To just want to see a doctor???

[Stackys]

I’m not one for doctor bothering. I very very rarely go (pre covid I mean). I work in NHS so I know how wasteful people can be with the resources so I do try to be a twat.

Anyway, past couple of months I’ve had horrendous neck pain. Like I’ll be at work, turn around and feel like an electric shock running up my neck. It hurts generally, when I’m tying my hair back it hurts, when I’m watching tv it hurts, when I’m at work it hurts. I didn’t call the GP, I took painkillers.

The pain then spread into my shoulders. I wake up most night with the pain as my neck stiffens up in my sleep and then I move and WHAM. I called for a GP appointment. Was told a doctor would call me back. GP called back and said “it’s tension, drink more water and exercise. Take pain killers”. I did that. Then the pain spread into my head, just behind my right ear, dull pulsing pains seemingly in my skull. I called GP back and said it was getting worse. Still wouldn’t see me.

Now, it’s beyond ridiculous. I can’t lift my head without supporting it with my hand. My left shoulder blade seemingly has notable veins showing that were not there before. GP still won’t see me. AIBU to ask wtf are GPs doing at the minute if they are not seeing patients??

How come it’s too “dangerous” for GPs to see people but community nurses have to to carry on as normal? I’m annoyed and starting to think GPs are using Covid as an excuse to cut down their work load.

It is shocking to read this. I work in a large GP practice which has surgeries at several locations. Our GPs have been seeing patients in person throughout this whole crisis. The procedure is: patient phones for a telephone appointment. In most cases the Dr calls back later that day and does a full consultation over the phone. If a patient needs to be seen in person they are asked some COVID questions and given an appointment to come in. My own DD had a UTI last month and was seen same day. I think we are lucky that our practice is very patient focused and the GPs are absolutely amazing but it really shouldn't come down to luck in a "National" health service.

I agree - dc had a fall, ankle is now clicking and hurting. Surgery suggested A&E when I called - it’s really not something for A&E but does need a hands on physical examination to try and determine the problem - a GP initially is what this situation needs

@QuestionableMouse a physio would be the exact right person for her to see.

My surgery has been seeing patients who need to be physically seen all through. We (receptionists) are now able to book face to face ourselves if it is something that needs looking at.

My lord - get to an urgent care centre or A&E. I wouldn’t even bother going back to your GP with such severe pain.
Good luck OP.

So sorry you are in such discomfort OP. A & E might be your best option if GP won't see you.
Speaking to my own family and friends, those whose GP's haven't gone to ground during the pandemic seem to be in the minority. Some have had great service but most have struggled and only been offered telephone consultations. It's strange to me that these 'care givers', many of whom only work 3 days a week at the best of times, immediately made themselves scarce right at the start of lockdown and are continuing to work from home in spite of increasing need for patients to be seen.

Feels a bit like an intention to ‘Doctor bash’. It’s often teacher bash but GPs now seem fair game. I’m sure there was another similar thread about bad GPs doing nothing but community nurses being sainted very recently.

GPs have continued to work throughout and have continued to see patients where they cannot manage via videoconference or phone.

A videoconference is still an appointment and means they can see more people.
GPs had to see Covid19 patients without appropriate PPE initially. They carried on putting patients first. Many bought their own.
Many work much longer hours than they are paid. My daughter and her partner regularly works until 7:30pm when they are paid until 5pm. They start at 7:30 am.
It is odd that any practice would not see any patients in person. That is outwith the guidance.

Community nurses cannot do their job remotely. Neither can practice nurses. You cannot do remote wound dressings or injections. It’s not a reasonable comparison.

Practices around here are seeing those who need to be seen as well. You need to keep getting phone appointments so that your GP understands how bad things are getting. A physio appointment could be helpful as they are experts at examining shoulders and necks so should quickly be able to diagnose you. You do need to be seen.

This isn’t all GPs by any means.

The GPs at my surgery (and all other local ones) have been seeing patients who needed to be seen throughout.

I needed a face to face appointment a couple of weeks ago, and got one easily.

Could it be to do with the particular circumstances of your practice? Is it a smaller practice, with older GPs/GPs who could be in vulnerable categories?

I'm another one wondering how GPs are getting away with this. I won't bore you with my elderly mother's issues but her GP has simply ignored/dismissed her. There's no one to turn to. It is a scandal IMO.

Oh, and yes to seeing an osteopath. Mine has been a life saver over the years.

Our practice is seeing patients who need to be seen and friends have been seen at their practices. It's worth another call and if you get nowhere, ask for the practice manager.

That doesn't sound right, my doctor does telephone appointments and if she feels the need to see a patient she calls them into the surgery.

I would ring again. And I would want to know what is wrong before going down the osteopath route, especially with the severity of your pain. Your other option is 111.

Sounds like you have a trapped nerve. A physio could dx properly if the GP won't see you. When DH had this the GP prescribed a low dose of amitriptyline to take at night to help the whole area relax - it did the job in 3/4 weeks after about 6 weeks of constant pain as you describe. He also did some gentle neck stretches. Tbh I'd phone the GP back and reiterate that you can not carry on with this situation. When it comes to phone appointments between the family we've had varying degrees of success during lockdown. Tbf I think that's the case even when the appointment is face to face.

Just go to A and E

Our GPs also aren't seeing people. I'm fed up now when so many of us are back to work properly, no idea why or how GPs are getting away with it

DH is a GP and still working six days a week. He volunteered to go back into hospital work and spent eight weeks working on a Covid ward. He’s now back in his local surgery. Some patients are having phone or video appointments and where he feels it appropriate, a face to face appointments. The video and phone appointments are going to be a permanent fixture, they are popular as usually you can have an appointment the same day instead of a three week wait for an in surgery appointment.

OP

What you’re describing could have been exactly me during lock down. The difference being my GP referred me for physio for a pinched nerve in my neck. After 10 weeks of physio and doing the exercises, I’m back to normal. Daily Pain eased after just a week or two. I’m still very stiff in the morning and occasionally have pain at night - when I revert to my old sleeping position. I now have a neck pillow. I do the next exercises multiple times a day and stretch before I get out of bed in the morning.

Please call and insist on a referral or go to minor injuries.

You may also think about changing doctor surgeries. I used to have a GP we called Dr Dolittle - because he did very little. Changed surgeries and I’m so pleased. Not all GPS are operating like your GP is now.

im sorry op that sounds like crap service! ive been told that i will be getting a phone call next Tuesday!!! not an appointment phone call!! for hypermesis medication not like i need it fairly pronto or anything ,, i too get annoyed the lower paid frontline workers get little protection but higher paid get to hide away.

I agree op, I think it's terrible that GP's aren't seeing anyone for routine appointments yet. I work for the NHS too.

As an a&e doctor I am currently seeing so many people in your sort of situation, could be managed if assessed properly by a GP but because GP won't see them they come to us.

Obviously can't give any medical advice from the thread OP but very likely we would just give analgesia and say you need to see your GP for further management and any investigations, doesn't sound like it will reach a&e thresholds for imaging/referral.

Could you try to see if you could access physio specialists directly through your occ health team?

My GP seems to be getting back to normal; I've not been, but had a text about going in for a smear test yesterday. I expect it depends on area and/or the individual practice.

I was experiencing similar problems a few weeks ago - saw my osteopath (not his best customer, I first saw him about years ago, and go once every three years or so with different pains and problems) and got that addressed.

You mention being "at work", so this may not be part of the issue for you, but I also realised that my home office working space set up wasn't ideal. Because I sit still there for longer periods than I would in the office, where I'd typically get distracted and move about more, bad posture was having more impact, so I was able to adjust that space.

Link to the HSE display screen/works station checklist
www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/ck1.pdf

*30