Do I go to A&E

[confusedthirtysomething2]

I’ve been trying to call my local surgery since before opening time. It put me straight on voicemail 35 times. Finally got through and I’m still 30 in the queue.

I have tonsillitis and I can barely talk or swallow. Paracetamol isn’t touching it now. I’m also sweating, but no cold symptoms. DH is going back to work tomorrow and I have two young DC.

AIBU to go to A&E or should I try Ibuprofen first and wait until tomorrow?

Urgent treatment centre if one near you?

111 might be able to get you an out of hours appointment if you can't get in with the GP?

Don't you have an urgent care walk in centre, or a private GP nearby? For tonsillitis I would want to avoid sitting 10 hours in A and E.

Just wait on the phone.

Keep phoning the GP. A&E aren't going to treat tonsillitis unless it's become quinsy.

You could also phone a pharmacist and see if they can prescribe antibiotics for tonsillitis under the news schemes.

Call 111 or do it online if talking is painful, they should be able to advise. My Dd had terrible tonsillitis recently and we ended up in a&e (sent by the GP) to check for quinsy which needs immediate IV antibiotics.
if your throat starts to close up or you start to have any problems breathing you need to get urgent help.

If you’re already in the queue then hang on until you get through? Does your surgery offer an e-consult facility? I have had antibiotics for tonsillitis prescribed through that before. I think I also had a prescription through a 111 call and out of hours telephone referral when I was away, so that route might be worth a try too.

commiserations, tonsillitis is miserable. You definitely should be trying to get seen today, but I’m not sure a&e is the best place to try

Contact 111 (you can do 111 online for this if you don't want to call).

I had infected tonsillitis a few weeks back, did 111 online and got an antibiotic.

It's rubbish but 111 or walk in centre is what you need if you can't get in to your GP, A&E isn't really the right place.

Hope you get sorted.

Don't pharmacists prescribe for tonsillitis now?

Just wait. It’s not an emergency. The phone will be answered way quicker than an a&e wait anyway.

Yes @ButtSurgery head a good idea - try looking up what pharmacies local to you take part in the minor ailments prescription scheme? They'll sort you out hopefully x

Do you have a fever?

No private GP or urgent care walk in centre. I’m in Wales so not sure if it’s a thing here.

Will try 111 in a bit.

Try a local pharmacy that is in the Pharmacy First scheme. My adult son was referred to one last weekend after ringing 111 with tonsillitis. They can prescribe antibiotics

@EnoughIsTooMuchAlready No fever but I’m sweating. Think it’s bacterial.

I’d keep trying to get through to the GP or 111, it’s not necessary to go to A&E. Hope you feel better soon, tonsillitis is grim

I think pharmacists can do throat swabs for strep? And dispense antibiotics if needed?

I will try 111. To be honest, I’m in so much pain I can’t think straight and forgot it was even an option.

I was going to suggest pharmacist, that's your next option I think.

@confusedthirtysomething2 please do make sure you see some kind of health care professional, you probably know that tonsillitis can turn very nasty!

Pharmacy first as they can prescribe antibiotics now for tonsillitis, if not I'd go to urgent care/111 for appointment

I got antibiotics from my pharmacy when I last had tonsillitis. I just called them and they got the pharmacist to call be back and I was given them straight away

This time of day 111 will likely refer you back to your GP. Did you continue to hold on line for GP? I had tonsillitis recently and the pharmacist was able to diagnose and prescribed antibiotics. I'm in Scotland though, not Wales so not sure if your pharmacies offer this service.

Hope you get seen soon and are on the mend quickly.

Just stay on the phone to the GP first.

Then ring NHS 111 if GP won’t help.

I’m sure a pharmacy can now prescribe antibiotics for tonsillitis. That would my first port of call.

Thank you all.

Bacterial tonsillitis so I’ve been prescribed antibiotics by pharmacist. I was out of it this morning and couldn’t think straight 🙈 Just praying the DC don’t come down with anything.