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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

Can I keep ringing 111

25 replies

midgetem · 01/08/2019 14:12

Basically I'm in a lot of pain (have been for a week) but each time I ring GP in morning I seem to be too late to get an appointment despite ringing at 8am when they open.

My husband is worried that I've rung them a lot this year and they will keep a log and put a black mark against my name. Do they do this? Each time I've rung them I've rung 111 I've been admitted so I don't think I'm wasting there time. . .

OP posts:

jayde28 · 01/08/2019 14:13

I work at a GP surgery and an alert comes through if you ring them multiple times in one day or for a few days consecutively.

If you are being admitted each time then you are using the service as appropriately as you can.

Do your surgery not offer prebookanle appoints rather than only same day?

Super123 · 01/08/2019 14:15

I would ring 111 without hesitation in your case. You've tried to get a GP appointment and you're in pain.

Original poster

midgetem · 01/08/2019 14:17

@jayde28

They only offer pre bookable appointments in 3 weeks time. I'm really hoping I don't still have pain in 3 weeks time to prebook an appointment :( I asked also about telephone appointment with doctor but was told could not request that

OP posts:

PurpleFlower1983 · 01/08/2019 14:18

Your surgery sounds awful! I would change if you can.

jaseyraex · 01/08/2019 14:20

I would pre book an appointment with your GP and still keep ringing each morning for an on the day appointment. You can always cancel the existing appointment if you don't need it in 3 weeks time.

But if you are in lots of pain then of course ring 111. That's what they're for. Could they fax through to your GP that you need an emergency appointment? They've done that for me before.

freddiethegreat · 01/08/2019 14:20

When my grandmother was reaching (past) the point she could stay in her own home, she rang 111 300+ times in a month ... I should add there were carers in 3 - 4 times a day & my mum going down for several hours 3 - 4 times a week. Yes, 111 flagged that up as a safeguarding concern but so they should have! I think you’re fine.

Nonnymum · 01/08/2019 14:25

Is there a walk in centre near by you can go to. It sounds as though you need to see a doctor and your surgery doesn't sound very helpful

gonewiththepotter · 01/08/2019 14:28

Tell your GP surgery in no uncertain terms that if they refuse to see you (after you’ve tried to get an emergency apt for several days in a row) then they will be forcing your hand and making you go to A&E - where you will be very vocal about your local GP’s surgery’s short comings in you ended up there!

I’m not saying it WILL work, but I do know people who have got apt’s after threatening to go to A&E - they do not like people walking through their doors because GP surgeries can’t do their jobs!

IAskTooManyQuestions · 01/08/2019 14:29

Are you able to be physically there at 8am and gtet an appt in person?

I feel your pain, its a 5 week wait at our surgery - if I book online the first I can get is 28th of August. However if Im there at 8am, I can get a same day appt

ViciousTrollop · 01/08/2019 14:29

Go to GPs in person for 8am? (Much more likely to get an appt than by ringing).

Walk in centre?

Are 111 saying you need a GP follow up? I work in a GPs and when someone rings 111 we receive a copy of the report and any suggested GP follow up is clearly stated. The amount of people who say 111 said they HAVE to be seen urgently when in fact the report says they need routine GP follow up or no follow up at all is amazing.

IAskTooManyQuestions · 01/08/2019 14:31

@gonewiththepotter - A&E have no jurisdiction over GPs, thats an empty 'threat' .

What you can do is go to the practice manager and imply you'll be going to the CQC.

ViciousTrollop · 01/08/2019 14:32

As an aside, we do not give appointments to people who threaten to go to A+E.

That's ludicrous.

Original poster

midgetem · 01/08/2019 14:38

Thanks all

Was hoping not to have to go there for 8am as in too much pain to drive and it's a long walk in pain with a 20month old with me!

Surgery aren't great (but they haven't any GPs just using locums each day - I think area has grown too much for there capacity)

Haven't rung 111 yet as don't want to cause issues. As I said each time I've rung I've been admitted to hospital and i think my husband thinks this will happen again.

Walk in centre - was hoping not to have to drive and wait up there as with a 20 month old it could be a long wait to try and keep him entertained for.

OP posts:

kitkat463 · 01/08/2019 14:56

If your main issue is pain, try getting an appointment at your local pharmacy as they are health professionals and can provide prescriptions for many ailments.

SouthWestmom · 01/08/2019 15:02

When you are discharged is there not a follow up plan? Is it a condition or not diagnosed yet? Seems odd to just leave you suffering, you would hope for some sort of planning.

HamsterHolder · 01/08/2019 15:10

When you say admitted to hospital what is happening? Are you getting asked to attend a&e for assessment or are you going onto a ward?

Sorryisntgoodenough · 01/08/2019 15:26

Walk in centre - was hoping not to have to drive and wait up there as with a 20 month old it could be a long wait to try and keep him entertained for

So there is an alternative place you could be seen then? We don’t have walk in centres near us. Can’t your DH take the day off, as you are in so much pain, and take you? Or why can’t he wait outside the surgery for it to open, make you the appointment, then go to work late?

Do they offer an extended hours/out of hours service in your area?

Threatening A&E won’t magic up an appointment from the receptionist.

IceBearRocks · 01/08/2019 15:28

Just go to the bloody walk in centre and take done toys to entertain your 20 month old !!!! Or get your DP to drop you off and then call when you have finished ....it's a child not a bloody ravenous animal!

minisoksmakehardwork · 01/08/2019 15:43

Ring them.

Although I am also concerned that your post reads almost that your dh doesn't want you getting the help you need. It sounds like he's cheesed off that you keep being admitted and he's trying to avoid that.

DerelictWreck · 01/08/2019 15:45

Was hoping not to have to go there for 8am as in too much pain to drive and it's a long walk in pain with a 20month old with me!

But you're going to have to do that for an appointment anyway?

IWantMyHatBack · 01/08/2019 15:49

I'd ring the GP and ask to speak to the practice manager and explain your situation. They may be able to help.
Either that, or ask for a call back from one of the GPs. They'll probably want to see you and will somehow get you in.

MrsHandles · 01/08/2019 15:53

My surgery no longer deals with appointments through receptionists, it’s now all done online and “someone will get back to you to make an appointment within 48 hours”. It’s an actual nightmare. Good luck getting your appointment.

Nautiloid · 01/08/2019 15:59

No, you won't get blacklisted for calling 111 that much. At my practice, we do get a very occasional letter to say a patient has contacted 111 a lot and may need more support from the practice. This is when someone has called hundreds of times in a short time period. Even then...they just get more support from the practice.
If your practice consistently offers no provision for someone in an urgent situation, and you have no walk in centre available, it's definitely worth contacting the practice manager and asking what arrangements are available to those patients. At my practice, if someone is acutely ill, they can always be seen the same day.
I am very aware it's not the same everywhere - find out what your practice wants you to do.

FlowerTink · 01/08/2019 16:06

111 will only flag it if you ring 3 times in 24 hours, I rang a few times for DD when she had croup. One first thing in the morning to get an initial weekend appointment and then twice the next night as she'd seriously worsened, and they just asked was it for the same illness and that they had to ask to check all was well and they didn't need to safeguard any vulnerable adults/children.

HamsterHolder · 01/08/2019 16:16

Very limited info to go on, is the cause of the pain diagnosed??? i do work for ambulance service so have some experience with management of people with pain. I think alot of people fall into a trap between services, if you tell 111/gp receptionist/ambulance service your pain is severe or unbearable then you'll likely get dumped at a&e where they'll assess, do some basic tests, realise it's been going on for a while and there for not an accident or emergency, then discharge you without fixing anything. You'll know it's likelynot an immediately life threatening problem but then you probably knew that already. The cycle repeats until either it just gets better with time or your gp works out what tge problem is or refers you to someone who does. If it's a long term problem then I'd recommend percerving with your own gp as they're the one most likely typ refer you on for specialist tests for on going problems.

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