GP Closure

[TangointhePark]

So our GP practice has closed “as a precautionary measure”, my DD has a UTI - she has recurrent urinary infections and is under investigation to establish the cause so it’s well documented. We know the signs and try to catch it early. The GP practice has previously written a prescription for her based on my report of her symptoms.

Phoned the GP practice who said they’d leave a prescription for her, they then phoned back and asked for a urine sample, fair enough I said I’d drop it off when she finished school today. They then phoned, said they were closing the practice and I need to take her to minor injuries to get her urine dipped and be prescribed an antibiotic. How the hell is it safer to take her to a hospital, have her wait in A&E, which also serves the minor injuries clinic, to get medication for a known condition. And what do we do for primary health care when the GP practice is closed?

It’s not safer for her, it’s safer for the community. Or if your practice is closed due to the virus, do you want to endanger her yourself by going into the practice and bringing any diseases back home with you?

The practice doesn’t have the virus, there are no cases in the community, they’re closing as a precaution.

Hi OP. I had this once with a UTI and called 111 and they faxed a prescription through to my local pharmacy, I had to say that I had a raised temperature otherwise I fear they wouldn't have. Judge me for this if you want but I get UTIs a lot and know the only way for me to get rid is antibiotics. Might be worth a try?

Hope she's feeling better soon. When I was a teenager was when I started getting them all the time. They found nothing wrong after lots of tests and I found the best thing was just to prevent them with lots of water.

Just to add it did take a couple of hours- they had to arrange for an on duty doctor to call me back.

Also going to A&E isn't ideal, you wait for hours in agonising pain and then treated like you shouldn't be there.

They’ve said today there are contingencies in place to keep GP’s open even in worst case scenario so why on earth would they shut down for no reason. Doesn’t make sense!

I think that’s my frustration, they’ve given her a prescription before without seeing her based on her symptoms - I’d have thought given the pressure on hospitals that they’d do the same this time rather than me trailing her through A&E.

I have no idea, there are 4 practices in our area, two which are part of the same group have both closed. Unless it comes out later that the have had a case but that’s not what they’re saying at the moment and there are no confirmed cases locally. I’m in Scotland, there’s only been 60 cases across the country and 4 in our region, which covers a huge geographical area.

Stop acting so entitled and just take her to the minor injuries if you want a prescription.
AB's are not bloody sweets rightly so they asked for a urine sample.
Sorry the GP inconvenienced you today,
So sorry.

Oh do fuck off, you have no idea about my circumstances - I’m not entitled in the slightest, there are very good reasons for me not wanting to have my DD sit in A&E for something straightforward and for which she is treated regularly by her GP who has previously issued the medication I’m requesting now without needing to examine her. I have no issue with her needing to see someone or have a sample taken if needed but I’m sure there are better uses for A&E resources in the current situation.