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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

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

183 replies

Mamadoll · 18/12/2019 08:59

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?

OP posts:
ChristmasSpiritsOnThRocksPleas · 18/12/2019 10:53

Do you have a walk in centre near you? They’re sometimes called minor injuries.

newbingepisodes · 18/12/2019 10:58

A&E is NOT anything and everything.
Call 111 they can send you to an emergency GP that's not your own GP.
Or you might have a local walk in care centre.

FoamingAtTheUterus · 18/12/2019 10:58

Your hospital should have an out of ours doctor who you can make an appointment to see. Ours does, it's a really good service although does tend to get mobbed these days thanks to all the cuts and lack of resources.

Nomorepies · 18/12/2019 11:16

This reply has been withdrawn

This has been withdrawn by MNHQ on the poster's request.

TheGoogleMum · 18/12/2019 11:18

My gp has now started a walk in type service twice a day. It's worth ringing 111 or going to a walk in centre. Maybe not a&e just yet

BellatrixLestat · 18/12/2019 11:19

Go into your GP surgery at 8am tomorrow morning and ask for an appointment in person. This has worked for me several times when I've not been able to get through on the phone.

MrsPelligrinoPetrichor · 18/12/2019 11:21

OP, I have given up ringing for appointments now,I go to the surgery in person and they always fit me in. Pisses me right off but it's the only way to get seen.

Devereux1 · 18/12/2019 11:21

Thanks for the replies. I have called my surgery every morning at 8am to try and get an emergency appointment and your call is put on a list so by the time they answer my call there's nothing left for that day and am told to call back the next morning.

How are the callers getting to the top of this list? Calling earlier? Are you calling earlier?

I've asked to speak to a doctor or nurse on the phone but I'm told "it's not possible".

Tell them it is and that they are mistaken. It is. Insist. Insist on speaking to the Practice Manager.

I've tried explaining to the receptionist that the doctor who saw me told me to come straight back to see her if my symptoms didn't go away, but it made no difference.

Stress how your Doctor said come straight back. Get your message across in an assertive way that is less about your, and more about the possibility that the Doctor would be most upset to hear reception would not allow you to speak to her after she had specifically said you were to come back straight away.

Ask reception that given your condition and the request of your Doctor, what is their solution? If they say "just keep trying" ask them for how many months they would like you to keep on trying.

Frankola · 18/12/2019 11:25

NO! Absolutely not.
1 - it's a and e. For people with genuine emergencies.

2 - if you go there and spread whatever you have you can cause some already very I'll people to become even more unwell. Perhaps dangerously so.

Please go to a walk in centre. They will see you there and then.

Jigsawpuzzle · 18/12/2019 11:27

Could it be gall stones? We live near a hospital but when I had them I had chest pain/struggling to breathe. DH drove me to a&e and I was given morphine/oxygen. My employer had private insurance so had them removed at private hospital.

BarbedBloom · 18/12/2019 11:28

I really sympathise actually. I recently could not get an appointment with my GP. I have what I think is a chest infection and am immune suppressed. I was told they are keeping emergency appointments for children and the elderly as they can't cope. There is no walk in centre near me and 111 told me I needed to see a GP. I did end up in A&E in the end as I woke up and couldn't breathe. An ambulance was called. GP surgeries can't cope at the moment, one near me closed recently as they couldn't recruit replacement GPs to replace three who were retiring. If you go and sit in the GP surgery they will refuse to help you as you aren't following the proper protocol. It is very difficult just now with the winter pressures.

Still, a&e isn't the answer here, start with 111.

Sagradafamiliar · 18/12/2019 11:29

You'll be wasting everyone's time and resources including your own, as you'll be processed and seen, but told to see a GP at the end of it.

When ringing your doctors out of hours, there will be a recorded message telling you details of your nearest walk-in centre, or what to do if urgent. Or you could call again and ask the receptionist what you should do. Follow the advice, or google your local walk-in centre.

ivykaty44 · 18/12/2019 11:29

Op do you have “patient access” app on your phone?

Many people don’t use the app, yet it’s a way of getting an appointment

Have you tried getting a nurse practitioner appointment instead?

thetideishigh · 18/12/2019 11:39

People here suggesting Minor Injuries Unit or Walk In Centre are missing the point that under the NHS postcode lottery of care some of us simply no longer have that option.

Our local Walk In Centre was closed (after a sham of a "consultation period"). The nearest Minor Injuries Unit is in the next county and forms part of an NHS hospital judged to be providing inadequate services at their last inspection.

Last time we visited our local A&E (for a dc accident related minor injury) I asked at the reception desk if there was anywhere else we could/should go instead (had already tried our GP practice only to be told they didn't have any "emergency appointments" left that day). A & E receptionist was irritated by my question and snapped at me.

Our area, in common with many, can't recruit enough GP's but the GP's we do have were heavily involved in the consultation regarding closing the Walk in Centre. (they supported closing it !)

UnfamousPoster · 18/12/2019 11:42

I hope 111 is a help to you. It's becoming increasingly clear from my own experience and posts on here how stretched GP services are.

We have a similar experience at our surgery - by the time you get through at 8am on the dot all the emergency appointments are gone. You can do a pre-booked appointment instead, but at last attempt these are over a month in advance.

We called 111 last time as we needed to see a doctor relatively urgently but were having no luck. 111 managed to book an emergency telephone appointment at the same surgery for the same day. If they can't book the same surgery they can sometimes book at another local one if they're part of a group.

That said, when we mentioned to our surgery that we had to use 111 to get an appointment, they said that they're increasingly having to reject 111 appointments too as they're just too busy.

As an aside, another local surgery to us posted on their facebook page the other week to say that in one morning session between 8am and 11am, 140 minutes of GP and nurse time was wasted because people didn't turn up to their appointments. Even worse was that 50% of those appointments were same day emergency appointments!

TheStuffedPenguin · 18/12/2019 11:45

Many places now have GP access within the A and E or Walk In Centre . Call 111. I have had them arrange one of these for me before.

defaultusername · 18/12/2019 11:53

It's only going to get worse. This is what the people voted for.

TheMustressMhor · 18/12/2019 11:55

I never suggest this normally, but this is a good case for seeing a pharmacist.

You can get a bottle of Gaviscon to tide you over till you see your GP.

pelagra · 18/12/2019 11:58

If the receptionists are preventing you from following your GP's advice, you should make a complaint to the Practice Manager

TatianaLarina · 18/12/2019 11:59

111 should get you and on the day appointment with another surgery.

Alternatively you could find a private GP locally - some of them aren’t too expensive.

Devereux1 · 18/12/2019 12:00

It's only going to get worse. This is what the people voted for.

Eh? Confused

TheBlueStocking · 18/12/2019 12:02

It's only going to get worse. This is what the people voted for.

Exactly. The number of people already suggesting the OP pays for the free care she's entitled to through her NI contributions is appalling!

OP, good luck with 111. And indeed, I would think it's very likely they'll consider that you need emergency treatment today.

incognitomum · 18/12/2019 12:03

I hope you get seen soon that must be so worrying.

MythicalBiologicalFennel · 18/12/2019 12:06

All our walk ins and minor injuries closed years ago. It's GP or A&E.

And yes this is what the majority have voted for.

MrHodgeymaheg · 18/12/2019 12:09

Call 111. It's not your fault you can't get treatment and it sounds like you need it.

My dad went to GP twice recently as he wasn't eating, felt weak and was generally feeling very poorly. One put him in for an ultrasound in 8 weeks time, he then went back and asked again as he still wasnt eating after 10 days, so they said he'd be seen in two weeks instead. After a few days we had to blue light him as he was in a right state. Turns out he had a bacterial infection in his liver and after multiple scans is having a biopsy. If they had just scanned him quickly in the first place they would have saved a lot of money. He is in his late sixties too, so what they would describe as a vulnerable person. Everything is so arse about face in health and social care at the moment. The lack of resources just ends up costing services more in the long run due to their lack of responsiveness.

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