To think it is no wonder people go to A and E unnecessarily

[Keremy]

I have a series of medical problems and history of a lot of operations and pain.
I have been in agony for a week and unable to sleep. All I need is tablets I previously had on repeat prescription but haven't had in a few months as I haven't needed them but obviously I can't get them without seeing the doctor because of time frame which I understand but I can't get an appointment!

Our doctors has a system where you call when they open for appointments that day. I've called, I've been in but no luck.

I want to cry.

galaxygirl45
what a load of bullshit
I dont know any GPs that work 9-5
I dont know any who earn 150k from daytime work
GPs do work 24 hrs a day it is called the GP OOH

There is a shortage of GPs. How do you know what the patients in your surgery are there for? Maybe the elderly are there as they are the most likely to have complex and ongoing serious health problems?

Is the actual drugs cost v nhs cost for prescription very different do you know? I need Tramadol.

In my area GPs have around 2000 patients. I try and get everything I can seen by a nurse/pharmacist.
2000 patients is a lot of work, increasingly complex, increasing expectation from patients.

Yes it is frustrating but GPs hate having no appointments either!

Seriously cheap I think Keremy (this site suggests pennies: www.chemistdirect.co.uk/tramadol-sr-tablet-50mg/prd-s4j) - I would phone your local pharmacy to check what it would cost you if you had a private prescription rather than an NHS one. They should be able to look it up very easily.

a 3-6 week wait for an appointment

gamerchick

Keremy, I'm not sure to be honest.. I think it's off patent so it should be cheap.
Last month I had an infected tooth and I needed antibiotics from a private dentist. I thought it was going to cost loads but it was three quid..
If you call your pharmacist locally they may be able to tell you the private cost of tramadol though I don't think it's much.
I really really really really feel your pain. Know just what it's like to need pain relief and not have it.
I'm pretty sure push doc can help you.
Have a root around in your bags see if you've got any and promise yourself next time to call for an appointment as soon as you get to your last sheet of the pills.
I was so addicted to tramadol when I had kidney problems when I was pregnant and i went cold turkey off it (stupidly) and I actually had pain all over my body along with the most disgusting withdrawal. My husband works in mental health with heroin addicts and said my totally legitimate withdrawal was worse then alcoholics and heroin addicts. Are you sure you aren't experiencing pain due to stopping it?

Codeine might help you if you have that? The chemist has 8/500 but nothing higher I don't think.
Maybe go to the surgery and demand to see the manager. I think there's some rule that you need to be no more then 24 hours in pain but I might have made that up.
Also explain to them if you don't get on top of the pain you need admitting to the hospital and they will need to administer stronger drugs to you to get you out of your woes. Make it abundantly clear you will tell the hospital the gp surgery forgot to call you back and refuse you an appointment..
Call push doc xx

Keremy, the problem with Tramadol is that is has become a controlled drug as it is potentially addictive, with possible side effects and quite strong.
Because of this it is also subject to more scrutiny on how it is prescribed.

Prescribing advisers that come from health board regularly asking why prescriptions are given, especially controlled drugs. That is why they probably need to see you, to check you do need this. I am sure you are taking it only when needed and are not passing it on to other people, but you can't be surprised that other people do.

I think tramadol is actually quite cheap.

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JerryFerry

Where are you?

I agree OP. My surgery also operates a call on the day system. You have to call at 8am for a morning appt and 2pm for an afternoon one. You're generally on hold for abou 20 mins to be told there's nothing available.

Push them harder as they should give you an emergency appt. If you can, go to the surgery, explain the urgency and refuse to leave until you have an appt. Sob if necessary.

I think you need to find a better surgery tbh.

I can phone or email my surgery for things I've had on prescription in the past and a doctor has always called me back to sort a prescription out.

That's been two separate surgeries too (moved out of area for one)

Galaxygirl you are absolutely right. The problem we are in how with trying to get GP appointments stems of course from that idiotic Labour government which some years ago, altered GPs' contracts to enable them to work less hours for more money. Completely crazy.
In our GP practice there is not one single doctor there who works full time. It's pot luck if my GP is there on the day I go.
So is it any wonder people pitch up at A and E?
All this is compounded of course by the massive influx of immigrants(also down to the aforementioned Labour party)

it is bonkers. I had surgery recently and was told that the nurse at GP would need to take the stitches out at 10 days,. I phoned the next day to request an apt and was told no apt was available in 10 days. I would have to phone on the day for an emergency apt. But its not an emergency is it?

Could tou wait until the evening then call 111 ans get an emergency gp appointment? Thats what i have to do for ds all the time, somehow those appoibtments are easier to get :S

If there are a fixed number of trained GPs in the country. Then to have more appointments you either need

• to train more doctors
• make other doctors change/train to be GPs
• more GPs from abroad - yes immigrants - which a lot of the NHS/care industry rely on
• move some of the GP work to other people
• get the current GPs to work longer hours
• reduce demand
• shorten waiting lists for hospital specialities
• stop the shift of some work from hospital onto GPs

I work in a 2 GP surgery. I don't work every day. After working 8:30 - 7:30 you think I should be on call ?all through the night, alternate nights, indefinitely?
Good one.

fwiw I do work in OOH when I can (about 4 hrs per week) so that I take a share of covering the evenings, weekends and nights.

Now I am going to stop rereading galaxygirl's comment!

Hello Would your surgery employ a third GP if you could find one, then?

It's a disgrace.

I've never been able to see a GP when I need them.
And receptionist is as rude as can be.

Interesting that Hellochicken has time during the day to browse and post on here despite being so busy!

Similar experience to greenfolder. Husband sustained a cut playing rugby, had to go to A&E to have stitches (we have no minor injuries units, in a city of 350,000 people) and of course had to wait six hours to get them. Was told that a practice nurse would have to remove them. Phoned for an appointment once cut was healed to be told that because of numerous already booked appointments and annual leave he couldn't have one for four weeks. Took the stitches out himself with tweezers in front of the hall mirror.

www.evidence.nhs.uk/formulary/bnf/current/4-central-nervous-system/47-analgesics/472-opioid-analgesics/tramadol-hydrochloride

Prices that it costs the NHS can be found on this link :)

Love NHS Evidence - it has so much useful (and reliable) information on it!

SusannahL - well indeed, how dare anyone have a break around lunchtime if as she says she started work early and finished late she's entitled to a chance for something to eat!!

I'm not bashing them,they are genuinely useless.

OP it looks like there is some pretty handy info regarding pricing there. Hopefully you get the pain relief you need.

I had very poor standards of care from my GP surgery and the district nurses but I understand that the district nurses aren't actually a part of the gp surgery I use they are only using it as an office per say.

You know what the doctors and nurses are all fighting a losing battle and are certainly overworked by a bunch of lazy twats who think they need to see someone for every pathetic little problem including hang nails and not fancy in work that day for a sick note!!
It's a problem with all of society actually and benefits and all of that palava.

Just hope you get the pain sorted: my husband and I used to lay in bed waiting for my pain to go away whilst getting more and more irate about the health care system. It never made us feel any better and we both just wanted my pain gone.

Yes of course Hellochicken has the day off! I should have thought of that.
Probably having worked, maybe Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday, that will be it for the week, won't it?