to expect my GP receptionist to not block me from seeking treatment?

[GoldenCagedBird]

Been dealing with a thrombosed, prolapsed pile since Saturday. It’s my first one, never had one before nor a history of poo problems. Came on very quickly. (I have been moaning about it on another thread in chat-
sorry for the constant threads about my bumhole)

In agony. Can’t walk properly. Can’t parent properly. Can’t sit. Breastfeeding, holding my baby, pushing my pram- all hurt and put pressure on the area. The pile has just got more and more blue and angry. I constantly feel it pulsing.

Spoke to a doctor on Monday who prescribed me the prescription-only steroid cream, painkillers and other stuff to ward off any constipation. Strict instructions to call back if the pile doesn’t seem to be improving in 48 hours.

It’s been over 48 hours. The strong painkillers manage the pain, but I can still ‘feel it’ pulsing and need to stay topped up with alarms. No shrinkage, if anything it’s gotten bigger (plum sized)

I called back today and this was how the exchange went.

Me- ‘Good morning, just calling the doctor back. My name is xyz abc. Date of birth- 11th novembuary 2003. I was prescribed some steroid treatment for a severe pile and was told call back in 48 hours if it hasn’t improved’.

GPR- ‘Hello there, we are only doing acute illnesses and emergencies today so you will need to call back tomorrow. Goodby-‘

me interjecting- ‘I have a blue, pulsating pile protruding from my anus the size of a plum, I can barely walk, I’m struggling to look after my child, I’m in constant pain without the naproxen, the doctor told me to call back if the steroids prescribed hadn’t improved the situation.’

GPR deep audible sigh - ‘I’ll put you on the list for the doctor to call you. Bye.’

Is this a common exchange now? I’m in quite good health and haven’t had to call the GP in a while. My first appointment on Monday, the receptionist at least asked what was wrong and triaged me accordingly.

I completely get that gate keeping needs to be done as they are so stretched, but it just felt really mean and unhelpful.

Sounds like inattention - yours certainly qualifies as an acute condition! Hope you get speedy help.

Ask to speak to the practice manager when you ring again and see what they say. If they give u an appointment then that would be helpful if not then complain to the practise manager. If it's really bad and you can't get help ring a and e as it sounds like emergency.

the receptionist isn't blocking you though, you have been put on the list for a call, having explained that you were instructed to seek further treatment if no improvement after 48 hours. in general when they are short staffed it's reasonable that they don't deal with any chronic conditions issues. the receptionists first impression was that you were in that category, you explained otherwise and you were appropriately recategorised. Obviously it would have been nicer for you had the conversation been carried out with someone with a sunnier disposition but the daily life of someone in that job must be utter hell so I can't blame them

Did the Doctor tell you how long it will be before the steroids begin to work?

I was having chest pains a couple of years ago which were very painful. The Doctor gave me medication but said it would be a month before they kicked in and in the meantime I had to back up with painkillers.

Maybe the Receptionist is seeing that you haven't had the medication long enough for it to be working yet but nobody has told you this?

It sounds as though she has put you on the list for a callback today. Were you expecting a different outcome ( i would have hoped for a rough timeline - we get a 3 hour window!).

I'm sorry you're in such pain.

The doctor told me if the medication hadn’t improved the pile within 48 hours to call back. It is in my OP, twice.

It sounds like the end result is that you are on the list for a call which is what you need?

So it's your concern that you had to ask twice or that you are only listed for a call?

All same day appointments at my surgery are now a call first and if the GP feels the need to see you then they ask you to come in.

Can you go there and wait. If you are prevented from seeing a doctor then make a formal complaint

She hasn't blocked you getting treatment. She put you on the list for a call back after you clarified it was something that needed attention today. That's absolutely normal.

But it sounds like you're going to get a call back. If possible I'd take a good photo as it's not unusual to be asked for this, in fact I might ring back in a bit and ask where to forward it to ready for your telephone consultation. I'm no expert on piles but thus sounds like something that needs looking at today. You might even get asked to go to A&E

I am understanding of the pressures they are under. I wouldn’t want to do their job. I have been privy to a lot of weird, odd and horrible interactions when waiting for my baby to have her jabs.

I don’t need them to be sunny. I get it. I just don’t want the phone put down on me due to inattention.

Complain to the practice manager. It's like this at our GP surgery too. Not only the rudeness but the fact that the intention is always to prevent you accessing medical assistance unless you really push for it and advocate for yourself. Shocking state of affairs.

I was blocked by the receptionist from seeing my GP when I was in severe, crippling pain, and when I finally got to see her after a LOT of fighting over a matter of weeks, 2 trips to walk in centre with severe pain when they just gave me stronger painkillers, the diagnosis meant that I needed 2 major surgeries.

The instructions I was given by the doc are in my OP.

So you concern is that having said 'bye' the receptionist put the phone down?

*your

I don’t need them to be sunny. I get it. I just don’t want the phone put down on me due to inattention.

Eh? You said in your OP she arranged to put you on the list for a callback, what more attention do you need?

Also, your thread titles is not about this anyway, it's about them blocking your way to treatment, which they haven't done!

The receptionist didn’t put down the phone, it’s very clear in the OP. Read the OP properly!

After interjecting her when she was about to put the phone down on me, yep.

She was rude and tried to hang up on you before you could clarify your situation. You shouldn't have to push so hard for her to accept your doctors instructions, and she shouldn't have assumed your condition wasn't acute. A less forceful person would have been fobbed off and left without treatment due to her mistake.

She also shouldn't have sighed when she booked you in like you are being inconvenient. That was rude and unprofessional.

Unfortunately the responses to this thread demonstrate how low our expectations are of NHS staff. Sadly, they have to be low because the quality of people employed is pretty poor, as you are now seeing.

She also shouldn't have sighed when she booked you in like you are being inconvenient.

I would have sighed too if OP had described her pulsating pile protruding from her anus to me

Very tired of "battling" with the NHS; I've never been believed for some reason, even though things I've asked to be seen about are routine and only required standard treatment (e.g. not "believed" when I broke my leg until I demanded an x-ray to much eye-rolling, only to be proven right). It's pathetic.

After interjecting her when she was about to put the phone down on me, yep.

I actually
Missed the bit where she was going to hang up
Previous.

Sorry

How on Earth do you know she was about to put the phone down?
She triaged you and you’re getting a call back. What else did you expect?

The way the NHS functions is to "repel" and push back against patients until they are too ill to ignore, in my experience.