Would I be unreasonable to go to an urgent care centre for this?

[ItalianinLondon]

Backstory: was diagnosed with pericarditis + costochondritis before Christmas = lots of chest pain. It was getting slightly better but now I've picked up a cough / virus type thing and it has been a bit problematic. I very much doubt that it's anything serious, but the problem is that it hurts even to breathe in deeply and the cough is kind of torturous as a result.

Would I be totally ridiculous to go to a UCC tomorrow and ask if they can give me anything for the pain or for the cough? I can try my GP in the morning but I am doubtful of having any success. But I don't want to be one of those people who misused NHS services and, since I'm sure it's a virus, there's probably not really anything they can do and I'll just be wasting their time!

Any thoughts much appreciated, including the "pull yourself together" ones.

If you’re well enough to wait til morning, then I would try your GP or even a pharmacist first. I’m not sure what the UCC would be able to give you that your GP would not also be able to prescribe? And if your GP thinks you need a chest X-ray, then they will usually arrange this with the nearest facility with x-ray services

If you’re well enough to not physically be on the verge of walking out the door to the urgent care centre or a&e now then I’d wait and call the GP. Or call 111 for advise

That makes sense! If I can get an appt at the GP, or with the practice pharmacist, I'll definitely go there. I was only thinking of the UCC if that turns out not to be possible...

Are you in the UK? Urgent Care isn't a common term here. But I don't think you are unreasonable to see medical assistance. If you can't get into the GP a pharmacist should be able to help even if just to confirm you need seen by GP as an emergency. If in the UK 111 or NHS 24 will also be able to help/

I would go to the UCC. You are making various assumptions about your condition that may or may not be warranted. Your GP may want tests you'd have to go to hospital to access.

Given your medical history I’d be inclined to go to the UCC where they can organise xrays bloods etc... straight away if needed. I imagine your GP surgery (like most) will be extremely busy tomorrow so getting through will be a nightmare

I certainly wouldn’t say it’s misusing services or wasting time. Best to get it seen to before it develops into anything worse

Hope you feel better soon!

Well, I'm in the UK (SE England) and we have an Urgent Care Centre in my town.

Yeah, I am in the UK... and I think they call it an Urgent Treatment Centre now, but I get lost with changing terminology!

I am wary of calling NHS 111 because I'm afraid that if I say "chest pain" they will immediately want to despatch an ambulance!

@CallmeAngelina Yeah, I think they have just been changing the name quite recently!

If it's hurting to breathe in, you could have pneumonia. I thought I just had a chest infection till they did an x-ray.

Go and get seen.

Thank you, I will!
Last night I was coughing and a little bit of blood came up. I know I probably am fussing about nothing but I just want to get it checked- even if I am misusing sevices!

I'm a GP nurse practitioner, you definitely would not be wasting services getting seen. I'd be happy to see you over the hundreds of runny noses I see every day!

Bu to go to A & E but not bu to go to UCC or GP. Better to be seen by either now than need an ambulance later.

Given your medical history I wouldn’t hesitate - I am a RN

Go to urgent care, they can always send you to a&e or an x-ray from there if needed.
I do understand your concern about 111, I d broken a rib last year but I didn't know what the chest pain could be so I rang and they wanted to send me an ambulance, I asked to speak to a clinician before agreeing to it as I m pretty close to a hospital and they agreed it didn't seem like I needed one although I should be seen asap so I got myself there.

It's hurting to breathe and you coughed up blood. You need seen asap so yes, if you can't get a GP appointment for today, go to the place you have suggested

You sound like my Mum OP.
She'd be coughing up blood, in pain and like you would worry about making 'a fuss over nothing'.Consequently, she'd do nothing and get worse.
Unbelievably frustrating.
Go to the urgent care. This is exactly what they are there for.
This is not a normal 'cough' and you know it.

I went to the Urgent Care, but they wanted an xray done, so I got moved to ambulatory emergency care. Luckily, the UCC is in a hospital which also has A&E and AEC so it has not involved lots of running around!
Thanks for the advice... just waiting now, so we'll see :)