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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to be pissed of with the NHS today?

127 replies

thestateofit · 18/07/2022 16:01

I am prepared to be flamed here but I am slightly stressed at the moment so please be kind! I found out I was cheated on by a (now ex!) partner and took a sti test through the post which came back as testing positive for chlamydia yesterday, I was understandably upset but was just eager to get treatment and get it gone. I called the local sexual health clinic when they opened at 8:30 this morning to try and get an appointment and was told that I had to wait for a triage nurse to call me back so I called my GP in the meantime to try and get an appointment, no appointments for today, please come and queue at 8am in the morning when you may or may not get an appointment. Triage nurse called back at 11:30 and said that the earliest appointment is Thursday afternoon in the clinic all the way across town. I explained that I work 12 hour shifts and it would be difficult for me to attend an appointment there at that time as I work in healthcare and I can't just leave due to safety of staffing levels as I'm sure she understands, is there any way I can be prescribed the antibiotics over the phone or get an appointment sooner? No, the only way to get them is to attend this clinic on Thursday, nothing can be done sooner. I was told that I didn't even know I had the infection until yesterday so a few more days ago won't hurt and everybody has work commitments and work commitments are not her problem and she has a long list of other patients to call so please can I decide if I want the appointment or not as there is nothing else she can do. I phoned the GP back to see if they could prescribe the antibiotics over the phone, I was told no I have to attend this clinic this is the only way to get treatment. I have spent half the day on the phone and I have now found that I can buy the prescription online from Boots for £20 and the prescription will be available to collect within 2 hours. If Boots can prescribe over the internet why can't the GP prescribe them over the phone?I honestly don't think my mental health could have coped having to wait until Thursday for any treatment knowing I had chlamydia. The NHS system is so bureaucratic and frustrating for something as simple as an antibiotic prescription. I was lucky I could pay the £20 and get it over with but what about someone who can't?

OP posts:
RufustheFloralmissingreindeer · 19/07/2022 08:24

NCHammer2022 · 19/07/2022 08:02

WTF! I’ve never had an STD in my life but have had many STD tests, usually by attending just the sort of clinic described. Part of sexual health advice is encouraging regular testing.

Show quote history

used to be you could get contraception advice and pick up condoms as well

and its encouraged to get checked with new sexual partners as well

so it was a very ignorant and unnecessary comment from that poster, i very much hope they aren’t passing that attitude on to their children that visiting a sexual health clinic means anything derogatory

and yes, ive been prescribed loads of stuff over the phone, nothisterine, antibiotics, HRT…probably more 🤔

Athenajm80 · 19/07/2022 08:26

TheCanyon · 18/07/2022 18:22

Really shocked? Can you not google minor ailments? Plenty pharmacies offer common services.

Fwiw women aged between I think 16-64 who present with a uti in boots in my part of Scotland can get antibiotics after filling in a wee form with the pharmacist.

Show quote history

Sorry for the long quote but I can't c&p on my phone for some reason.

Is the wee form an intentional pun, or just a coincidence? 😁

MajorCarolDanvers · 19/07/2022 08:49

It's a classic example of wasted time and resources when this prescription can be done online.

The NHS is stretched beyond capacity but it's chockablock full of this kind of waste.

If this sort of thing was addressed it would improve capacity.

Too many are unwilling to criticise the NHS and demand change.

It's not working.

It's not the fault of the individual medics. It's the system that isn't working.

HolidayHelp23 · 19/07/2022 09:59

@SliceOfCakeCupOfTea I would have thought buying them online would mean you get a much gentler dose so as not to over treat?

Not at all, a 'gentler' (subtherapeutic) dose of antibiotics would just allow the bacteria to develop resistance!

Agree with PP who said you're not the only person in the world and 3 days is reasonable for a non-urgent issue. There is accountability linked to prescribing, and the clinician may have wanted to confirm your results and do a full sexual health screen. I have real concerns about these online GPs/NMPs who will supply anything as long as cash changes hands. It's very American.

AmericanStickInsect · 19/07/2022 10:13

jabbathewhat · 19/07/2022 07:59

No that’s not what happened, she had a diagnosis of chlamydia, she just needed medicine. She didn’t need an appointment.

What would have happened in an appointment??

”oh from your notes I can see you have chlamydia, let me get my pen and write you a prescription.”

Eh? That isn't what happens after an episode of unprotected sex where a person has been exposed to possible STIs.

There are lots of things that can be done in person, check for lymphadenopathy, strawberry cervix, swabs, blood draws, further testing.

Home tests don't test for all STIs and if signs of any other co-existing infection might change antibiotics.

Might need an in depth chat about contact tracing, last menstrual period, need for emergency contraception etc. What to look out for over the coming days/weeks that would mean you should be reviewed.

Not all of this is always done and lots can be done over the phone, but it's completely reasonable for a Sexual Health Service to see someone in person after an exposure.

If all a doc/nurse did was think about Chlamydia after unprotected sex they would only be doing part of their job, and if harm came to the patient because of it it would be on their head.

Icanstillrecallourlastsummer · 19/07/2022 10:17

There are lots of shortcomings in the NHS at the moment, and lack of proper medical care to people in need is never acceptable.

That said, YABU to be so furious over having to wait 3 days for non-urgent treatment. That you can't make it isn't the NHS' fault. Loads of people over the last years have died due to lack of treatment and waiting lists. With all due respect, get some perspective.

DonnieDark · 19/07/2022 10:42

AmericanStickInsect · 19/07/2022 10:13

Eh? That isn't what happens after an episode of unprotected sex where a person has been exposed to possible STIs.

There are lots of things that can be done in person, check for lymphadenopathy, strawberry cervix, swabs, blood draws, further testing.

Home tests don't test for all STIs and if signs of any other co-existing infection might change antibiotics.

Might need an in depth chat about contact tracing, last menstrual period, need for emergency contraception etc. What to look out for over the coming days/weeks that would mean you should be reviewed.

Not all of this is always done and lots can be done over the phone, but it's completely reasonable for a Sexual Health Service to see someone in person after an exposure.

If all a doc/nurse did was think about Chlamydia after unprotected sex they would only be doing part of their job, and if harm came to the patient because of it it would be on their head.

Show quote history

I wasn't asked about any of this or offered more testing, i dont know a aingle person who has been either, done via the same service the OP used (the one GPs signpost). I only had to go in because gonorrhoea treatment is injected.

Thatsenoughnow · 19/07/2022 11:26

That said, YABU to be so furious over having to wait 3 days for non-urgent treatment. That you can't make it isn't the NHS' fault. Loads of people over the last years have died due to lack of treatment and waiting lists. With all due respect, get some perspective

Untreated chlamydia can cause infertility.

But that's ok because at least she's not dead, eh?

Is that where we are setting the bar for the nhs? It's ok as long as you're not dead?

There was no need to deny her treatment because she couldn't make the one time that they offered when it could have been done very very easily over the phone.

Icanstillrecallourlastsummer · 19/07/2022 11:31

Thatsenoughnow · 19/07/2022 11:26

That said, YABU to be so furious over having to wait 3 days for non-urgent treatment. That you can't make it isn't the NHS' fault. Loads of people over the last years have died due to lack of treatment and waiting lists. With all due respect, get some perspective

Untreated chlamydia can cause infertility.

But that's ok because at least she's not dead, eh?

Is that where we are setting the bar for the nhs? It's ok as long as you're not dead?

There was no need to deny her treatment because she couldn't make the one time that they offered when it could have been done very very easily over the phone.

@Thatsenoughnow Why did you ignore my first paragraph entirely when you quoted me. Where I literally said the opposite of what you summarised I said?

You are not going to go infertile in 3 days. Has OP enquired for next week? It's her who can't make it (if you are that worried and consider it that urgent take sick leave), not the NHS denying her treatment.

AmericanStickInsect · 19/07/2022 14:57

DonnieDark · 19/07/2022 10:42

I wasn't asked about any of this or offered more testing, i dont know a aingle person who has been either, done via the same service the OP used (the one GPs signpost). I only had to go in because gonorrhoea treatment is injected.

Show quote history

I did say not all of this is done all the time.

And your anecdata doesn't really mean much...I'm sure I know of far more people who have had further STI testing after using an at home test kit.

I'm not saying this is always and should always be done, I'm just saying it's completely reasonable for a Sexual Health Clinic to see you in person after an exposure. You said you had gonorrhoea which needed an injection, maybe OP has too? She won't know if her test didn't look for it, and it can have long term consequences.

jabbathewhat · 19/07/2022 17:32

Sorry I misread thought she had already had the full shebang tested…! My mistake

DonnieDark · 20/07/2022 07:15

AmericanStickInsect · 19/07/2022 14:57

I did say not all of this is done all the time.

And your anecdata doesn't really mean much...I'm sure I know of far more people who have had further STI testing after using an at home test kit.

I'm not saying this is always and should always be done, I'm just saying it's completely reasonable for a Sexual Health Clinic to see you in person after an exposure. You said you had gonorrhoea which needed an injection, maybe OP has too? She won't know if her test didn't look for it, and it can have long term consequences.

Show quote history

Gonorrhoea is part of the standard testing panel. Sexual health clinics in the UK offer same day treatment (without checking medical records), bypassing GPs completely if there are no symptoms.

My GP was never involved when I had chlamydia and Gonorrhoea and I was pregnant at the time. This may be anecdata but as far as I can tell it's pretty standard across the UK not to even share results or treatment with GPs.

GPs just refer to GUM clinics straight away, so it is pretty standard it seems. I checked iCash, SH:24, NHFT, DCHS, Egton and various London hospitals and they all say the same thing.

Logically, if online pharmacies and GUM clinics can prescribe without GP involvement, it's reasonable to expect this, unless there are symptoms (OP doesn't say if she had them). The timeframe is irrelevant.

AmericanStickInsect · 20/07/2022 09:34

She said she tested for chlamydia at home, didn't say she and a standard testing panel.
The sexual health service was able to prescribe her meds, just not that day.

Roystonv · 20/07/2022 09:44

There is a lecture/punishment element. When I needed urgent help to come off medically prescribed pain killers owing to mismanagement by gp my local drug advice centre would not assist in any way until I had attended group meetings.

georgarina · 20/07/2022 11:56

@AmericanStickInsect It said she took an STI test that came back positive for chlamydia.

There's no standard STI test that only tests for chlamydia.

HolidayHelp23 · 20/07/2022 13:15

@georgarina Yes there is

KittyEmK · 20/07/2022 13:28

I'm so sorry OP, this is awful and I can understand your frustration. Can a doctor call you back and prescribe antibiotics over the phone?

georgarina · 20/07/2022 14:17

HolidayHelp23 · 20/07/2022 13:15

@georgarina Yes there is

I got tested regularly when single and the standard mail out test is chlamydia, gonorrhoea, syphilis, and HIV. If OP had said "I took a chlamydia test and it came back positive" that would be one thing but she said she took a mail out STI test and it came up positive for one specific thing.

DonnieDark · 20/07/2022 16:26

HolidayHelp23 · 20/07/2022 13:15

@georgarina Yes there is

That's for under 25s only

HolidayHelp23 · 20/07/2022 16:51

@DonnieDark So? OP didn't state her age, and PP stated with authority that no chlamydia-only test exists. It does.

HolidayHelp23 · 22/07/2022 09:09

This came into my email this morning and I thought of this thread PDA Urgent alert for online prescribers

Basically advising of the dangers of relying on a patient completing a questionnaire, having no two-way interaction, and a lack of access to past medical history or not discussing with the patient's GP. The GPhC have taken action against some of these prescribers.

So, for PP logically, if online pharmacies and GUM clinics can prescribe without GP involvement, it's reasonable to expect this, unless there are symptoms (OP doesn't say if she had them) online pharmacies should not be prescribing without GP involvement and it's not reasonable to expect this

HeyBlaby · 22/07/2022 09:35

Thatsenoughnow · 19/07/2022 11:26

That said, YABU to be so furious over having to wait 3 days for non-urgent treatment. That you can't make it isn't the NHS' fault. Loads of people over the last years have died due to lack of treatment and waiting lists. With all due respect, get some perspective

Untreated chlamydia can cause infertility.

But that's ok because at least she's not dead, eh?

Is that where we are setting the bar for the nhs? It's ok as long as you're not dead?

There was no need to deny her treatment because she couldn't make the one time that they offered when it could have been done very very easily over the phone.

Untreated for a matter of days does not cause infertility. Jesus wept.

DonnieDark · 22/07/2022 10:07

HolidayHelp23 · 20/07/2022 16:51

@DonnieDark So? OP didn't state her age, and PP stated with authority that no chlamydia-only test exists. It does.

OP are you under 25?

DonnieDark · 22/07/2022 10:08

HolidayHelp23 · 22/07/2022 09:09

This came into my email this morning and I thought of this thread PDA Urgent alert for online prescribers

Basically advising of the dangers of relying on a patient completing a questionnaire, having no two-way interaction, and a lack of access to past medical history or not discussing with the patient's GP. The GPhC have taken action against some of these prescribers.

So, for PP logically, if online pharmacies and GUM clinics can prescribe without GP involvement, it's reasonable to expect this, unless there are symptoms (OP doesn't say if she had them) online pharmacies should not be prescribing without GP involvement and it's not reasonable to expect this

GUM clinics do it on the basis of questions too, doubt they'll stop that because of the pressure on GPs

HolidayHelp23 · 22/07/2022 10:16

@DonnieDark GUM clinics do it on the basis of questions too, doubt they'll stop that because of the pressure on GPs

GUM clinics are NHS-run so will have access to patients' records. Therefore they don't need GP involvement because they have the full picture. They're a totally different thing to online pharmacies.