Have I been a twat or should the GP surgery have given me an appointment?

[Isgreasl]

For context I am a single parent and I work full time so I may be feeling a bit overwhelmed with stress. I don’t know if I’m being unreasonable.

I have had swelling on my toe after falling. It swelled up really fast and has lessened since but the bruising is still bad. I asked for an appointment for the GP to review and I was told to go to a minor injuries unit as it might need an x ray. Minor injuries is 40 minute drive (we are remote) and will take almost an entire day to be seen. I can’t go in first thing as I need to drop DD at nursery (unless I wanted to take her with me which I don’t!).

I have asked them again for an appointment and asked for it to be escalated as I’m not happy with being told to go to minor injuries. I’m really exhausted and confused as to whether I’m in the right here?! From what I’ve read it’s usual to have a few signs looked at with the toe to decide if an x ray is needed and that this is something a GP could do.

I disagree that if you don't think it is broken then it probably isn't. I broke a toe, wrist and elbow and carried on as normal. Only went in once the swelling and bruising on my toe was rather alarming. They did indeed strap my toe to the next one. The broken one was the one next to the big one and was strapped to the middle one.

Oh op as everyone else has said its a swollen big toe, it doesn't even matter if broken as treatment is the same, tape to the toe next to it.

Elevate your foot to reduce swelling, ice it and take painkillers.

The whole system is broken but it's not ok to use the GP surgery as your emotional punch bag. If your issue would be better dealt with in ED or minor injuries then it's really not the GP's problem that you can't be arsed to do that. Tbh it's highly unlikely you're going to lose the toe or die either way so either strap it up or go to minor injuries or ED and accept that the GP doesn't have the capacity to help

You’re not being a twat OP, probably just super overwhelmed and worried.

It’s really for them to do a lot for a toe (unless it’s literally at an angle or dislocated). So if you go to minor injuries they might xray it but they’ll prob tell you it’s not worth x-raying - they could strap it for you to your other toe and then at least you know how to strap. Take care, it’s ok to be worried.

The GP can’t do anything without an Xray so an appointment is pointless. It’s either broken - needs to be confirmed by xray - or it’s not and so there’s no treatment except ice and elevation.

I guess the question to ask yourself is what do you expect the GP to do.

If you’re after pain relief then maybe they can help but anything around whether it’s broken is completely beyond their remit.

Minor injuries doesn’t take as long as you might think. And if you go straight after school drop off, it will probably be on the quieter side so I suspect you will be seen and treated before school pick up.

I haven’t read all of the responses so sorry this has probably already been posted. However, I have broken many toes over the years and unless it is out of alignment they wouldn’t do anything. Treat with RICE, paracetamol and if necessary splint with tape to another toe.

Stop spreading misinformation she needs an xray

Use surgical or medical tape from a chemist. I have broken a big toe and that was treated the same way.

She doesn't. A swollen toe does not necessitate xray.

The GP is right, MIU is the correct place to review this.
They cannot XRay and make a decision on possible fracture. It’s the correct way to use resources.

GPs don't have xray vision. They don't tend to do anything for broken toes anyway, when I did mine I couldn't walk properly for weeks (I didnt bother having it looked at, but given I was in agony for a considerable amount of time I assume I did). If the swelling is already going down and you are driving just fine I wouldn't do anything personally. I couldn't drive when I did mine it was too painful (big toe), yours doesn't sound that bad from what you say.

My GP surgery will not make appointments for anyone who might need an x-ray - we get directed to A&E. Even their online system filters out patients with possible broken bones.

Minor injuries only X-ray toes/fingers if they are not straight/aligned, her Gp (or other clinician at the surgery) could have looked at the toe & depending on its presentation either sent her to minor injuries for an X-ray or home with advice.

having used minor injuries it was a dream. We were in and out very quickly. I've been loads as i have sports mad children! We did find that my daughter had broken her foot on one occasion. We were quite blase and told her to stop being dramatic!

I’m not a medical expert / have never broken my toe so wouldn’t know what the treatment is, if any. But it’s the GP practice that’s told them to go to minor injuries, not me.

You have a minor injury and as such have been correctly advised to attend minor injuries. There is nothing to escalate OP.

Minor injuries units don’t usually take so long, ours is typically an hour at most thankfully. Stay away from a&e though

But they’re not going to do that. They don’t have X-ray vision and aren’t likely to send her home without some sort of imaging, as it’s a big toe and they do need assessment. They will - very sensibly - advise her to attend a minor injuries unit (the clue is in the name) to be assessed fully by someone who can then organise imaging if needed.

Why stop at the GP on the way as some sort of validation tool? And MIU do X-ray big toes even if not obviously misaligned.

Only if your GP has x-ray vision 🙄

no, they can't tell by looking at it.
BUT if it is any toe except your big toe, they will probably not x-ray it, but tell you to strap it to the next toe for the couple of weeks.

Because she could drive 40 minutes out of her way, disrupt work & childcare drop off for them to refuse to X-ray.

Whereas if she gets it assessed by the Gp surgery two things will happen, she’ll either be reassured/sent home with advice or sent to the Minor injuries with a letter explicitly requesting an X-ray.

I worked in A&E for the first 10 years of my career we really only X-ray’d toes/fingers if they were misaligned.

and if the GP says 'needs and xray as I can't see if its ok or not'.. what then?

It's not your GP's issue if you can't take the time... you are being unreasonable.

To strap your toes together put a piece of cotton wool between the two toes so that it’s comfortable and then use micro pore tape or sticky plaster on a roll to wrap once or twice round the bottom of the toes and once around the top. It needs to be tight enough not to move to but cutting the blood off or uncomfortable. You can check by pressing your toenail (if it’s not too sore) it’ll look white where you press and go back to normal colour in a few seconds.

Minor injuries is the correct place for an injured toe after a fall.
Although if its resolving (swelling is lessening) i doubt X ray is needed.
Rest,ice compression,elevation should resolve it.
i get that a minor injury is an inconvenience but from what you describe its resolving spontaneously and you are still able to go about your day.
If it so severe it impairs your daily activities of living or isnt resolving or worsens ,id go to minor injuries,GP isn't the place for a minor injury.
Hope it resolves soon.