AIBU - no nhs appts/smear - can’t afford private - are there any other options?

[Happyharry2003]

Hello
I’m really desperate for some help. I have a number of health issues including possible kidney stones, endometriosis, peri menopause and am also 6 months overdue on my smear.

My doctor surgery is totally overwhelmed at the moment. No smear tests available for the next 16 weeks at least. Only telephone apponemtns which I really struggle with when trying to discuss a number of things in detail especially when they involve describing where pain is. I cannot take calls in work hours so this new ‘we will call you at some point in the morning’ is impossible.

I can’t afford to go private, especially as some of my conditions are pre existing. I’ve looked at things like Lloyds online which looks good but what happens if they need to refer me for an nhs hospital appointment?

I’ve also looked at semi insurance that says they can help you be seen earlier on the the nhs.

Can anyone recommend something they’ve used before?

Many thanks 😊

Are you able to book one at a family planning clinic near you? Some of them are.

That's ridiculous, can you move to a different GP surgery?

Yes, try googling your local sexual health clinic. Every area is different e.g. ours are offering appointments on Saturday and Sunday mornings at 2 area centres.

For the smear, you just need to book it in, either GP or at sexual health clinic. If you aren’t obviously having worrying symptoms, there’s no harm in waiting a few more months. For everything else, you probably just need to buck up and do a phone appointment. Realistically, if it’s just a chat, there’s no need for you to actually go in and be physically examined. It’s sensible to leave those appointments for people with more urgent needs or who for safeguarding reasons, need to be seen face to face.

As others have said, try local sexual health clinics.

For the GP appointment, your best bet really is taking a phone appointment. At my surgery pretty much every initial appointment is by phone and then they'll invite you for an in person appointment if they feel you need to be seen. They usually make the appointment while on the phone so it would probably be your quickest route to getting seen

Talking to a gp by phone is rubbish yanbu. Ok in a pandemic emergency but sick of it now.

Speak to you relevant ccg they should be able to. Assist.

I’m a teacher so taking calls during work hours is complicated. My gp has an online form where you put all the details in and then they call you. I stepped outside my lesson but could see through window and explained to dr I was currently in work but can answer yes/no. He just booked an app for later that day.
Could you do similar? Or book a day off?

If your main concern is getting a smear you can buy DIY HPV testing kits from places like Superdrug and that’s all the NHS tests smears for anyway .