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 😣

Surely 111 can arrange an appointment or go to a walk in centre. I appreciate this is a ongoing issue but id say it is urgent if its still not getting better after the recommended treatment isn't working.

OP I know you can’t afford to go private, but could you afford the £40 cost of an online app appointment?

It worked well for me, they prescribed over the phone and sent the referral I needed back to my GP, so further treatment was back to being NHS based!

After complaining I discovered that you can go to the surgery at 8am, I got an actual appointment & saw a Dr last week! I’d say the reason no one answers the phone is because they’re so busy dealing with the queue at the surgery. We can also make online appointments too, but you’ll wait 3-4 weeks. I’d just turn up at the surgery & show them.

For Christ’ sake, go to A&E! If you have an infection for 3 months that is not getting better and are otherwise unable to get seen by a GP you need to go to A&E. Yes, A&E is for emergencies but how far must the infection spread or continue before you consider it urgent enough to go? Why do you need to be told this?

Do you have the bandwidth to try for an appointment every day for a week? If so I’d do that, keeping a diary of what happens, and if still no appointment I’d complain in writing to the gp practice and your health board and - I never thought I’d say this - go to A&E if you don’t have a minor injuries.

Do you have a minor injuries walk in I’d go there.
I’d then complain to practice manager to move practice.

It sounds like they need to take a swab and send it off , to get the correct treatment .

I live in Central Scotland and to change GP you can 1) Go into the GP practices in your area and ask if they are taking on patients at the moment, if they are you just fill out a form and hand it back. 2) There's a central telephone number that you can call and they will allocate you a surgery - could you call that and explain that you need to change surgery and see what they can offer.

I would have gone to my local Minor Injuries Unit by now if I were you though. If you go to the GP they might send you there anyway as it sounds like the wound might need cleaning and dressing. Go now - I don't expect they'll be that busy on a weekday morning.

Call 111 and request a GP appointment, explain your surgery have been unable to give you one amd request out of hours. They should get something set up for you. It's also worth complaining to the practice manager and the CCG, it isn't sustainable to not be able to get appointments as needed.

Minor injuries is a good call too,.especially if it's getting worse, as it clearly needs dressing.

Can you go to the surgery and ask for an appointment in person ?

Take yourself off to A&E. you'll have to wait but they'll see you

Because this Government wants you to become so desperate that you will pay to consult a doctor. They are sneaking in private healthcare. I share your frustration. I went to my doctors for a smear test and decided to try and book an appointment for another matter as I was at surgery already only to be told no I have to go online or use E consult. I could not believe it .

You don't want to end up with sepsis.

I tried that and was told I could not make an appointment I had to phone or use E consult! I actually laughed as I was so shocked

Could you do an econsult? At my surgery if you put one of those in and they cant prescribe without face to face they will stick you in with gp same day or next day. Sometimes they'll do a telephone consultation too then book face to face of necessary.
If I rang there would be no appts unless emergency.

@Skyeheather this very much depends how big an area you’re from though unfortunately. I’m in a small town on the west coast of Scotland (about 11,000 residents) and we have one GP surgery that serves the town and one neighbouring village (1500 residents). We have 8 GPs (4 of which are part time) and 3 nurses. There isn’t a walk in centre in our area. The only other option is the “doctor on call” which 111 can give you a phone consultation with if it’s deemed appropriate and then they decide if they want to see you face to face. This is only available outwith GPs opening hours and is almost an hours drive away.

We can’t register with any other GP in neighbouring towns unless we live in the town. 2 firms of proof of address are needed to register.

Because A and E stands for accident and emergency . She's probably being British and stoic but I agree she now needs to put her needs first because no one else will .

Op do an econsult, attach a pic of the skin condition. I can guarantee you'll have an appt same day or next.

Another vote for minor injuries or a & e.

It could be a deep seated infection that needs a proper surgical clear out and packing with gauze ('incision and drainage').

Don't be fobbed off. A and e will be nice to you, esp if you go at 6.30am when they have barely any patients.

Or as others said 111/walk in etc.

OP go to the A&E today.

This is what the government wants . I can understand how desperate people will get to resort to doing this but we shouldn't have to .

Have you tried dermol?
Dermstologist prescribes it for me when my hands etc get infected, kills bacteria on the skin gets rid of itch..
Can buy it anywhere online as a cream, lotion, shower gel.
I find it takes like a week or so to work.

This sounds awful. I assume that there are some appointments released every day, and some are lucky?

I know you shouldn’t have to do this but can you get some other people to try phoning the surgery for you at the same time?

If you could get maybe 3 others trying it would improve your odds of being one of the lucky ones.