To think NHS GPS will never go back to "normal"

[CakeIsNotALuxury]

This morning I rang my doctors to make an appointment. I told them I was having chest pains and pain in my right arm like squeezing pains. I've also been very faint and dizzy. The pain is bloody horrific. I have never felt as unwell as this.
I have suspected heart problems but waiting on a referral. I was told they'd ring me.

It's now 3pm and no phone call. AIBU to be pissed off? I rang and spoke to the receptionist who said the GP isnt ringing in order of appointments and is doing it randomly. My chest feels even worse than this morning and i have bad breathlessness and feel very tired.

I understand they are over worked, but surely it shouldn't be this hard to talk to a GP?

@sorrynotathome

What a stupid thread title. You could have rung 111 and got the same answer you got here. YABVU

What a pointlessly nasty post.

Hope you're OK OP and have got to A&E.

what is the GP going to do about this - if you go in they would likely call an ambulance if you went in

If you have any take some aspirin and then get yourself to A&E for an ECG. If you are unable to get to A&E and are still in pain ring 999 and they will send an ambulance where they will be able to perform an ECG and give you GTN spray before getting you to the hospital.

If your symptoms are as you describe, surely you need an ECG and a triponin test, which the GP can’t do. You must know that your symptoms are serious enough, so I hope by now you’ve either called 999 or 111 and got things under way.

Primary care isn’t an emergency service.

I’m surprised you were put on a callback list and not advised to attend A&E.

I hope you’re in ED and being seen.

It's nothing to do with GP's getting back to normal. Even before the pandemic, chest pains isn't something you usually go to the GP for especially if they're acute. I work in a surgery - did the receptionist not go through the chest pain protocol with you?
I hope you are getting treatment now and you're okay.

Agree with most - this is nothing to do with 'getting back to normal'

Those are symptoms which should take you to A&E.
If you turned up at the GP, (s)he would likely call an ambulance to take you to A&E.

What is concerning, is why this wasn't explained to you when you called the GP.

GP is at breaking point because there's a shortage of GPs because they're grossly overworked and people still want to slag them off. It's also a problem that people don't seem to accept that it's a finite resource. They can teach you how to prioritise work at med school. What they can't teach anyone is how to do 20 things at once... nobody is that good. And people have unrealistic expecations about what a GP can actually physically do. Case in hand. If you have convincing enough sounding chest pain then whatever your fears of hospital are there's very little your GP can actually do to reassure you without the resources that ED have. They can check your basic observations and do an ECG but if they take bloods but they won't come back for a couple of days by which point sorry to be blunt but you might be dead. GP are very limited ITO rescuss equipment so it isn't even an especially safe place to be if you're seriously unwell. Sometimes a bit of common sense is needed. GP is not an emergency service therefore if you're uncomfortable waiting any length of time then just go to ED.

Ring 111 they will most likely send an ambulance they can do checks in the ambulance and will try and avoid an admission .

@elitecomplainer

Norway has 4.5 doctors per 1000 population
UK has 2.8
GP (full time equivalent) numbers are falling, there are vacancies up and down the country.
GPs are recommended to look after 1600 - 1800 patients if full time.
I have nearly 2000 part time.

There is a staffing/recruitment/retention crisis.

I cannot see 50-60 people a day, it is not possible. I have to cut down /short cut/ phone/ message/ redirect some.

With those symptoms you should’ve been sent straight to a+e.

Most importantly OP I hope you do go to A&E to be checked.
Our receptionists are trained to advise you to go to A&E with those symptoms

You shouldn’t even ring your gp under these circumstances, regardless of your hospital anxiety. You suspect heart problems, you have chest pains and have never felt so unwell. You probably could have been at a and e in the time you’ve spent either on the phone to the gp or posting on here. Don’t take these chances with your health, hope all is ok.

I need a very simple, non-contentious preventative medicine prior to an operation next week. One prescription of something I’ve had before.

It’s taken four phone calls plus an email and the threat of a complaint so far, for various reasons including but not limited to admin fuckups. I have absolutely no sympathy with their claims to be busy, this 5 minute task has taken hours of my time.

I'm surprised you even got past the receptionist if you mentioned you had chest pain and a history of heart problems. They normally send an ambulance out as soon as it's mentioned.

I am surprised the receptionist didn’t direct you straight to A and E when you phoned. Hope all is ok and your being seen now.

In defence of GPs our has changed now they work but it’s for the better. My Mum has had great treatment recently via a mix of face to face and virtual appointments.

I had to contact them for DS last week, his records showed exactly what treatment was needed and within an hour a GP had called agreed with me on best plan and sent meds to pharmacy.

Lots of GP surgery phonelines (once you get past the Covid advice) state if you have symptoms of chest pain/shortness of breath hang up now and call 999

Was this on the phone message ?

Take a bloody covid test. What a joke.

In answer to your question, no I don’t think GPs are in any rush to return to BAU.

I saw what you said about going to the hospital. I called 111 once and they booked me in over the phone and gave me a time to go down when I would be seen straight away. Might be worth a try. Best of luck.

@CakeIsNotALuxury

Well that was a waste of time she told me to take a covid test. It's not bloody covid.

I'm going to have to go hostipal aren't I 😭

Yes. They will probably make you do another one there too. Whole thing is madness.

It's rare i ring my GP... pretty sure the recorded amble says "If you are experiencing chest pains .... ring 999". And has said that for at least 10 years. GPs have not "checked out" ppl with chest pains since years ago.

Walk in centre, OP? Would that make you less anxious?

I'm at the hospital. They suspect I have heart failure.

Been admitted over the weekend so they can run tests. Thank you for giving me a kick up the arse to go. If I had listened to my GP I wouldn't of known.

Wow, so glad you went.
What are they doing to investigate?

Suspect = not yet ruled out, or suspect = "all indications are" ?

How old are you -- actually I want to ask 50 questions but first I hope they can make you feel a bit better & give you a firm prognosis. Hang in there.

I work at GP surgery - we are told to tell anyone with chest pain to call 999! Very surprised you weren't told that - people need to remember a GP isn't an emergency service - they don't have equipment to deal with big stuff.

Glad you are being seen now. Let them know on the ward about your worries x

Oh no 😢