Prescriptions should be available elsewhere than just the GP?

[HouseIsOnFire]

Feeling very sorry for myself, I have tonsillitis and am in agony, hurts to drink, eating is a definite no-no and have been feeling awful since Tuesday.

I frequently have tonsillitis, there's no question that it's not and I need antibiotics.

The earliest I can have a telephone appointment is Saturday 20th May! My gp has nothing sooner, no ring and be seen on same morning, nothing but wait it out for weeks.

111 won't prescribe new prescriptions and pharmacist can't for tonsillitis.

AIBU to think there needs to be another option when it's such as obvious condition??

Ah right. Thanks, will remember that!

If you go to the website for your UTC it should have a list of the conditions they deal with. So for example our local UTC definitely does cover this ailment, if it’s on the list of what your local centre covers then you’re ok to go there.

In this situation I would use an online private GP. They cost about £40 but you get a phone/video call with a GP, often the same day, and they're available weekends/bank holidays a lot of the time. I know it costs money but it might be worth it to get yourself treated.

I needed antibiotics over a weekend and got a private prescription through an online gp (I think the website was called the online clinic or similar). Cost about £40 and they can fax / email the prescription to a pharmacy of your choice. I just filled out an online form, submitted it, and a doctor was in touch within an hour.

Different urgent treatment centres work differently. For ours you cannot just turn up there and see one, you have to be referred by 111. And if they say you don't need to see a GP then what are you supposed to do?

I wouldn't recommend this. Different antibiotics do different things at different doses.

Have you considered it isn't bacterial and therefore you don't need antibiotics?!

Walk-in (urgent care) centre. You can go to any, doesn't need to be local. They have prescribers there.

111 can prescribe and can also refer to out of hours.

Your GP surgery should offer extended access. This is an appointment out of hours either at the same surgery or another surgery, or by phone. They can send prescriptions. If your surgery does not seem to have extended access, they should have some sort of out of hours care (this may be at the local hospital, walk-in or another surgery)

Please do not say you need antibiotics for a different ailment. Prescriptions are done based on symptoms and whilst yes it might be the same antibiotic for a tooth infection as tonsillitis. It also might not be.

Antibiotics are different depending on situation - for example first line treatment for tonsillitis might be penicillin v, but for something else may be another antibiotic entirely, or the same but a different dose or different length of course.

Pharmacist prescribers can prescribe everything a GP can. Some pharmacies have their own prescribers.

Also, tonsillitis can be viral. Do you have any pus on your tonsils? Viral tonsillitis doesn't require antibiotics. I feel your pain as I've had it loads of times, it's awful!

You should be able to fill out an econsult from your surgery's website. I've used this many times as I can never get through to the surgery before all the appointments go at 8am. They usually respond the same day and arrange a telephone appointment with the doctor.

An econsult is only available on my surgery website during opening hours, which is a pain at the weekend sometimes.

Private GP is the way to go for this I think if you have the funds. They will usually see you very quickly, or can do a telephone or video consultation and get you a prescription sent by email. Should be under £50.

I too was going to suggest a walk in centre. If its viral though- antibiotics won't do a thing.

I'd get some strong numbing gargles from the pharmacy to help with the pain.

DO NOT GARGLE WITH FUCKING HYDROGEN PEROXIDE!!!!!!!!!

It is bleach, even if you dilute it. Wexstopped using this on infected wounds decades ago.

111 will get u an appointment at an out of hours surgery often they are at hospitals or walk-in centres.

Nhs24 prescribed antibiotics for me at the new year.

I used to suffer so badly with tonsillitis and quinsy infections and hospital consultant said dispersible aspirin dropped into a small amount of warm water and gargle then spit out as it helps the throat

Thanks everyone, have a private appointment at 115pm!

Tempted to sign up for the annual service if gp is going to be this busy, not a regular user but waiting 3 weeks for a call is far from ideal!

I'd just go my nearest walk in.

It's perfectly safe. Peroxyl mouthwash is widely recommended by dentists and contains it...

No, peroxyl mouthwash is a diluted formulation

People do not become immune to antibiotics. Bacteria become resistant to them, usually because people don't use them as directed or taking them unnecessarily.

There's plenty of online doctors if you can afford it. I use Health Express and others. Haven't been to GP since 2019 always do it online now. My oh had a referral from 111 to A and e on Tuesday for antibiotics for a sinus infection.

Sorry x posted

Viral throat infections can feel every bit as painful as bacterial unfortunately. Generally speaking if you look at your tonsils and they're very large extending towards your uvula, covered in white spots, you're feverish and don't have a cough then you'd be prescribed antibiotics. If it's 'just' the pain, which I'm not trying to dismiss as acknowledge it can be awful, then you're probably not going to be prescribed to.

If you're seeking assessment put your post code into this NHS site and it'll tell you where your closest walk in centre is https://www.nhs.uk/service-search/other-services/Urgent-Care/LocationSearch/1824

If you think you've got bacterial tonsillitis then it would be a fare shout to head to a walk in centre.

Otherwise regular paracetamol and ibuprofen if you can normally take them, salt water gargle and plenty of fluids. Normally peak day 4 then ease towards resolution at day 7-10.