to not understand why GP healthcare is so hard to access?!

[CopperBear]

Almost two weeks ago, I was taken to hospital via ambulance. For the last year and a half I've been having abdominal pain and severe rectal bleeding with every bowel movement - I had just had a very heavy period and I think the combined blood loss might have been an issue - but no actual answers yet.
When I was discharged from hospital I was told to follow up with my GP. I moved to my area two years ago and haven't seen my GP before - I tried to make contact about the rectal bleeding about a year ago but due to Covid nothing was done and I couldn't see anyone.
On Thursday (a week back), I phoned to try and get an appointment with my GP - told there's nothing available. On Friday, I phoned to try and get an appointment with my GP - told there's nothing available. On Monday I was told I needed a phone consultation first - which I did, so the GP booked an appointment in for Tuesday. The GP ordered some tests (a stool sample and a urine sample) but didn't say specifically what she was testing for. The stool sample was more blood than anything else - I have a picture but can't post it because I'm new to MN.
I phoned this morning to see if they had results back and they said they've tested for a parasite (?! - this was never mentioned when I saw the GP) and it's all clear so they're taking no further action. If I want to see the GP again then I need to restart the whole process by phoning up tomorrow morning and trying to get another phone consultation. Meanwhile, I've lost almost two stone in two weeks, I can't eat, I can barely walk and I'm losing blood constantly. DS is staying with my parents because I can't parent him and I need to go back to work and I just can't.
Any advice?

Phone the gp and tell them all that, did you say that when you spoke to the gp on the phone? And they didn’t see you?..

Phone and be firm and tell them your condition has not improved and you need to see someone. If you get nowhere 111/a&e as you need to be seen in person with those symptoms. Is there no follow up or conclusion from your hospital stay? Are you under a consultant? I was diagnosed with crohns this year, how get my treatment has been very good I’ve seen my gp in person etc. I know you’re probably feeling absolutely awful but you need to get a dr to see you either via gp/111/a&e and today if possible.

Exactly what @Crappyfridays7 said.

If the GP won't call you, try 111 as they might be able to book you in at an assessment unit rather than you waiting in A&E (in my area they can book you an appointment at the ambulatory care unit rather than you attending A&E). If that doesn't work then A&E as you need to be seen sooner rather than later. As shitty as it sounds and as much as its the last thing you want to do when you're feeling unwell - kick up a fuss, insist on being seen, insist on being tested for all possible/probable causes, the squeaky wheel gets the grease.

@Crappyfridays7

Phone the gp and tell them all that, did you say that when you spoke to the gp on the phone? And they didn’t see you?..

Phone and be firm and tell them your condition has not improved and you need to see someone. If you get nowhere 111/a&e as you need to be seen in person with those symptoms. Is there no follow up or conclusion from your hospital stay? Are you under a consultant? I was diagnosed with crohns this year, how get my treatment has been very good I’ve seen my gp in person etc. I know you’re probably feeling absolutely awful but you need to get a dr to see you either via gp/111/a&e and today if possible.

Thank you - when I spoke to my GP on the phone they booked me an appointment for the next day in person (spoke to them last Monday and saw them on Tuesday). Every other time I've phoned I can only speak to the receptionist. After my hospital stay, they said to follow up with my GP, which is what I'm trying and struggling to do. I feel as though calling 111 or going to A&E is tricky because it's not "new" IYKWIM. As if 111 and A&E are for when you don't know what to do - I do know what to do, see my GP, I just can't without it taking a really long time and a lot of effort to get anywhere.

If I was you if telephone the gp and insist something is done asap otherwise you will be presenting at A&E in order to access help

Did you get a diagnosis when you went to hospital?
It sound like maybe the GP hasn't seen the notes from hospital.

I fully understand the difficulties people are having speaking/seeing a GP, but I find it really hard to believe that if your GP knew you were constantly losing blood and have lost 2 stone in 2 weeks that they would take no action. Were you able to tell them this?

@TheOrigRights

Did you get a diagnosis when you went to hospital? It sound like maybe the GP hasn't seen the notes from hospital.

I fully understand the difficulties people are having speaking/seeing a GP, but I find it really hard to believe that if your GP knew you were constantly losing blood and have lost 2 stone in 2 weeks that they would take no action. Were you able to tell them this?

No diagnosis from the hospital - they gave me a prescription for the pain and told me they couldn't see anything acute on their tests so to follow up with the GP. I saw the GP a week ago and, at that time, had lost about a stone I think. DH was with me because I can't really walk or speak much without getting very lightheaded - I'm fairly sure he told her that I was losing weight. I'm overweight anyway (but not obese - in fact I might be a healthy weight now with this weight loss?) so maybe she wasn't too concerned by me losing weight?

It doesn’t matter if it’s not ‘new’ try again re gp, tell the receptionist so she can pass this on, my receptionists at gp are fab and helpful with things like that. If you don’t get anywhere at least you’ve tried when you get to a&e you can tell them that. I can imagine you’ve not got the energy for a fight but do see someone today or even speak to gp who might ask you to come in. I understand not wanting to tell receptionists but it’s confidential they can’t tell anyone else what you’ve told them, I really hope you get seen ASAP. I don’t think anyone will tell you off or be horrible when you’re actually feeling this unwell op, covid or no covid healthcare is still there for you, if they don’t see you at gp once you’re feeling up to it complain!!

She should be concerned with you losing weight.

I would call 111, you are not new but you are getting nowhere.

I'm sorry you're feeling so awful, you need to get back to your GP, let your DH contact them if you are feeling too weak, you need an emergency appointment and it needs to be made very clear that you are in pain, passing a lot of blood and have lost a significant amount of weight quickly, you need to insist on an urgent referral to Gastro, your symptoms are more than enough for that. I know that A&E are really looking to alleviate the current symptoms and not to refer but don't hesitate to go back if you feel you need to.

Yanbu and this is the reason why A&E departments across the country are now being inundated with patients. In a lot of cases chronic illnesses have been left for too long, until they become acute. Hospitals patch you up and send you home when you've recovered enough, in order to free up beds, but nhs communication between inpatient and outpatient departments and GPs is woeful.

Dh was told his rectal bleeding was IBS via a phone call. He's never suffered from IBS before and told them this. He was told to come back in 2 weeks if it didn't improve and they'd examine him. Two days later he was admitted to hospital via A&E due to acute pancreatitis which had caused the bowel to become trapped due to the inflammation. That was back in Jan. He made the required lifestyle changes, and was readmitted last week with another flare up. Again, he had struggled to speak to a GP about some symptoms, until they finally just advised him to go to A&E because they were too busy to see him.

He pestered the hospital for other tests, having reported that he'd stopped drinking and was eating healthily so did nothing to encourage the flare up and they've finally discovered an issue with his gallbladder.

This government has abolished GP care.

To be honest it was a bit crappy of the hospital to discharge someone with your symptoms without arranging a follow up with outpatients or an instigation procedure.
Time is wasted by referring patients back to their Gp for them to arrange investigations.
I know its a mare trying to get to speak to a GP but you're going to have to go through it - then tell GP that you want this investigated properly so that a diagnosis can be made.

And it's tricky to see a GP because there aren't enough of them to go round.

I would also email them with this information (losing weight, can’t care for child etc) in black and white - they’d be stupid to ignore this as puts them at risk if something happens to you! Be much more forceful in demanding to be seen, ring consistently and regularly, you deserve to be seen

To be honest it was a bit crappy of the hospital to discharge someone with your symptoms without arranging a follow up with outpatients or an instigation procedure.

Not too sure what the hospital could have done. Follow up care would have to be on GP’s referral, I would think.

All A&E can do is treat the acute symptoms and ask the patient to follow up with their GP, unless of course they have to be admitted.
A&E has turned into a substitute of the GPS because it’s difficult to have an appointment and that’s all wrong.