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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:
nowaypose · 18/12/2019 12:11

111 will get you an appointment at a walk in centre. You need to be seen but not in A&E.

MrsPelligrinoPetrichor · 18/12/2019 12:12

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

Yep,our local OOH doctors closed years ago and it's now a 40 min drive away,can't even think how you'd do it by public transport. A and E is a 15 mins drive away,if you need to take a taxi where do you think people choose to go?

hellsbellsmelons · 18/12/2019 12:15

If you get no luck with 111 then I'd go to the surgery at 8am tomorrow and wouldn't budge until someone saw me!
Do that if you need to OP.
Don't be fobbed off anymore.
You cannot live with this all through the holidays.
Make a stand.

yellowallpaper · 18/12/2019 12:25

If you call 111 and say chest pain, they may well call an ambulance or advise A&E anyway, which is quite inappropriate. Have you tried your local pharmacist for some antacids and PPIs until you can get an appointment?

Obviously if no walk in is available.

thetideishigh · 18/12/2019 12:30

DH parents' area of the uk voted hugely for Brexit. The large influx of EU migrants to their area did not seem to result in additional GP's or hospital facilities (although primary school place numbers available have expanded in 3 local schools over the last 10 years).

His parents are in their late 70's and both have various conditions which need constant review/repeat prescriptions etc. They struggle to get GP or even practice nurse appointments but having driven MIL to an appointment 2 weeks ago and sat in the waiting room area I was astonished to see an electronic display saying they the practice was happy to take on (more) new patients if existing patients "know of anyone looking to register with a GP just speak to the reception staff". This is clearly aimed at the migrant population as it also displayed in 2 other EU languages. Presumably more patients on the roll means higher income for the GP's but unless that is spent by the practice on additional staff it just results in a hard to access service for the local population including migrants.

Whilst I voted to remain, I can see why they thought voting for Brexit might improve the situation. FIL's logic was that the UK would still allow healthcare staff migrants such as Drs & Nurses and carers if it needed them but the number of people they were competing with for a GP appointment might drop eventually.

FruitcakeOfHate · 18/12/2019 12:31

I'd call 111. You really need to see a doctor. They need to be sure you cleared the infection and you could have gallstones, an ulcer that's bleeding (that's an emergency).

thetemptationofchocolate · 18/12/2019 12:38

Does your surgery have a website? It might be worth checking that out. Last time I was ill I found they had an online form I could fill in about why I needed to talk to a doctor. Within 24 hours I had a call back from the surgery, yes the doctor did need to see me and could I come in that afternoon? It certainly beat trying to get past the receptionists, who to be fair are only doing what they have been told to do.

PinkSparklyPussyCat · 18/12/2019 12:40

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.

We have one but they are useless. DH was sent there by his GP for an injection when he had a DVT and they couldn't help him but wouldn't give any alternative suggestions. When I told them we'd go to A&E in that case the receptionist laughed and told me if I wanted to waste their time it was up to me (A&E didn't think we were, they told us life and death was to the right and we were taken straight through).

They also asked DH why they thought he was ill enough to see a doctor when he was doubled up in pain after a severe reaction to statins.

I can see why people go to A&E rather than the walk in if they live here although I'm clearly not condoning it!

Stephminx · 18/12/2019 12:41

Try out of hours or urgent care centre if you’re really ill.

SmoothOrange · 18/12/2019 12:43

Don't all doctor surgerys have a system where you can turn up in the morning and sit and wait to see one?

coconutty101 · 18/12/2019 12:43

Not A&E...
Call 111.
Can't you get an emergency appointment at your doctors?

I always say it's an emergency even if it's not, I'll always get seen by the GP in the end.

edgen2019 · 18/12/2019 12:47

Speak to your GP receptionist, mention that you have chest pain, and I think the GP will see you very very soon, they never ignore chest pain.

IhateBoswell · 18/12/2019 12:48

I always say it's an emergency even if it's not

You're part of the problem.

ivykaty44 · 18/12/2019 12:50

thetideishigh

I’ve a friend/neighbor who told me yesterday she can’t get into our doctors surgery, like your surgery they’re advertising for more patients.

I looked at my online patient access and said - but there are appointments on 20th and 2nd

Neighbour

Oh I don’t have the online access

Well get it and use it

Monday and Fridays they have open surgery

Yet one time when I saw my gp he said a patient had been to A&E and stated they couldn’t get an appointment- yet I’d got an on the day appointment that very day by dropping in at opening time and coming back later in the day

Sometimes I’ve had to wait, sometimes I’ve waited a week but if it’s been urgent they do have a surgery open morning on Mondays

safariboot · 18/12/2019 12:51

I'm going to say YANBU if you have no better option. A walk-in centre would be more preferable though, or you might be able to get a different GP to see you.

In my view GPs should be banned from doing what yours are doing. They do it to dishonestly "meet" NHS targets and this needs changing. GPs ought to be under obligation to use a reasonable portion of their day to see patients who've booked in advance.

thetideishigh · 18/12/2019 12:52

@coconutty101

The irony of your 2 lines...

"Can't you get an emergency appointment at your doctors?

I always say it's an emergency even if it's not, I'll always get seen by the GP in the end."

Don't you see that people like you always saying it's an emergency even when it's not is the reason other people genuinely needing an emergency appointment then can't get one !

Besidesthepoint · 18/12/2019 12:53

For the people complaining that they have a long wait at A&E: it's because you CAN wait. Patients with a higher emergency get seen soon. Someone with a broken leg can wait for hours because it is not life threatning. I went to A&E with chest pain once and difficulty breathing, I was seen immediately even though the waiting room was full. Another time I broke my wrist so I had to wait a couple of hours till tgey had time to see me. Fair enough, it needed setting but tgat can easily wait a day if necessary.

FrangipaniBlue · 18/12/2019 12:58

Good god some MNers really do live in a bubble!

My surgery has one GP with a 3 week wait for routine appointments, but they won't take bookings more than 4 weeks ahead so it's VERY difficult to get appointments in this small window.

There is no "turn up and wait" system nor are there on the day emergency appointments (because there is only one GP). So emergencies are directed to a GP at the local hospital, but this is used by at least 4 surgeries so by 8.30am all same day appointments are gone.

There is no walk in centre within a 30 mile radius.

There is a minor injuries unit but they won't see you for illness, only injuries.

So what does that leave? A&E?

larrygrylls · 18/12/2019 13:01

Just go to A&E.

An A&E consultant has told you to go. A few ‘managers’ (Administrators) have said not to. You have new symptoms which could be indicative of something serious and your surgery is badly letting you down.

The idea that, in the UK, you should be in serious pain and just suck it up or talk to a computer algorithm (101) is just shameful.

The alternative, if you can afford it, is a private GP. £70-80 (around) and you will get a good 30 minute consultation.

IndecentFeminist · 18/12/2019 13:04

We don't have one of these fabulous sounding walk in centres (had one, it closed and is now empty) or minor injury units. We also live on an island so popping to the next hospital along isn't so easy. I'm guessing a&e is very busy. 🤷

FruitcakeOfHate · 18/12/2019 13:09

Good god some MNers really do live in a bubble!

This!

Span1elsRock · 18/12/2019 13:10

Just for info, OP, DH had very similar symptoms and actually has a hiatus hernia. GP initially treated for H Pylori but his symptoms kept returning. He was eventually diagnosed via endoscopy. He said he couldn't eat much, and had chest pains.

The only treatment is high dose omeprazole but sadly is that is prescription only. Ranitidine may ease some of your symptoms though.

MrsPelligrinoPetrichor · 18/12/2019 13:12

Don't all doctor surgerys have a system where you can turn up in the morning and sit and wait to see one?

We did have and it was great. Now we ring and IF you get through which can take an hour they will put you on a list and ring back and decide if you need to see a doctor. That usually involves ringing at 4pm and saying all appts have gone and so ring back tomorrow...

Mummyoflittledragon · 18/12/2019 13:13

Did you get anything? I imagine you got referred to a walk in centre The other thing you can do is to go and speak to the pharmacist local to your gp. I found this out by chance when I was absolutely desperate one day and went to the pharmacy in tears. If the pharmacist thinks you should to be seen that day, they will write a letter to hand in to the receptionist at the gp practice. It doesn’t guarantee and appointment but when I did this once, I was called me within half an hour and given an appointment that day. Logistically if possible, the best thing to do is to queue up early outside the practice and get an appointment face to face.

Mummyoflittledragon · 18/12/2019 13:17

Span1el
You can get otc proton pump inhibitors but for some reason omeprazole is prescription only. Nexium (brand name) is otc. They are supposed to be as effective as omeprazole.