Witchend · 03/10/2016 12:50

Can't you ask the GP to give you a ring? That's what I'd do. He'd then listen to your concerns and either say "yes, I need to see it come down immediately", "Yes, I'd like to see it, but no hurry make an appointment when you can" or "No, no worries, if it hasn't changed in 3 months make an appointment."

PoppyBirdOnAWire · 03/10/2016 12:52

I would explain to the receptionist that you are worried about a lump on your child's head which has been there for some time. They should respond to that concern, surely.
Are you able to pop into your local A &E, at all? There you will be assessed without waiting for 3 weeks. It's unfair to nakexa worried parent wait like this.
I'm sure it's nothing but thecworry isn't going to go away until a doctor has assessed it.

PoppyBirdOnAWire · 03/10/2016 12:52

...to make a worried parent...

Nobrain · 03/10/2016 12:59

I really wouldn't go to A&E over a scab as a PP suggested.

ItsJustNotRight · 03/10/2016 13:00

A&E ? I think that is ridiculously over the top, no wonder the queues are so horrendous. Do people really go to A&E with issues like this? I'm gob smacked at the suggestion.

CoolCarrie · 03/10/2016 13:00

Big branches of Boots have a nurse if you have one close by, and the school nurse as pp suggested would be worth seeing too.

KitKat1985 · 03/10/2016 13:01

Can I just say PoppyBird please don't suggest going to A&E for this. A&E is for serious and life threatening emergencies / injuries only, not to be used in lieu of going for a GP appointment.

HaPPy8 · 03/10/2016 13:01

So you can see a GP today if you go to the drop in? Its just that you don't want to? YABU. If you were that worried you would do that!

hopetobehappy · 03/10/2016 13:01

I've had this, the trouble is its sometimes hard to heal up because it would get disturbed every time I brushed my hair. It turned out it was an infection of the hair follicles.

clam · 03/10/2016 13:08

Could you try seeing the school nurse?

What school nurse? Or do you mean the lady who visits once a year to weight Reception kids and test their eyesight?

Foxysoxy01 · 03/10/2016 13:12

I have one lump on my head have had it since a child, it is a sebaceous cyst and when it was smaller it did get a scab on it but has now got bigger and like a normal lump.
They are perfectly harmless, my mother and grandfather had them and I seem to have inherited them
Hopefully it might put your mind to rest as I imagine that's what it is.

QuizteamBleakley · 03/10/2016 13:13

NO to A&E! Christ.
Get to your local pharmacist; they are excellent and will help. They will tell you if you need an urgent appt.
Am gobsmacked at suggestion of A & E. Tsk.

MaudlinNamechange · 03/10/2016 13:16

It is annoying that it's always 8 o'clock. It is hardly unheard of for people to be under intractable time pressure in the mornings. They should vary it so that there's a 1pm call time some days.

I don't know why everyone on here is so accepting of this incredibly difficult and annoying system. Even if we accept - IF - that there are always going to be too few appointments for people, it is still perfectly possible to change the mechanism of distributing them to be fairer.

pollyblack · 03/10/2016 13:19

But the OP could have had an appointment today if she'd gone to the surgery, and can do that tomorrow if necessary. It's not that there aren't any appointments. There are three ways for OP to get an appointment, phone for a same day, turn up to drop in, or schedule an appointment in the future.

I was talking to a GP last week who said the main reason it's so busy is a) people make appointments then don't turn of for them and b) people are far too quick to go to the GP for minor things that will clear up themselves within a week or so.

HodorHodorHodor · 03/10/2016 13:21

I could've written this post this morning. The best I could get for my 17 month old (also for a worrying lump which I explained on phone to receptionist) was an appointment for four weeks time. Either that or phone every morning for a cancellation appointment. Im pretty disgusted about it. I'd imagine it's because of so many appointments being taken up by flu jabs, but seeing as people are obviously still going to be getting sick while they're going on, should they not build in some contingency eg overtime?

Mrsemcgregor · 03/10/2016 13:27

If he is still 4 then is still under health visitor care until he is 5. Try giving your HV a call, they often have open surgeries you could pop into. They are very experienced nurses and will be able to put your mind at ease whilst you wait for GP

ItsJustNotRight · 03/10/2016 13:27

Just a rant not directed at OP as not her that raised the issue. I'm a strong defender of the NHS and that it should always remain free at point of contact , however, I'd like to slap a £500 fine anyone turning up at A&E with any issues that can be dealt with elsewhere. They just clog things up wasting time and money and detract attention from those with serious problems . Rant over.

twinkletoedelephant · 03/10/2016 13:28

I had this.

I changed doctors.

unlucky83 · 03/10/2016 13:36

IME last number redial is your friend here (I would also check that dialling 5 for an engaged number doesn't work - it doesn't for our GP)
As soon as you hear the engaged tone, hang up press LNR and repeat - if you haven't got through within 10mins give up as there won't be any appts left...(and be careful you don't do what I did once - on hang up , redial autopilot - hung up when it was actually ringing)
I would for now take them to the pharmacist and let them have a look to put your mind at rest and keep trying at 8pm or wait for your appt ...

BonusNewt · 03/10/2016 13:38

Well our state primary school has a school nurse clam. Perhaps the OP's does too. When DS was developing anxiety tics we saw her and she was helpful.

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GreatFuckability · 03/10/2016 13:45

3 weeks for a lump thats been there for 'ages' is not a long time. seriously, I get its annoying, but its 3 weeks, not 3 years. the nhs is drowning (partly because people think A&E is the place for stuff like this!) and the people there are doing their best.

BarbarianMum · 03/10/2016 13:47

This place is like the twilight zone sometimes. A little boy has a small, scabby lump on his head. What is it that you are all imagining is wrong with him that he can't wait 3 weeks to be seen?

GoofyTheHero · 03/10/2016 13:53

A&E for a scab? No wonder our NHS is in a state.
Our GP is a 'call every day at 8.15am' one which is a bit of a pain with a 2 year old and a 1 year old but we've never not got an appointment. In fact I phoned at 9am this morning due to 2 year old having very laboured breathing (she'd only just woken up) and despite having no appointments left they squeezed us in at the end of morning surgery.
I'd go down at 8am in the morning. If they say it's not urgent and can wait until your pre booked appt in 3 weeks then that's a good thing, surely? Better than being told it's a medical emergency.

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