Utterly frustrated at not being able to see a GP?

[ismiseeire]

My health is detiorating! Sorry, in pain, so not a long explanatory post.

All my cars - Funny you should say about optical assistant and physio as I could only see physio by video in January (private, NHS were seeing mainly patients with Covid on the wards) and my DDs progressive myopia has to wait till opticians opened again, they weren’t seeing anyone at all. Perceptions and experiences are so different.

My GP practice waiting room isn’t open. I had to wait outside in the rain last year (December) for 15 minutes before being called in to get staples removed from my head. I ended up sitting on the dirty floor outside as unbeknownst to me I also had quite a severe post-op infection so was quite poorly.

I used to love my GP surgery but the care has been shocking. I tried to get an appointment with them this week but missed the calls they made (which were certainly only a couple of rings) as I was busy and can’t just sit around waiting for 3 days for the phone to ring (you will be contacted by 1st April). Was then told I had to fill out the e-consult form again when I rang reception.

Ended up in A&E last night and admitted to hospital on iv antibiotics.

The UK seems to be getting worse and worse for standards such as these. I'm in an EU country and called my dr last week, had a phone consult an hour later, and an inperson appt 2 days after that. No issues at all. I've also got a booked appt next week and an appt for a smear test next month.

Not sure where in the country you are op but it's worth looking to see if you're covered by Pohwer, they advocate for people with illnesses and disability and will assist you in making a complaint about the GP. They can advocate on your behalf if you don't feel able or will support you to do it yourself.

www.pohwer.net/nhs-complaints-advocacy

I'm utterly fed up with the ridiculous service our GPs are providing. We have to use the dreaded Doctorlink which the algorithm on it either plays down your need to be seen or makes it urgent as in requiring an ambulance, there's no middle ground!
Then when you call the practice the receptionists tell you to do the Doctorlink form again and lie so that you can get a friggin phone call with a paramedic who then needs to run everything by the Dr before you can even get a prescription.
They then didn't bother to call me to inform me that yes my child did need antibiotics but I had to chase them 24hrs later to check they'd dipped her urine sample.
I get that there are some brilliant practices doing all they can for their patients but for many the reality is we are left to suffer or hinder A&E.