GP surgeries are broken

[grumpyandfedup]

Put in an e consult to my GPs surgery this morning for suspected anaemia or hypothyroidism. Okay not life threatening but unpleasant to live with and impacting my mental health and day to day life.

I get a text three hours later to say this isn’t urgent and I’m on a list to be called NEXT YEAR! The date isn’t certain and can be subject to change, but I should expect a call in the week commencing 5th January.

In the meantime my life will get worse, I’ll feel worse and I can’t get any help. Yet an immigrant arriving on a boat has onsite GPs there ready and waiting at all hours of the day.

I agree there are issues but this is only a few weeks away and obviously covers peak leave times for Christmas so I don't think that is too unreasonable.

Four weeks with a non certain date is reasonable? If I should need blood tests etc it would be a further month after that. Two months from e consult to testing isn’t acceptable!

Online consultation is intended to be used for non urgent requests. Don’t use it if you want to seen urgently.

So is this nhs bashing or immigrant bashing?

It’s not urgent. Our GP has appointments several weeks away but will always see us the same day if it’s a priority.

Non urgent = non life threatening. There’s no other way to get through to them, unless you have an hour of your life free to sit on a call, which I don’t because I have a job.

5th January is 3 weeks away, they aren't making you wait an actual year. There isn't a different GP service for immigrants either.

I’d say it deserves to be seen more urgently than four weeks away

No, just GPs on site 24/7 to be on call.

That's simply not true.

Where in the Daily Mail did you read that?

5th Jan is 3 weeks away, and considering the closures/reduced capacity over Christmas, YABVU. It is not an urgent matter and your life isn't going to get worse in that short wait. If you think it could be anaemia, are you eating lots of iron rich foods? Taking b12 and iron supplements? Anything to try and help yourself?

Do asylum seekers really have GPs just sitting around waiting for them? Or is that just Daily Fail racist hyperbole? Even if they did, (I think unlikely) can you not think of a reason why people that have fled war, risked their lives, might need medical attention?

Yes, I’ve done all of that and more and nothing has improved.

When you take the Christmas break out of it, it’s only a couple of weeks.

it’s not urgent, it doesn’t need an on the day consultation. I think it’s fair enough to wait a couple of weeks.

if you want seen more urgently, you’d find the time to ring and get a same day appointment.

theres no GPs on site with asylum seekers 24/7. That’s simply not true.

That’s not how life works though is it? I am working all over Christmas.

If you are well enough to carry on working, it's not an urgent matter. That wait is acceptable for non-urgent appointments.

Mine is great! I filled in form wasn’t feeling great tired/ suspected low iron etc - blood test form to collect that day and I booked online and had it done next day, results back a few days later and my medication sent to pharmacy DONE without seeing gp

my baby is 18months been so sick and I’ve been seen on the day 2 days in a row as they felt urgent with a baby

husband had a weird rash thing and he send a photo on the online form and they phoned him later and prescribed a cream

hand foot and mouth easily diagnosed over the phone with photos attached to the online form

never have problems have to say they are always in touch quickly

Wow GP AND immigrant bashing in one thread? Double bingo.

From your self diagnosis I am assuming you’re looking for an appointment because you are tired. You would need a hell of a lot more symptoms for the GP to be concerned about severe anaemia or an issue with your thyroid that can’t wait a few weeks.

It is Christmas, there is a super flu going around, your use of ‘NEXT YEAR’ like it’s not just two weeks away is a bit of an overreaction.

Immigrants have nothing to do with it.

Immigrant bashing AND NHS bashing in one thread? Tidy.

YABU. This is your experience.

Mine is fantastic and does an amazing job.

If you want seen the same day, you’d make the time to call.

I have a health issue. I’m unwell and I need seen. Today. So I have taken a day off sick, because I’m sick, and I was on the phone at 8. I’ve had a call back and I’ve to go to the GP at 3pm. Because I’m unwell and the GP wants to see me. Today.

and I’m sure that there are no GPs on site and on call 24/7 for asylum seekers (there is a 24/7 on call service in general, I mean outside of that).

How long have you lived with your symptoms before deciding December is the right time to contact your GP? December has always been busy for GPs because everyone MUST be well / have their medication etc before Christmas....

There are lots of issues with the NHS in general, but you've been offered an appointment for a non urgent issue in three weeks time, over a very busy and stressful period, during a time where we are facing one of the biggest and most worrying flu outbreaks in recent years. I'd say that would be pretty satisfactory for most people. Despite what people might say, GPs are experts in triaging and they usually get it right. Their capacity is completely shot, and you are on a long list of people who need to be seen. I'd be thankful OP, there are people waiting longer for cancer treatment.

I’ve got more symptoms than that but the form doesn’t allow you to put them in. I feel awful. But they’re not interested in helping.

Oh so only certain people are allowed to be ill in December?