Gp appointments

[Newstartplease24]

Is there some trick?
dr online told me to present at surgery and not leave without being seen. Of course they sent me away. I haven’t been seen.
its something I need medication for today . If I leave it - which I can’t - I know I’ll be bollocked when I eventually see a Dr for not getting a prescription and treating it sooner.
online private gp won’t give me the prescription as she hasn’t seen me and says I need to be seen today.

What exactly am I supposed to do?

yabu= of course you should see a Dr, there are ways of doing it (if you say this please say how)
yanbu= no, healthcare basically does not exist in this country, take your symptoms to chat gpt and then rob a pharmacy

I think the system is opaque because it’s set up based on the thinking that certain things just are GP issues. Because people can’t get them, loopholes have been forced here and there and are more or less established in various places, administered by different individuals. But they’re not for that and they aren’t reliable

Thanks @RosesAndHellebores

Exactly this. If the private GP is so sure that the medication is what you need and urgently too, then they should prescribe it for you. Otherwise what are you paying for their service for?

The GP should have an on call dr. That doesn't mean you'd get on their list though. Is it something that a nurse practitioner could prescribe or a pharmacist? Otherwise here you'd have to go to the walk in centre for a consult and sit and wait (it shares waiting time with the ED). or could it wait until tomorrows appts are released in the am?

It doesn’t always work like that. I have GP access via Axa PPP but they do not prescribe antibiotics for many things because they need to see the patient F2F. A private GP through a local private hospital could but there is a week long, often longer, wait to see them because they are fully booked. Two of the GP’s from a local large practice see patients privately at the local private hospital.

I’m in Australia and I don’t understand why the UK has this system that barely works.

If I want to see my GP I make an appointment online - I can choose the appointment time myself. If there are no appointments I see one of my GP’s colleagues or (if it’s last minute on a Saturday) I have a backup Drs surgery that takes last minute walk-ins and is close to my house.

I pay out of pocket to see a GP and the GP also charges the federal government. Some places bill the entire amount to the government.

The NHS needs to be completely overhauled.

If this is a medication you have on repeat prescription that you have run out of, you can request a emergency supply to tide you over via NHS 111 here: https://111.nhs.uk/emergency-prescription

if it’s not on repeat, then it depends what system your GP surgery has for requesting an urgent appointment. My surgery has an online form and you are supposed to be triaged for urgent requests to be seen same day. Ask reception when you get there what the system is with your GP.

if that fails then I would try 111 again this evening. I had to do this once with a new medication that hadn’t been put in repeat yet. The GP surgery had put me on the “non urgent” list which meant waiting weeks so the meds ran out before I’d even got an appointment booked. Despite sending follow up requests I couldn’t get any reply. Eventually I contacted 111 and they got me an out of hours GP appointment , who prescribed it.

Because we are very short of GPs. One of the reasons is that quite a few have left to go to Australia, where they are better paid.

It’s not a regular medication. It’s not on repeat. It’s something I get sometimes that requires antibiotics. Which are prescribed on a case by case basis. The nature of the thing is that I tend to get it when run down ie busy and under ridiculous pressure. Like now. It’s stressful. It happens every now and then that I have to out my life on hold just when I can’t afford to, to treat something that really shluld be nipped in the bud. I can’t go on like this. No way could I be considered to have a chronic illness was or be disabled but trying to act like someone with no health issues - just responding to the needs of the moment - is taking its toll on my body because I can’t see a Dr when I need to

there has to be something I can do in advance or some way I can plan or have something in place. I can’t live like this

What doctor? Notes should be on the system to get you seen.

I did an econsult, GP called me and got me seen 9am the next day last week.

At our surgery you would fill in an E - consult form online stating your case. You may then get a same day appointment with a practice nurse or an AHP. The AHP may be able to prescribe, the practice nurse would probably grab the duty GP to pop in and have a quick look/chat and get them to do the prescription.

That sounds really rough and very upsetting and frustrating.

I would definitely discuss with the receptionist and with GP if/when you see them, how you can be seen and prescribed what you need quickly in these situations, given they are recurring.

For today if you can’t get in to see GP then contact 111 “after hours” and hopefully they’ll get you an OOH call or appointment.

Is it a UTI? Pharmacists can prescribe that easily.

Pharmacist should be able to prescribe antibiotics for you.

When you've got the immediate issue sorted OP, it would be worth you having a conversation with your GP about having a rescue pack of antibiotics if it's a recurring issue. My OH has a rescue pack so he can start treatment if it happens on a bank holiday weekend etc.

111 should send a message to your GP, saying you need an apt?
Also, can google to see if any private GP's in your area, if can afford it. They've started popping up here and there because it's so hard to get a normal apt. Good luck.

I think they have to be signed up to 'Pharmacy First' scheme or something like that. None of them do it in my town, more is the pity so none of my local pharmacists will give them.

Sympathies, @Newstartplease24. A couple of thoughts:

1. How often do you get these bouts? And are the symptoms predictable such that you’d be happy to decide yourself when you need treatment? Once this episode is managed, could a GP issue you a rescue prescription so you have the meds ready for next time, then get an appointment non-emergency afterwards to get them replaced?
2. if it’s UTIs, with a background history, pharmacies might not be keen to prescribe under ‘pharmacy first’. Hope you get this sorted!

What is an ‘online GP’? This is the bit that doesn’t make sense to me. If a GP has told you to go in then I would expect that same GP to book you with someone who will see you. Not just tell you to turn up and wait to be seen. This is an utter waste of resources and your time too, as well as poor management by the surgery.

Hi OP. I get thrush pretty regularly. GP let's me have clomitrazole on repeat and I order one every few months to ensure I have a couple in for flares. Could your GP allow you to have anti-bs on repeat?

We used to live in Ireland and the GP have me the anti-b powder to keep in the cupboard in case DS got yet another chest infection after a bad few months. It was handy to have it in stock.

Good luck.

My Mum gets cellulitis horribly regularly and her GP has now put a flag on her notes that she can get flucloxacillin without having to see a GP in person - she just rings the pharmacy and they issue the script for her. Saves her a hospital admission when she can start them same day. No one takes that for shits and giggles, let's face it - poor Mum is always really unwell on it but it's the only antibiotic that really works on it.

Thanks everyone. Sorry the “online gp” is confusing. It was an online consultation with a dr that I get through work health insurance. It sounds great but they won’t actually prescribe for most problems because they haven’t seen you. Especially if they suspect it’s complex. Which it may well have become if youve let it go.

i am going to see if I can pay to upgrade to a package where you can physically see doctors. Or, as some of you suggest, investigate being allowed to keep some antibiotics in

Because prescription drugs have to be prescribed by a medical professional for a reason!
If your GP surgery has no capacity to see you then you need to phone 111 and get advice from them. Surely the GP receptionist would have told you your options?!

If it’s a uti, most pharmacists can now prescribe and give antibiotics.

https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/urinary-tract-infections-utis/ Details at bottom of page