To think that is a miracle that gp's can suddenly diagnose and treat patients over the phone?

[thewinchesters]

For the past 5 days I've had abdominal pain, bloating, and a couple of other symptoms. I spoke to my gp over the phone who diagnosed me with a uti and sent antibiotics to the pharmacy.

They're not making any difference so far (day 3) and the pain and bloating is getting worse.

For the sake of a simple urine test, or even just a quick appointment where the gp checks my actual body, I don't understand how we're at the point of now just guessing and hoping for the best!

Why haven't they resumed normal service??

If you're not elderly or a child then best practice guidelines for a UTI is that antibiotics are started asap, a urine test isn't necessary.
If you're symptoms don't resolve then I'd expect a GP to see you face to face.

My GP have always done telephone appointments where you ring up, are triaged over the phone, and the GP or nurse either resolves the issue (e.g., gives advice, sends prescription to pharmacy) or arranges to see you face to face that day. There is also the option to do the triage portion online. It works well and if you would rather be seen face to face for any given issue then they see you face to face.

In your case your GP has tried a treatment that isn't resolving the issue, by day three of ABs you should be seeing some improvement. You would not be unreasonable to ring them back and insist on being seen face to face.

Since when has bloating been a uti symptom?

Our Dr has asked that you not drop off samples or bring them unless requested by the Dr which you need several phone calls to speak to

Your GP followed best practice here - you prescribe antibiotics for suspected UTIs straight away as if you delay treatment it gets worse v quickly. If the ABs don't work you then explore other options. So call them back and get those options explored.

The GP wouldn't have done anything differently if they'd seen you face to face.

I think you need to ring back and say you are no better and ask to be seen.

I actually got diagnosed with an ear infection over the phone yesterday.
Which is fair enough, I’ve definitely got one, but I was a bit concerned when she was prescribing my antibiotics (can’t have ear drops) and said “Since you’re not allergic to penicillin-“ and I had to jump in and correct her that I AM allergic to penicillin, at which point she paused and said “Oh yes it’s here on your notes”. That made me a little concerned.

Still, I know my GP are massively overstretched so I can’t really blame them for wanting to get routine stuff done quickly.

It's ridiculous. I changed GP about 6 months ago because my previous one was only doing phone consultations except in extenuating circumstance. My nana (92) went (same GP) and was treated in a tent in the car park. Ludicrous carry on.

You were lucky. You got pills at least.
Our GP diagnosed my 2 year old son with an over anxious mother and few weeks later he was in intensive care.
So for the sake of one GP not wanting to trouble herself to see him face to face, he had 6 people working on him at once in A&E then a 5 day stay in hospital. Totally and utterly avoidable.

Yes, it's terrifying. My friend's cancer diagnosis and treatment was delayed by the current processes in place. It could be fatal in her case.

I feel very lucky - my surgery has been getting people in when necessary throughout. I had a bowel problem during the lockdown and they got me in for a physical examination, no quibble whatsoever.

Mine have always operated with telephone triage with a doctor and then a decision.

Ive been seen in person as have my kids and also treated over the phone.

I think my practice is excellent and more surgeries operating like them would be very positive.

i requested my repeat prescription on Sunday night plus some meds for an acute condition.

Ready to collect from chemist yesterday mid-morning.

I agree. I’ve had weird bowel symptoms (pain/diarrhoea/going loads every day) for weeks. My GP has asked for bloods/stool sample bit in the old days they would have palpated my abdomen at least to see if there was tenderness or a lump. I’m addition, mine consultation was done by email and I didn’t even speak to a doctor. Have I been in the surgery, it would’ve been a chance to wear other relevant information might be divulged. I can’t help but wonder how many things will be missed when doctors are not actually seeing patients.

Oh yep, GPs love a UTI diagnosis. Even when your urine sample comes back normal and you end up with a ruptured appendix in A&E... They still love that UTI diagnosis!

I read today GPs are threatening to strike because they've been told to do more face to face and weekend surgeries. My first thought was, will anyone notice?

Our surgery is back to normal with e-consult/telephone and face to face appointments whichever is most appropriate.

Is it possible you have a kidney stone ? The pain can be excruciating and you do feel bloated. Same thing happened to me ..uti diagnosis...prescription but ended up being admitted through a&e and on a ward with a drip and tramadol for 3 days until the stone passed. If the pain gets unbearable call out of hours or go straight to hospital. Otherwise stick with the prescription as it can take up to 5 days to start working

You can get urine testing strips online (I only realised this when someone on MN said so).

I requested an appointment for a hearing test. The receptionist offered a phone consultation.

It’s becoming like the US where the main message is… Don’t get sick!

A shocking and scary state of affairs.

My GP has done phone triage for years and has been seeing patients when required all through Covid. It’s luck of the draw I think. None of this is helped by the many thousands of patients who routinely miss appointments and don’t bother to cancel them. I genuinely don’t know what the answer is 🤷‍♀️.

I'm sorry you are having such a crap service..It makes me feel awful as I am a gp even though I am seeing loads of people face to face ( pretty much anyone who wants to and quite a few who don't but I think need to ! ). I feel shit that the whole service is broken. I have finally let go of feeling guilty that other people aren't getting seen as there is bugger all I can do about that .. but it still makes me sad. I can't get seen by my own gp at all ! The system is totally broken, there are no staff to fill vacancies, no locums to be had and without the phone calls even less people would be able to get any contact at all... I am considering leaving as it doesn't matter how long and hard I work, I can never meet the demand and I hate how let down people are being. 🤷‍♀️. Although I would have fitted you in somewhere !!

A sibling of DS's schoolfriend is in hospital following emergency bowel surgery. His mother had been repeatedly fobbed off when she asked the GP to examine him - with the advice that if she felt it was an emergency she should take him to A&E, or if not continue the softeners. They were initially turned away from A&E because the GP had not referred them.

I have never felt less confidence in the standard of primary care which can be accessed by the average patient, and I say that as someone who has worked within the NHS for years. And I do not think it is purely due to financial constraints.

My husband is sadly in the same position. An over-worked GP, squeezing in extra appointments in an already too full day. Shortages everywhere, abused by the public and so discouraged. We're planning his escape route so he can resign ASAP.

OP- sorry you didn't get a face to face and the care you wanted. Care varies hugely from doctor to doctor.

My surgery still offers phone appointments as default, but when I requested a face-to-face appointment for DS they gave me one without questioning. I think it's awful that some surgeries still don't have that option.

Personally I've actually found phone appointments helpful when ill. I had tonsillitis recently and felt absolutely awful with it. I was glad to be able to call from my sofa rather than dragging myself to the surgery.

If I had uti symptoms I would be ok with it but I don't. My stomach is hard, bloated and sore and crampy and radiates to my back.

Why would they not test. I wouldn't even have to go in I could just do a sample!
Just seems bizarre to me, feels like people are having to diagnose themselves online and then push their gp's to do something about it.