Can’t get a GP appointment

[skinwoes]

Posted about this before- unfortunately I’m no further forward but genuinely don’t know what to do in this situation. I feel like I’m completely caught in the middle!

ive had a skin infection for around 3 months. I can’t sleep lying down at night because of it. Its hot, it throbs, leaks clear and yellow liquid and is a sticky mess. The skin is completely raw and open and the doctor said it’s very clearly infected. I’ve had lots of different treatments so far -creams, tablets and washes. Mainly either antibiotic or anti fungal. NOTHING is taking it away. It’s an absolutely disgusting mess and nothing is helping it. it’s been confined to the immediate area and is only spreading within that immediate area and is about 2 inches or so in size right now

my problem now is that it’s STILL not gone away and I can’t bloody get an appointment. I’ve been calling everyday and it’s always the same- position 80+ at 8.30am then all the appointments are gone. There’s no econsult, no ask my gp, no patient access. You can’t even walk in and book an appointment- that stopped in Covid and now it must be in the phone queue. You also can’t change gp practice either apparently as our health board doesn’t allow you to move practice unless you get booted out or you move area!

I tried the pharmacy- the pharmacist recoiled when she saw it and said she can’t help and it needs a doctor

I don’t know why this is happening as I’ve had blood tests just after hogmanay and my immune system is fine, so I don’t understand why I’ve had this infection for so long!

I really can’t afford to go private either unfortunately so it needs to be nhs

nhs24 can’t help because it’s an ongoing thing and not the type of thing that can’t wait, and it’s obviously not bad enough to warrant a&e as I’m not systematically unwell with it

obviously the solution is to keep trying everyday with the GP but I’m so frustrated. I’m in so much pain and discomfort and I feel like I can’t get help for it. I was told it’s not likely I’d get sepsis or systemically unwell since I’ve had it for 3 months now and that hasn’t happened in that time thankfully, but I just bloody want this gone once and for good and I don’t know what to do. Yet another night with me unable to sleep because sitting upright is uncomfortable but lying on it is horrific😞 I know GOs are simply so busy right now and I’m not blaming them at all, I’m just so fed up with it all 😣

Phone the CCG and complain? It’s outrageous. I’m so sorry you’re going through this.

Can't you just change GP's?

Straight from the OP ‘You also can’t change gp practice either apparently as our health board doesn’t allow you to move practice unless you get booted out or you move area!’.

Try a high UMF Manuka honey.
Tea tree oil?
Both Serious stuff.

Is there a walk in clinic in your area?

Or lie to whoever gives the appointments and say you have a fever and feel very unwell.

Sorry half my message cut off! It wasn’t meant to be so blunt lol. I tried to say I’ve pasted straight from my OP and then the quote. But yes you’re absolutely correct I would ideally just change GPs which would help, I don’t know why our health board won’t allow us. It’s very frustrating!

Hello-

• email practice manager
• if there is an automated number choice when you ring Gp in the am like press 1 for appointments. Don’t listen to the whole Thankyou for calling so and so GPS… just press the number straight away. This lets you get straight through at our GP surgery.
• also 111 can help - everytime you contact them a notification goes to your GP. If they advise they can’t see you because it’s ongoing (which they can especially if still infected) ask for them to send a message to your GP to ring you to discuss.

-

Sorry posted before completing! Hopefully one of those works! Good luck feel better soon.

@skinwoes I remember your other posts OP and I’m sorry you’re still suffering! I think you’re absolutely within your rights to complain here. I’m assuming you’ve probably already tried but is there any chance of an appointment with a nurse rather than a GP?
We have an “advanced nurse practitioner” at our surgery who it is marginally easier to get an appointment with than a GP.

Failing that, when my toddler had a bad rash and we couldn’t get a GP appointment at all (like you, the pharmacist had told me to go straight to the GP!) I phoned the practice and told them that I needed a doctor to at least look at pictures if they wouldn’t see him in person. They gave me an email address to send pictures to and the “doctor on call” had a look at them between house calls then gave me a phone.

I hope you have some luck with it soon 🤞🏼

This is not true.

See the NHS website:

"You can choose to change GP if you need to. This may be because:

• You have moved
• You have had problems with your current practice
• You were removed from the patient list"

Put a complaint in writing that you cannot get an appointment, and change GP. You are perfectly within your rights.

www.nhs.uk/nhs-services/gps/how-to-register-with-a-gp-surgery/#:~:text=Changing%20GP%20surgeries,problems%20with%20your%20current%20practice

Hi @skinwoes i'm so sorry you're going through this.
I agree with ringing 101, a notification will go to your doctor and they should call you.
Hope you get better soon x

Changing GPs; saw the extracts from NHS above; OP mentions Hogmanay; are you in Scotland OP? I think NHS is different there. Not much help, but may explain the confusion around changing GPs.

Email the practice manager. State very clearly how you are unable to get an appointment.

Email the CCG. This practice are failing their patients.

Have you been referred to dermatology on any previous visits?

Ring 111 during the day

Explain everything, they will tell you what to do next, either they will contact your GP or they will tell you what to say to your gp to get an appointment
They can send a referral through, saying they have triaged you and you need to see a doctor

I'd go to the GP surgery and refuse to leave until you're seen.
Worst case they kick you off their register and then you can join another surgery.

Do you give up when you can't get an appointment? Can you phone on the afternoon and explain to the receptionists the problem?

Go through 111. If you have an infection you will have other symptoms like a temperature and feeling tired and or sick which will make you feel terrible. Tell 111 these symptoms are getting worse. They can book you an appointment with your GP.

To be honest, I’d go to minor injuries and explain you’ve not been able to get a GP appointment for however long.

I'd suggest take photos and print them, write a letter the good old fashioned way. Can't see how they can ignore that.

in your position I would be outside the surgery as soon as they open and very politely explaining the situation, and not leaving until I had an appointment. repeating every day until I was seen, I don't know how you have coped for so long. Really hope you get this sorted, sounds horrible.

Email your practice manager and copy in your local MP. Trust me, they'll fall over themselves to book you in (I've had to do this a few times!) Good luck OP.

I'd avoid 111. They're crap.

Two ideas

complain to the Gp practice manager .. ask for the complaints process and start it.

find a minor injuries clinic. Many are walk in. Appointments are easier to access. www.nhs.uk/service-search/other-services/minor-injuries-unit/locationsearch/551

When to visit a minor injuries clinic www.nhs.uk/nhs-services/urgent-and-emergency-care-services/when-to-visit-an-urgent-treatment-centre-walk-in-or-minor-injury-unit/

Sounds like impetigo
call 111 and get some antibiotics

If the pharmacist says it needs a Doctor and you can't get a GP appointment go to A&E, this needs treatment and if antibiotics and antifungals haven't worked it sounds like it needs a skin expert not a GP anyway.

You need to start really pushing on this and stop letting yourself be fobbed off.

Go to the surgery every day. Insist on seeing the practice manager and complain. Go to your local minor injuries / walk in / a&e. Borrow the money to go privately, from friends and family or from the bank.