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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Another one unable to access a GP!

63 replies

NonsensicalHair · 27/05/2021 12:00

I know there's been other threads on this topic recently, so just venting! Am frustrated with latest attempt to get a GP appointment. Filled in on online form requesting an appointment (of course you can't make them over the phone these days, let alone in person). It's for a possible eye infection so really just needed a prescription for antibiotic eye drops that I've had before. Received a text back saying I need to go to an optician, please follow this link for a list of participating opticians. The link works, but the list of opticians is blank.

Phone the surgery and am told she (the receptionist) will try to contact the GP and ask for, I don't know, maybe the list to be given to me in a different way. Obviously I asked if it was at all possible to actually speak to someone, but no.

Anyway, off to ring some opticians to see if they deal with minor eye conditions service.

OP posts:
Original poster
NonsensicalHair · 27/05/2021 12:01

Didn't mean to enable voting - please ignore!

OP posts:
ChangePart1 · 27/05/2021 12:03

I think YABU, I went through a phase of having quite a few eye infections and never thought to go to the GP for that, they’re correct that it’s an optician matter.

When you say they gave you a list of participating opticians I’m not sure what that means as surely you’re registered with one and just attend your own optician?

Nanniss · 27/05/2021 12:05

Try Googling 'Minor Eye Conditions Service'. This is a national service and part of NHS. You don't need a referral from a GP.

DynamoKev · 27/05/2021 12:07

YANBU it is almost impossible to get in touch with our surgery. It took over 90 tries last time I tried - they don't make anything available online and though there is an app to book appointments you can use on your phone, it doesn't allow booking for more than two weeks ahead and there are never any appointments less than two weeks away.

I wrote to my MP and received the distinct impression she doesn't give a fuck. Got a reply from her assistant saying they are asking the health authority to consider building us an extra surgery - not a lot of use this week and suitable vague so they don't have to say they are actually going to do anything.

I don't blame GPs or the receptionists - but no-one in government seems to give a fuck - and considering this shower keep getting elected I suppose they don't have to.

Theunamedcat · 27/05/2021 12:07

I go to my gp for an eye infection 🤷‍♀️ anyway you can get the antibiotic eye drops online and delivered to your door but it will take time, can you see your pharmacist?

RuthW · 27/05/2021 12:08

This isn't a condition for a gp. Go to your opticians. This is why we have these systems as everyone assumes the must see a gp when 9 times out of 10 another health professional is better to deal with the problem

Menora · 27/05/2021 12:10

Don’t you have any local pharmacies or opticians you can contact or visit and leave with the medication you need?

Original poster
NonsensicalHair · 27/05/2021 12:12

Maybe I was mistaken, but in the past I've always gone to my surgery to see a GP for this particular problem. It was the GP that prescribed eye drops the last two times. At no time did they suggest I see an optician so it didn't occur to me.

I honestly didn't realise opticians ran minor eye problem clinics. I obviously knew that if you were having problems with your sight, you'd see the optician, but it genuinely didn't occur to me that itchy eyes, possible minor infection, would also be a job for them,

OP posts:
Original poster
NonsensicalHair · 27/05/2021 12:13

I have found an optician, despite the failure of the link, and someone is ringing me back in a couple of hours.

OP posts:
Nightbear · 27/05/2021 12:14

Go to the a chemist

www.superdrug.com/Health/Eye-Care/Eye-Infection-Treatment/Optrex-Infected-Eye-Bacterial-Conjunctivitis-Ointment/p/383031?gclid=EAIaIQobChMImKWtl93p8AIVGRoGAB3VUA27EAQYAyABEgIx3vD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds

There are lots of people who can’t get even get a phone appointment with their GP for serious issues.

Original poster
NonsensicalHair · 27/05/2021 12:15

@Theunamedcat - I've just found out you can get them at a pharmacy, yes - I thought with it being antibiotic, only a GP could prescribe (like regular antibiotics) so I'm learning all the time!

OP posts:
Donitta · 27/05/2021 12:15

Tbh it wouldn’t occur to me to see an optician for an infection. Can they even prescribe medication? I would have gone to a doctor for an infection. The optician is there to test your eyes and sell you glasses.

Original poster
NonsensicalHair · 27/05/2021 12:19

@Donitta - Thank you, me too. It genuinely just didn't occur to me. I tend to associate anything like that with doctors, and in the past, as i say, no doctor has every told me that in future, I should go see an optician.

The optician I spoke to seemed a bit weary (but lovely) and said something like "yes, they're chucking all these cases over to us now".

OP posts:
ChloeCrocodile · 27/05/2021 12:21

This isn't a condition for a gp. Go to your opticians. This is why we have these systems as everyone assumes the must see a gp when 9 times out of 10 another health professional is better to deal with the problem

My GP sees people for eye infections (in non-covid times). Most people don't have an optician and would assume you have to pay for an appointment. If you fill in the NHS symptom checker with eye infection details it tells you to see you GP.

In short, it isn't the fault of the general public if they are turning up at a GP surgery when they have an infection.

EgonSpengler2020 · 27/05/2021 12:22

I'm a paramedic and have started filling POVA (protection of vulnerable adult) forms for patients I see who meet the vulnerable adult criteria (elderly care needs, learning difficulties, mental health problems, substance abuse etc) if they are unable to access healthcare appropriately via their GP.

Not sure how popular i am going to be for doing this though!!

Original poster
NonsensicalHair · 27/05/2021 12:24

@RuthW - to be fair, if a person has always seen a GP for a certain condition, and been prescribed medication by that GP for the condition, and never been directed elsewhere, it's perfectly reasonable to expect them to continue to have the GP as their first port of call.

OP posts:
Donitta · 27/05/2021 12:30

Most people don't have an optician and would assume you have to pay for an appointment
Yes I pay for my eye tests so would assume I’d have to pay to see the optician. Is that not the case then?

Also my GP is local and 5 mins down the road. My optician is 1hr away in the city. There is a local optician but I’ve never used them because their selection of frames is shit, I travel to the posh optician in the city who has a better selection of expensive designer frames. Would I even be allowed to turn up at the local optician with an eye infection when I’m not registered there?

VividGemini · 27/05/2021 12:31

For conjunctivitis I'd usually walk in to my local Boots with an optometrist. Before covid they ran a minor triage service for eye complaints. Unless I had significant eye pain, headache etc I wouldn't go to a GP

Spaghettipie1 · 27/05/2021 12:31

The optician should be first port of call but this is a recent shift so it's correct that they redirected you, but not unreasonable that you asked GP first as many don't realise this.

WrongKindOfFace · 27/05/2021 12:33

@Nanniss

Try Googling 'Minor Eye Conditions Service'. This is a national service and part of NHS. You don't need a referral from a GP.
It doesn’t operate in all areas though. No participating opticians in my city and surrounding area.
Nanniss · 27/05/2021 12:35

@NonsensicalHair to be fair, if a person has always seen a GP for a certain condition, and been prescribed medication by that GP for the condition, and never been directed elsewhere, it's perfectly reasonable to expect them to continue to have the GP as their first port of call.

It is also entirely reasonable for the GP surgery to signpost you to a new service which is entirely appropriate for your condition.

ArgyleIsle · 27/05/2021 12:37

Does 111 online give you advice.
I went through the questions for my condition and ended up with a call back from a centralised GP. Service was amazing, I collected antibiotics, (prescription transferred from the GP directly to the chemist) within an hour.

I hadn't realised that such a service existed.

Original poster
NonsensicalHair · 27/05/2021 12:40

@Nanniss - I wouldn't dispute this. Now I now that it's in place. Part of my gripe was the fact that the link didn't work properly, necessitating me calling the surgery and therefor taking up more of there time. The receptionist them had to speak to the doctor, etc. It all seems so inefficent when a call could have sorted it out in literally, two minutes.

OP posts:
SparklyLeprechaun · 27/05/2021 12:41

You live and learn, I guess. I never knew you could go to an optician for an eye infection. And why would I be registered with an optician? Does everyone register with an optician if they don't wear glasses?

PaperbackRider · 27/05/2021 12:42

It is also entirely reasonable for the GP surgery to signpost you to a new service which is entirely appropriate for your condition

With a list of opticians that is empty?