To go to a and e because I can't get an appointment with GP?

[Mamadoll]

I have been trying to get an appointment for almost 2 weeks now and I'm at the end of my tether with my symptoms. I was treated for helicobacter (stomach bacteria) a few weeks ago and within a week of stopping treatment my symptoms have come back with a vengeance. It's making my life a misery; I struggle to eat much and can't sleep properly for the constant pain in my stomach/ chest.

I really hate wasting people's time but am I supposed to just put up with this until after new year?

Try ringing 111. I suspect with pain in your chest they will get you seen some where.

difficult, but this is not an accident or an emergency

Don’t you have a walk in Centre or minor injuries unit.

It isnt an accident or emergency.

No call 111 or go to the nearest walk in centre it is not an accident to emergency

*or

Ring 111. If they try to suggest GP, explain that your surgery won't see you and ask what you are supposed to do instead.

Walk in centre not a and e

Ring 111. I did when I was ill and they told me to ring an ambulance (I refused to and made my own way to A&E, it was pneumonia). They assess your symptoms and decide which course of action you should take.

Ring 111. They may send you there.

As others have said call 111 and explain the situation with regards to the gp appointment

It would be totally inappropriate to go to A&E. People doing this are part of the problem our emergency departments are having. If you dont have a walk in centre near you, you should call 111 and be guided by them.

What is your GP surgery saying to you when your all for an appointment and tell them you need it today? Ae they not triageing you?

When I called 111 for my mum they put me through to an out of hours living GP who did a house visit (was on a Sunday). Didn't even know that service existed before but maybe that's an option? (Was in Wales though)

How frustrating for you.
However a and e isn't the right place for you. It isn't an accident or an emergency, so they won't be able to give you the treatment you need. It also costs a lot of money for every a and e admission. You would likely be waiting hours too as you would be low priority.

Phone 111 or could you consider phoning a private GP service?

The waiting time at my local a&e is over 6 hours at the moment. Something has clearly gone a bit wrong at a system level but if you don’t need to be there, you really shouldn’t at the moment. Your gp should be seeing you.

YANBU my GP have a phone message saying "emergencies only" wonder what they think A and E is for then..

But yes ring 111 they will be able to book you in to somewhere even if it's the minor injuries unit or similar.

Not really appropriate to go to A&E for this as it is neither.
I would phone 111

YABU. It's not an accident or an emergency. Ring 111 or call your GP back and ask for a more urgent appointment. Tell them it won't wait until the New Year.

DS2 did a night shift in A&E last night. When he left this morning the department was full and there were enough ambulances waiting outside to refill it again.

Can you ask for a phone appointment or repeat prescription?

Does your gp surgery offer on the day ‘emergency’ appointments? Most do and nowadays they don’t advertise the fact. Ask for one and don’t take no for an answer from the receptionist. Or as PPs said drop in centre/111

When you phoned your GP and spoke to a receptionist and explained your symptoms and said you need to be seen today what did they say?

This is a GP ‘emergency’ not an A&E ‘emergency’. Same word two meanings.

Just to throw in there - I also had treatment for that bacteria and the pain continued and turns out, after much GP faffing and misdiagnosis, that it was actually gallstones, which were only diagnosed by more switched on a&e staff. It wasn't that I hadn't had the bacteria but that wasn't the cause of the pain as it transpires. So whether you go to a&e or not, if the symptoms add up, worth pushing for a scan.

111 might be able to arrange a gp appt at a walking/backup - if we cant get into the surgery here you are sometimes offered appts about 5 miles away

If your surgery refuses to see you then say that you're going to A&E. surgeries get fined if you end up going to A&E when they've had a chance to treat you.