AIBU - I have called the GP over 200 times this morning

[IAmADancer]

Just that. I need to get a blood test referral for menopause symptoms but I can’t get through. I started calling at 8am and have called over 200 times. It’s still engaged.

I know that if I call back at 10am when it’s quieter they will tell me there are no appointments and to call back tomorrow. Then you go through the same routine all over again. I just want to access basic care. Feeling very frustrated

I do love the assumption that all GP surgeries operate in the same way. OP seems to have a GP that works in the same way as mine. The only thing I can do online is a repeat prescription request. You have to call for an appointment of any type. You can't book in advance for GP but have to chance it in the morning for a same day call back.
Mine does the same thing that OP and some others describe where if there are too many people trying to call you don't even get engaged tone you just get a beep and it cuts off. I had to ring 25 times to get through on a Thursday. My GP is brilliant but their system is not.

Are you absolutely sure that they don’t have econsult? There are few who don’t

Why on earth are people assuming that the systems at their own surgery are the same as OPs?

She has spelled out how hers works, and what they DON'T do, yet people are still telling her with great authority, to do what their surgery facilitates. Which is what hers doesn't do.

@BungleandGeorge

Are you absolutely sure that they don’t have econsult? There are few who don’t

facepalm

Mine doesn't. Nor does my DD's 20 miles away. Stop assuming that everything in your world works for other people.

Totally understand your frustration op. My gp surgery will only book on the day telephone appointments. Morning ones are released at 8am and afternoon ones at 2pm. Spent 4days, trying both morning and afternoon, before I finally got an appointment. At my surgery only thing you can do online is order repeat prescriptions. Also totally agree that menopause symptoms can have a huge impact on your quality of health and lack of sleep has huge impact on mental health.

@TheWeatherWitch Have you OP’s updates, as well as others like mine, where there are GP surgeries, like OP’s that ONLY, I repeat, ONLY do same day appointments. So no matter how urgent or non urgent it is, you still has to call at 8am or whenever to get an appointment. You cannot pre book one.

But thanks for being supportive to OP!

@Councilworker

I do love the assumption that all GP surgeries operate in the same way. OP seems to have a GP that works in the same way as mine. The only thing I can do online is a repeat prescription request. You have to call for an appointment of any type. You can't book in advance for GP but have to chance it in the morning for a same day call back. Mine does the same thing that OP and some others describe where if there are too many people trying to call you don't even get engaged tone you just get a beep and it cuts off. I had to ring 25 times to get through on a Thursday. My GP is brilliant but their system is not.

Yours sounds like mine.

We used to be able to do loads of stuff online (including booking appointments). That got withdrawn due to Covid.

Now there is no alternative to calling, and no access to a GP without a same-day phone triage appointment.

You don't need a blood test. If you're symptoms match peri-menopausal symptoms then just book an appointment with your GP to discuss them and what options are open to you i.e. if you want HRT then ask for them to be prescribed. Blood tests are notoriously inaccurate for determining peri-menopause. Pop over to the menopause section and read the pinned thread about NICE guidelines.

This does not help you get an appointment of course but may reduce the need for one unnecessary one. Good luck.

@TheWeatherWitch

urgent care for menopause symptoms - are you for real. Just book an normal appt at 10am and wait your bloody turn

This, a million times.

Op, you do not need an urgent referral for the menopause! Quit being so bloody dramatic. I’ve not slept a full night in years, it’s just part of growing older. Learn to adapt.

I’ve also been waiting over 3 years for an operation. Covid has changed our world. You are not more important than anyone else.

You do understand that the NHS has a huge backlog right now? People are dying of cancers that could be prevented but the NHS is busy. I’m really annoyed to think there are people like you, selfish people who think a menopausal blood test counts as important.

It's people like you who cause the whole backlog I'm afraid, desperate for same day appointments for stuff like this

Let’s correct this for you YOU don’t need to see a GP for menopause symptoms. The op does.

Everyone’s periods are different, everyone’s childbirth is different, everyone’s menopause is different.
It can be crippling, it can be life changing. If the op thinks she needs to see or speak to her GP she should be able to at least get an appointment.

For me I’m peri menopausal. A few days a month I can’t work due to flooding, migraines and symptoms, I’m also snappy and truly vile to my family. That’s not sustainable. But well done for managing youra

OP has also very clearly stated that she has underlying medical conditions and needs to be sure that the symptoms are actually menopause, and not related to her other medical issue.

All very reasonable.

I hate this martyr attitude that we're supposed to sit at home suffering in silence until you're close to death because the sainted NHS is under pressure and cannot be criticised under any circumstances.

Lots of us are currently experiencing very crap service from our GPs. Many surgeries simply do not offer online anything, many patients couldn't access online anyway. It's OK to use the NHS for things which aren't immediately life-threatening.

@IAmADancer

I am also not over 45 but have a pre existing condition that would need managing if I am in early menopause. Hence the need for the blood test

Apologies, I hadn't RTFT before responding and didn't see this.

If the surgery didn’t feel they could do the bloods then it’s up to THEM to tell op to hang on re bottles (I had bloods done last week loads of bottles was no issue at all.

Where I am, there is no app, no online appointment system etc you have to phone the surgery every day to get an on the day appointment for any issue. If it is an urgent thing or emergent then they will squeeze you in. The only time you get an appointment in advance is if you’ve been to see the dr and they ask you to come back in a week etc. So everyone is trying to call at 8am. Terrible time as I’m trying to get 4 kids ready for school, but that’s how it is. Sounds similar to op set up with hers.

No one is allowed to go to the dr these days without someone having an opinion, if op was your nurse on a ward or a surgeon or pilot/driver etc or doing a job where she really needs to feel well and not exhausted and stressed out becuase she can’t get a gp appointment for a simple blood test and consultation so she can function normally with support/treatment. We are all entitled to healthcare, I have a chronic illness which is misbehaving at the moment and pretty unwell I have to phone and queue like everyone else and it’s a pain as I need to see the gp a lot at the moment. So phoning over and over again whilst trying to get everyone organised in the morning and left by 25 past 8 is a pain in the backside at times.

@TheWeatherWitch have you read the OP's posts at all? The only appointments available at her GP are same day. She can't book in advance, it's same day or nothing.

OP the system sounds absolutely shit. It must be beyond frustrating for the people who work in it aswell as the patients trying to be seen.

MN at its worst on this thread - the NHS should be able to provide an appointment for a blood test sometime. People should be able to book an appointment at their GP without this ridiculous rigmarole. If some GPs can book ahead, why can't others, even if there is a wait? It's insane.

OP my only suggestion would be to change GP if you are in the catchment for any other surgeries who may have a less stupid booking system.

People diagnosing OP’s needs, saying they are “health professionals” - are you GPs?

I find it fascinating to read some of the comments that say as a woman, I should just get on with it because it’s normal. I also find it incredibly sad that women are constantly told this and we accept it.

We have a right to basic healthcare and that covers women’s reproductive health. Menopause impacts everyone differently but regardless of that we should be able to access the support/medication that we need in order for us to continue as healthy functioning adults.

It infuriates me that we dismiss and belittle women into feeling that we are taking advantage of the NHS when it is a valid and necessary medical need that requires medication. We need to stop making women feel bad for wanting help and we need to stop judging people for needing help. How about supporting and encouraging people. It’s not just about the NHS. If you are struggling, be it with menopause symptoms or other issues that only women face, it has a wider impact. The more women not able to work the less money goes back into the economy which in turn means less money going into public services. Whilst one woman won’t have that much impact, hundreds of thousands of women will.

It makes me very angry that women are treated this way and it needs to stop.

OP do you mind me asking what other health conditions you have that the menopause makes worse? I’m peri menopausal and the GP has advised they don’t do blood tests for hormone levels as they literally constantly fluctuate. I’m waiting for my next steps, also have underlying conditions but wasn’t aware that some conditions can be made worse/life threatening by menopause?

It is awful, and as a health professional I despair about state of NHS right now. But the menopause is not a medical emergency

As a health professional you should know that menopause symptoms can mask other conditions (and OP stated clearly they have a other conditions which need to be followed up in the event of early menopause) and that menopause symptoms can be bad enough to lead to serious health impacts as well as job losses.

All those of you telling the OP what great systems your GPs have for econsult or similar - lack of consistency in services is part of the problem. This effectively blurs GPs offering great services with those who are not and creates endless confusion amongst patients as to what they should be expecting as people believe the myth of "one" NHS.

We already know that women's ailments get less attention and priority than men's. I would be interested to see sex disaggregated data on the suspension and resumption of services during covid. I'd be interested to see that breakdown in the figures for the 1 in 5 patients exhausting savings to go private for conditions currently not being treated by the NHS.

@TheWeatherWitch

The OP is not phoning an ambulance or striding into A&E demanding they drop everything and see her immediately. She would like to speak to a GP and have a blood test. Her request is not at all unreasonable. The NHS is not a charity and we shouldn’t feel grateful for any little scraps of basic healthcare that are thrown in our direction. We pay tax for a service that is not being provided because it is not funded adequately and hasn’t for years. The system is broken and if no one complains, nothing improves.

[quote MsHedgehog]@serielchanger So where does a suspicious looking mole fall into the urgent category? Or a bit of blood in your stool? Both of which get you seen by a specialist within 2 weeks of seeing your GP. Is that urgent or keep waiting until it becomes so much worse chemo won’t work?[/quote]
I was addressing the issue regarding shortage of blood bottles. Of course those with the issues you mention need to be seen by GP.

@IAmADancer

I find it fascinating to read some of the comments that say as a woman, I should just get on with it because it’s normal. I also find it incredibly sad that women are constantly told this and we accept it.

We have a right to basic healthcare and that covers women’s reproductive health. Menopause impacts everyone differently but regardless of that we should be able to access the support/medication that we need in order for us to continue as healthy functioning adults.

It infuriates me that we dismiss and belittle women into feeling that we are taking advantage of the NHS when it is a valid and necessary medical need that requires medication. We need to stop making women feel bad for wanting help and we need to stop judging people for needing help. How about supporting and encouraging people. It’s not just about the NHS. If you are struggling, be it with menopause symptoms or other issues that only women face, it has a wider impact. The more women not able to work the less money goes back into the economy which in turn means less money going into public services. Whilst one woman won’t have that much impact, hundreds of thousands of women will.

It makes me very angry that women are treated this way and it needs to stop.

100% this.

And it's shocking that so many women are dismissive, rude and condescending on this thread.

monday mornings are Always bad, even pre pandemic

mmm... I have a neighbour who has been waiting for ankle surgery for > 2 yrs. He is in chronic pain. He can't walk independently more than a few steps. The treatment delay came hot on heels of his wife suddenly dying. So he's had to get thru pandemic stress & bereavement & all the leg issues with little formal NHS support.

I humbly submit he needs ankle surgery far more urgently than OP needs a blood test. Some physio in meantime would have helped him retain fitness, too.

His treatment wasn't delayed or accelerated due to his sex or age.

But sure, make your situation into a political womens-rights proclamation on all NhS policies. If that makes you happy, crack on.

I’m not sure where op said the menopause was a medical emergency or mn cronies decided that because she needs a same day appointment that’s what she thinks it is, it’s been explained but people just have their own agenda, only go if you’ve an arm hanging off or you’re bleeding out or whatever fgs.

Op has said multiple times that her gp does same day appointments for everyone for everything as does mine, that’s how some practises work. No where has she said she feels she is entitled over anyone else or any other health complaint but she is entitled to health care and to feel well the same as everybody else. Op has a job and a life and to get on with that life she needs a blood test and to see a gp.

YANBU. DP and I are in two different GP surgeries and each one has a different system and neither of those systems are working effectively. I've been stuck on the phone numerous times, redialling to no avail, only to be told that there are no appointments left when I do finally get through to the very long phone queue. I have an elderly mother with Alzheimer's and a DP with chronic health problems, so it's a regular theme here.

These threads always make me laugh (not in a good way). Posters asking if the OP has tried x, y or z at a surgery they know nothing about. I'm sure the OP is well aware of the system at her own GP surgery. And as for anyone questioning the urgency or otherwise or her appointment ... how very fucking presumptuous. And then there's the deflection - well, you won't get what you need anyway because Brexit/Apocalypse (delete as appropriate).

I think OP just needs to vent. Some of us are listening

@lljkk

mmm... I have a neighbour who has been waiting for ankle surgery for > 2 yrs. He is in chronic pain. He can't walk independently more than a few steps. The treatment delay came hot on heels of his wife suddenly dying. So he's had to get thru pandemic stress & bereavement & all the leg issues with little formal NHS support.

I humbly submit he needs ankle surgery far more urgently than OP needs a blood test. Some physio in meantime would have helped him retain fitness, too.

His treatment wasn't delayed or accelerated due to his sex or age.

But sure, make your situation into a political womens-rights proclamation on all NhS policies. If that makes you happy, crack on.

When did it become a competition