To be absolutely fed up with GP surgery

[Feckfeckfeck123]

Dh rang GP surgery this morning for DS at 8am (we have to ring between 8 and 9am). He managed to get through at 8.15, which is a rarity, only to he told there are no appointments left. The -dragon- receptionist claimed even the emergency appointments they allocate for at the end of surgery had been taken. DH explained to her that DS in in alot of discomfort as it hurts him when he wees, I had a look last night the head of his willy also looks swollen. Receptionist told him dismissively there is nothing she can do and to ring the next day or take DS to A&E. I mean, fgs. Like our local A&E isn't already drowning with patients with non-serious, easily treatable ailments. And with a crawling, teething baby I really do not want to be sat there for 3 hours.

DS is 11 and being assessed for ASD. He told me he has been in pain for a few days but it didn't occur to him to tell me earlier, only when he couldn't take it anymore. He was in tears this morning. If it's a urine infection like I suspect I know how painful they can be.

What the hell do I do? I imagine tomorrow will be the same, DH was lucky to even get through at 8.15 as it's always so busy. I did ring later on myself and ask to speak to a doctor or nurse for advice. But apparentiy that is the same as an appointment. They are STILL doing phone consulations and only face to face if absolutely necessary. I thought most, if not all, medical staff had heen vaccinated by now so why haven't the guidelines changed.

I'm so pissed off right now, sorry for the rambling. I can't be the only one with such shit service from their GP surgery? Any advice appreciated.

@Iamaperiwinkle so because you personally don't know any 'poor' doctors they don't exist? Priceless! So your friends are comfortable but I bet they had to work damn hard to get there. And then the growing/ageing population are increasingly thankless as this thread shows. I wouldn't be a GP if you paid me 10x the amount your friends get.

Excellent coverage of this on talk radio just now - Allison Pearson talking

@Peaplant20

Honestly don’t understand why it’s still over the phone. Could you go to a walk in centre?

Our whole large town is all over the phone- no face to face Very low CV19- its a cartel they have all agreed the same (crap) approach

To be honest I’m perfectly capable of googling my symptoms and having a pretty good stab at what it’s likely to be and choosing an appropriate specialist to see. I know more about some conditions than the GP sometimes and they end up googling it! Doesn’t fill you with confidence. Time to do away with GPs (and their generally awful receptionists) I think and move to a better system with easier access to specialists.

Sounds like ballinatis , warm epsom salt baths should sort it.

YANBU. We're looking into buying private insurance as have had enough with these GPs.

@Iamaperiwinkle But the local GP is a business -running (usually) a huge profit to pay themselves huge salaries. so if they can't manage the workload -get more GPs, pay more salaries and take LESS profit.

Not just that, but GP practices get paid "per patient", so they get paid whether they see patients or not. You can guarantee if the funding model was "per consultation" they'd make a lot more consultations available. It's why so many private businesses have done their utmost to carry on as near normal as possible - they don't get paid if they don't provide their product/service to the customer. The NHS model is opposite - they don't have to provide the service but still get paid.

Anyone have a Telegraph subscription?

www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2021/05/12/exclusive-gps-told-stop-seeing-patients-face-to-face/