Stop telling people to go to A&E!

[Miriad]

I see it on here a lot. Someone is getting fobbed off by their GP and not getting diagnosed. So they get told to go to A&E, where they have the ability to do blood tests and urine tests and scans to figure out what’s going on.

I’ve been sobbing in agony for three weeks and my GP isn’t helping me, and I can’t get another GP appointment for a fortnight, so posters advised me to go to A&E.

I waited six hours only to get yelled at by an angry doctor, saying my condition is neither an accident nor an emergency. According to him I don’t need urgent treatment even if I’m crying with pain - because pain isn’t urgent. If I’m stable and not at risk then I need to go home and see my GP.

A&E can not be used to bypass a useless GP and access tests and scans. They will not diagnose you or refer you. Their job is to give you the minimum care to make you stable so you’re not at risk, then send you home.

So stop telling people to go there. Maybe in the olden days you could go there for help if your GP was rubbish, but not any more.

I second going to a clinic, they can take a look, they aren’t just for STD’s and if you were truly in that much pain I can’t imagine you’d be the slightest bit bothered about who might see you somewhere- surely at the point you’re at risk of losing your job and in constant agonising pain you try anything.

But a toothache or an ear infection can be fatal if they develop into sepsis.

Routine medics issues can become emergencies without treatment.

Sorry did you just say you wouldn't say just say you wouldn't go to sexual health clinic in case someone saw you ?

Did you even read the link about the interstitial cystitis? It matches your symptoms closely and the other poster is bang on about trying the d-mannose.

Absolute bollocks. The data shows that GPs are seeing millions of people a week.
https://digital.nhs.uk/data-and-information/publications/statistical/appointments-in-general-practice/march-2024#

My local gynecology service for initial consultations is in the STI clinic building.

I actually feel sorry for those with STIs as they have to wait initially in the same waiting room.

Really?
Not translating to some practices.
Mine will give emergency phone appointments but have been routinely fobbing patients off since 2020.
Physical appointments are nigh on impossible to get.
They have the same number of GPs, the local population has not suddenly increased, when you go to collect a prescription it’s always empty.
I know too many people whose local surgeries are like this, and very often there are few alternatives.

One of my dc lives in London, where you’d expect more chaos but it’s better there, both GP and A&E.

In my neck of the woods, very rural, it’s dangerous. (And yes I have complained as have many others).

My GUM clinic is the only place I can get my coil fitted, they do lots of services there and you're coming across as rather judgemental. I second those that say if you are in that much pain you wouldn't care about where you go to get help.

Surely If you're in real pain you wouldn't care

I’m sorry you’re in so much pain, OP.

It’s really awful if you can’t get a GP appointment and you feel you’re left with no options. I have to say, all GP practices are not like this; mine has really got its act together and sees patients all the time. I managed to get an appointment on the same day the other week for a mental health issue and they were extremely accommodating. Can you change surgery? It should not be this bad.

Still bollocks. Just because you didn't get what you wanted when you wanted that doesn't mean it's not happening.
Your practice should publish their appt data (contractual) please share it here. Until then yep bollocks.

You're joking right? no way you're feeling that bad then.

It's the GUM clinic, treating STDs is just one of the things they do. I was referred for a scan of my ovaries by that place. I got a phone call from.the hospital on the way back to the car.

What you're experiencing is THEIR AREA. Made a ruddy appointment. They will help you get to the bottom of it.

Yup.

This dr at A&E was a prick. If you’re sobbing in agony and the cause is unknown, you need medical attention.

PS: Also, get a different GP

Hope you’re feeling better soon OP

It doesn’t necessarily. You are scaremongering.

Are there any urgent treatment centres near you to visit?

OP you're saying you wouldn't want to be seen in the GUM clinic; bear in mind if someone there saw you... they're in there too! Besides - if you are in that much pain surely medical treatment is more important than some randomer seeing you.

I think you are directing your anger and frustration at the wrong people. The conduct of the A&E consultant was not acceptable or appropriate - it is not the pain that is/isn't the potential emergency, it is the cause of it. If A&E didn't do an adequate examination then they could miss a potential emergency. I've seen many cases where this has happened.

You seem resigned to not getting treatment despite being in extreme pain. If I were in your position I would be doing the following:

1. Turning up at my GP first thing and insisting on being seen or to be provided with an immediate referral letter to take to A&E.
2. Requesting my GP records
3. Returning to A&E if I wasn't getting anywhere with the GP and insisting on a proper examination
4. Requesting my A&E/hospital record
5. Complaints to PALS, CQC, GMC, NHSR
6. Going to GUM clinic if no joy with immediate treatment at GP or A&E
7. Consider Walk-in clinic
8. A&E at another hospital
9. 111/OOH emergency request
10. Private GP

etc... etc...

You have to speak up and advocate for yourself; don't simply accept poor treatment. If you know something is seriously wrong (you know your own body) then keep pushing. There is no point having a go at people on here; you need to get on and act in your own best interests.

Oh grow up

Can you afford to have a private GP consultation? I had to go this route years ago when my GP refused to listen to me and it led to a referral and surgery.

Alternatively, ring 111 back and tell them what happened in A&E. Advocate strongly for yourself and tell them that you are in agony, on the cusp of losing your job as you can’t attend work, and that they MUST find you an OOH GP appointment. Be polite but firm and don’t take no for an answer.

Finally, complaint to PALS and your GP surgery for refusing to see you urgently.

I phoned a large pharmacy a couple of weeks ago because I've had an itchy hive like rash on my back for a couple of months. I self medicated for ages with no success. I thought this sort of issue would be right up their street. Not so he told me to go see my GP. It's all ruddy hopeless.

A friend, last week, kept being told by our GP (by text) that she couldn’t have an appointment, it wasn’t important, and to just get on with it.

She took herself up to A&E, was assessed, immediately admitted, and awaiting a heart procedure on Tuesday.

If you’re worried - go to A&E.

maybe your pain threshold is different to mine. I think being unable to sit down or sleep pushes it into potentially serious pain territory. However the fact that the op won’t go to a GUM clinic because she’s embarrassed suggests she doesn’t feel as bad as she claims so maybe that’s how she’s coming across to doctors.

I was astonished when my son a year or 2 ago was told to go by his GP. What he had - a cyst on the neck- was something that was not traditionally an A&E matter but apparently that was the only way to have it dealt with. A&E were very good to him and it was all fine but it was not an emergency and it seemed the wrong kind of system for GPs to send people there presumably because waiting lists are otherwise too long.

Our NHS is in a right state and I have sympathy for you.
I hope you try the gum clinic, they are probably the best option for you currently and I hope they are able to help with your symptoms and pain.
Good luck x

As someone who suffers from recurring UTIs I really, really feel for you.

It’s now accepted by the NHS that the usual dipstick test does NOT always pick up UTIs. The nurse really should know that.

“Dr Imran Omar says the tests can miss up to half of positive infections.”

'Urinary tract infection left me housebound' https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-59162101

I've got some D mannose as recommended on here. My bladder has settled down. A couple of years ago after an MRI the consultant said I had interstitial cystitis signs. He wanted to explore further, but I said no thanks.

Bloody menopause. I've finally talked GP into giving me estriol treatment after months of useless creams, everything diagnosed over the phone. You'd have thought I was asking for crystal meth.