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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

GP Appointments

57 replies

PaperBlinds · 03/10/2022 08:31

ARGH.

Daughter has what is clearly a bad ear infection and possibly chest infection and is really suffering. Came home in quite a state after two weeks of university.

We can't get her seen by a Dr here because she registered with campus medical centre. 111 have recommended she is seen in person. Our Drs (with whom she has been registered for 10 years) won't see her, because she is no longer on their books.

We tried to get her chest seen to (advice on NHS website is to get a persitant cough checked after three weeks - she has had it 8) before she went to college. Our Drs would only do phone call, refused to see her in person and told her to wait three months. She now has infected sinuses, cough is worse and ears are infected and leaking and very painful. She has history of childhood ent issues, but been largely okay since adenoids, tonsils removed and grommits put in when she was small. She has had historically a small amount of hearing loss and I am worried this is now at risk again if left.

We have been told to go to A&E but this seems like utter madness to me. A waste of time for A&E staff and a delay potentially for people with serious emergencies and several hours of waiting, when there are four Drs (on the phone) and two nurses in our family surgery round the corner from our house.

Also kids at university are home for weeks. - how do they get seen if they are ill in the holidays? Do you always have to go to A&E?

AIBU to want a GP service that actually sees their patients? We are so supportive, always of the NHS, but the struggle to be seen is exhausting and hopeless. God knows how people are coping who don't have advocates and are really ill.

(and yes she should have gone to the Medical centre at college, but she has only been there two weeks and is just getting to grips with how everything works and they have a different but complex system for not seeing anyone, which I couldn't work out remotely. She also lost confidence when told just to put up with it for three months by our surgery on the phone call).

ARGH ARGH ARGH.

OP posts:
Original poster
PaperBlinds · 03/10/2022 08:33

I find this statement on the surgery website particualrly enraging (my underline):

"There have been some real positives come out of Covid-19. One of the biggest is the total triage system which will now be used going forward. It is a much more efficient and effective way of dealing with a patient. We are definitely dealing with more patients a day. 95% of patients are being dealt with remotely. We are embracing new technology and adapting our triage system that we had in place."

OP posts:
SavoirFlair · 03/10/2022 08:36

111 have recommended she is seen in person

ok so you got your outcome

We have been told to go to A&E but this seems like utter madness to me.

it is madness but it is the failing of the current system - take it if offered

AIBU to want a GP service that actually sees their patients?

no not at all! YANBU

but have you and your friends voted for a party that can make it happen?

If not, then your being as reasonable as if you want outbuildings or land - you can have anything if you cost it, fund it etc

DamnUserName21 · 03/10/2022 08:37

Is there a urgent care or walk in centre near you, OP?

GetOffTheRoof · 03/10/2022 08:39

Any aren't the able to register her temporarily? That's common enough. I used to do that if I was sick at home during uni.

www.nhs.uk/common-health-questions/nhs-services-and-treatments/how-do-i-register-as-a-temporary-resident-with-a-gp/

Original poster
PaperBlinds · 03/10/2022 08:41

GetOffTheRoof · 03/10/2022 08:39

Any aren't the able to register her temporarily? That's common enough. I used to do that if I was sick at home during uni.

www.nhs.uk/common-health-questions/nhs-services-and-treatments/how-do-i-register-as-a-temporary-resident-with-a-gp/

That is really useful. Wasn't offered though. Will look into it.

OP posts:
Original poster
PaperBlinds · 03/10/2022 08:45

SavoirFlair · 03/10/2022 08:36

111 have recommended she is seen in person

ok so you got your outcome

We have been told to go to A&E but this seems like utter madness to me.

it is madness but it is the failing of the current system - take it if offered

AIBU to want a GP service that actually sees their patients?

no not at all! YANBU

but have you and your friends voted for a party that can make it happen?

If not, then your being as reasonable as if you want outbuildings or land - you can have anything if you cost it, fund it etc

Umn, not over keen to declare my voting record here but yes don't think I actually know anyone who votes Tory or even Lib Dem. And well aware this is just a way of pushing towards full privitisation. We may yet have to pay for a walking appointment.

OP posts:
Original poster
PaperBlinds · 03/10/2022 08:46

DamnUserName21 · 03/10/2022 08:37

Is there a urgent care or walk in centre near you, OP?

Just checking this out.

OP posts:
LIZS · 03/10/2022 08:48

Gp can take her on as a temporary patient. She might be able to see a nurse practitioner first. Otherwise some pharmacists can prescribe or refer.

arewe · 03/10/2022 09:08

In your case I would be going to A&E. Gp wouldn't see your DD, she is in real need of help, so what are you waiting for? It will not get better by itself.
Go to A&E, but expect loooooong wait, as there are lots of people in your situation.

Original poster
PaperBlinds · 03/10/2022 09:46

@arewe What am I waiting for? Mainly for her to wake up after a bad night. Also for the madness stop.

I know there is a long wait and A&E is a distance from us - that is why I am stupidly trying to get something local for a 5 minute appointment that will likely involve looking in both ears, concluding she has an ear infection and prescribing 7 days of Amoxicillan (sp?).

I now accept that my version of a reasonable reality and service no longer exists, and going to an underfunded struggling emergency department for antibiotics is perfectly ok.

Just ranting into the ether here but the frustration and fear with all of this is just exhausting.

OP posts:
MrsSkylerWhite · 03/10/2022 09:48

Walk in appointments are free.

Musicaltheatremum · 03/10/2022 09:49

GP surgery should treat her as a temporary resident. That's part of their contract.

Original poster
PaperBlinds · 03/10/2022 10:07

On our way to A&E.

OP posts:
MrsSkylerWhite · 03/10/2022 10:55

Is there no walk in clinic in your area (3 within 10 miles of us)?
you’ll have to wait for a couple of hours but you won’t be taking up a place in A&E.

Sceptre86 · 03/10/2022 11:26

You register temporarily when you come home in the holidays and get seen that way. Yabu to not do your own research and the surgery were also unreasonable to fob your dd off She does need to be seen so I would take her to a & e . My son had a burst eardrum when his ears were leaking puss, considering she has already had some hearing loss I would not wait until your surgery gets it's act together. Hope your dd is on the mend soon.

Original poster
PaperBlinds · 03/10/2022 12:08

We at A&E , queue is out the door and round the block. We went to Urgent Care as instructed by both Surgery and 111 but have been sent back to A&E to "register". There is a newborn and mum in the queue, no seats. Just glad it isn't raining.

Not sure how more research, other than having a dry run, would help when the information we are given is wrong?

just to note our surgery has an all new website and system since last week and it's about the fourth change in info in as many months.

i realise i am naive and am clearly unreasonable not to believe this is actually the way things work.

OP posts:
Original poster
PaperBlinds · 03/10/2022 12:12

Only private walk ins and not near.

OP posts:
Porcupineintherough · 03/10/2022 12:14

How far away is her uni? Could she easily get back there to see her gp?

Once the current crisis has passed remind her to use them. Uni services are usually pretty good with same day appointments.

Hobbitfeet32 · 03/10/2022 12:17

Did she ring her uni gps?

GetOffTheRoof · 03/10/2022 13:06

MrsSkylerWhite · 03/10/2022 10:55

Is there no walk in clinic in your area (3 within 10 miles of us)?
you’ll have to wait for a couple of hours but you won’t be taking up a place in A&E.

Walk in clinics are not everywhere. In Cornwall we have a total of 10 minor injury clinics (including one in the Isles of Scilly) and 1 urgent treatment centre. Oh and 1 A&E. The distances between them can be quite significant for people.

Original poster
PaperBlinds · 03/10/2022 13:25

Uni is half way across country. And she struggled to get hold of Campus GP. She was ok-ish (apart from horrible cough and feeling rough) and then got really unwell on Friday night. Not sure even if I had known we would have registered her for temporary residency for a short visit. I did ask surgery to see her, but they said they couldn't/wouldn't and didn't mention temporary registration.

OP posts:
passport123 · 03/10/2022 13:26

I'm a GP - our patients who go off to uni register at the university and we see them as temporary patients when they are back home in the holidays. no reason why the previous GP can't do that.

Hobbitfeet32 · 03/10/2022 13:48

I’m not sure I understand what you mean by ‘struggled to get hold of campus gp’. Did they not answer?
I would say first point of call would be her registered gp. Maybe they could do a phone or video appointment. If not, then temporarily register with local gp. Hope she gets seen soon.
Then find out about how to make appointments with campus gp. She needs to know how to access her gp when she is at uni.

Original poster
PaperBlinds · 03/10/2022 15:32

She went three times to campus GP i think and closed each time, no number to call and baffled by online sytem. As am i.

OP posts:
BabyST · 03/10/2022 15:34

Just take her to a walk in centre she can be seen there.

Maybe it’s a valuable lesson not to come home before seeing the Campus GP next time