Getting cross with doctor’s surgery

[Airspice]

I’m seething over a situation and don’t know if i am being unreasonable feeling like this.

My 16 year old daughter has always had bad blackheads as a teen. In the last couple of months actual bad spots have developed and her skin looks red and she’s obviously very self conscious of it, we’ve had a fair amount of tears.

After trying several things, diet change, skin care options etc, today I decided something needed to be done. She has her Year 11 prom in June and is distraught at the thought of going with her spots as they are now.

With our docs we have to fill out a lengthy online form, with photos etc, and if we get that form in early enough on a day my doctor is actually working (she works part time 3 days a week) we might be lucky enough to get a call.

8.30 I’m furious filling out this form hoping to be one of todays ‘lucky ones’
2pm I get a phone call from the patient coordinator, a doctor has deemed this not medically urgent’ and so an appointment with my doctor is available on 4th April. Today is 7th March. So in FOUR weeks time.

As if that isn’t bad enough, that’s in the school Easter holidays and we are abroad! When I explain this the PC says ‘well you’ll have to fill out the form again when you get back’!!!! What, and then potentially wait ANOTHER four weeks?!

So then I said that this was too long to wait and we were more than happy to see another (ANY!) doctor. Oh no that’s not allowed unless it’s ‘medically urgent’. I said ‘well to my 16 year old daughter this IS urgent!

Nope, not urgent and tough shit basically. He says I can email and complain. So I do.

My points were:

1. Appalling that the first appointment available wasn’t for another 4 weeks.
2. It’s wrong that because my doctor works part time the wait is even longer. Not that I think she shouldn’t be part time, of course I don’t think that, but if she is part time another doctor should also be available to us if necessary.
3. No wonder mental health is through the roof when a self conscious teenage girl, who currently hates herself because of the issue, is being ‘left’ like this.
4. The whole ‘whoever fills out the online form from 8.30 in the quickest time, might get a call back’ way of making appointments is a pile of shite.
5. The whole system is crap.

And just purely coincidental, whilst furiously trying to fill in this form this morning, my work colleague who lives in a different area, also needed to see a doctor ‘non urgently’ today, so rang her doctors at 8.30 and got an appointment at 2pm today!!!!

WTAF??!! Where do we turn now?!

So…..

AIBU - doctors have enough on their plates without me ranting and putting in a complaint.
AINBU - the whole thing is an absolute mess and I have every right to be fucked off.

https://www.theindependentpharmacy.co.uk/acne/dual-action-acne-gel?utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=20940170331&gclid=CjwKCAiA6KWvBhAREiwAFPZM7ol-n1eQmHv3bmGreYCLu-2-ivSzwRvlm0wguRJLDT18dDwHc5v-nBoCD1cQAvD_BwE

I used this as a teenager although it was prescribed by the GP. I found it really useful and did help clear up my acne although it did stain the towels ....

Download one of those video call GP apps. I did it in lockdown and paid £20 for a video call with a GP. Got a prescription. Job done

Op- dd was similar to your dd as a teenager. She used duac which someone else posted a picture of. She still uses it sometimes in her early 20s. The best treatment though was going on the pill.

YABU. It's not medically urgent. You could even try a pharmacist initially.

Having an appointment for 4 weeks time actually sounds really sensible because it's quite possible it'll clear itself up in that time.

Teenage skin wasn’t a priority at the best of times, let alone now with the shitstorm of the NHS. A private doctor would probably be best.

You obviously haven’t had significant acne if you think a beauty therapist can fix it, or wonder what a doctor can do.

I’ve suffered with acne for years, since my early 20’s and no amount of facials did anything for it. It took GP treatments. Antibiotics if needed (both cream and tablets), retinoids, (which I now buy from Dermatica). I’m not saying I know what OP’s daughter’s acne is like so I don’t know if it warrants a quicker appointment, but if it was anything like my hard, cystic lumps that made my face swell and were so painful, it’s no wonder she feels rubbish.

I don't doubt it's having a mental effect on the OP's daughter, but claiming it's a crisis when it's not is very irresponsible. Particularly when the next person is having a MH crisis, doesn't push it, and doesn't get an appt....

She’s had it for months, it’s getting worse and worse. I’m not just rushing In because she has a few spots, a few years ago my other daughter was in the same boat, saw a doctor and got prescribed lymecycline and she became a different person, but now that sort of service seems impossible.

Tried that already - unless there is a current infection it's tough luck. The local NHS 'dental access centre' is inaccessible without that, pain doesn't count.

I've been screaming about the state of NHS dentistry for years and it's finally getting attention, but don't want to derail the thread.

YANBU to want to see someone sooner. But why were you initially restricting it to “your” doctor? I always fill in the e-consult for any available doctor to look at. This isn’t an ongoing situation where you need a specific GP so I really think you made it more difficult for yourself there.

Try duac, you can get it online x

(it's what the doctor prescribed me, so missing out the middle man issue)

4 weeks seems pretty reasonable for acne, considering that the NHS is sinking fast.

The other alternative is out of area , so long as you can get him there .
The southwest is an absolute desert but most other places , if you are willing to travel , you should be able to get something.
I would try 111 again and say he is willing to travel . Our area pain is not seen as an emergency but other areas vary.

@Airspice have you thought about taking her to a beauty salon. they have special ways of removing blackheads and it can make her feel a lot better about herself.

She already said they’re only allowed to see their nominated doctor. She asked for an alternative and was denied it.

Yes. YABU

Go private to a dermatologist with her. Having spots is not an urgent medical need so taking an appointment off someone that needs it is selfish.

I wasn’t, I said I’d see any doctor but we are not allowed to unless it’s medically urgent

Thanks, I missed that bit. That’s a ridiculous system.

I'm in Scotland and sent teen acne photos via econsult. Phone consultation within a day and prescription issued.

Sorry your teen is waiting so long. Ds wound up on antibiotics as first 12 weeks of epiduo didn't work.

Buy benzoyl peroxide or duac over the counter. This is likely what any Gp would offer in any case.

buy a cleanser with salicylic acid in such as cereve or neutrogena. Try for 8 weeks. Then review with your Gp when you get back from holiday.

was hands after use as they contain bleaching agents so can mark clothes or towels.

A four week wait for blackheads and redness is excellent. It's not life threatening nor is it debilitating.

It's cosmetic but , arguably, unpleasant for a 16 yr old.

The NHS really shouldn't be there for teenage breakouts.

I'm sure when my spots were bad the GP prescribed panoxyl cream, which is in fact available over the counter. Tea tree oil is very good as well - body shop does quite a big range.

This. I was that 16 year old many years ago and my skin wrecked my confidence and my mental health. At least I wasn't left waiting 4 weeks for an appointment back in the good old 1980s! She probably needs antibiotics for starters. Any way they'd prescribe those over e-consult?