I’m absolutely sick of it this morning

[midsummerflowers]

I’ve complied, had a vaccine I didn’t even want for the greater good and yet I can’t see a GP for a baby in pain.

It’s just opened the floodgates. I’m fucked off with attending scans alone wearing masks, being stuck in hospital for two days giving birth alone, getting no support with breastfeeding, everything closing in midwinter with a newborn, no HV support, no GPs, no nothing. I’m fed up of not being able to use my home as a home because of DP working from it.

I wish this fucking pandemic would fuck off.

I don’t understand why some
GPs are ok to see people and some
aren’t!

Anyway, you are right to be annoyed. None of it is good enough.

Have you called the GP and been offered a telephone consultation? Because, if so, accept it as with our GPs that is the first step to getting seen (and yes, we have been seen quite quickly, when needed, that way.)

It's rotten isn't it? I had my second in December and while my care at hospital was just as substandard as it was with my first, the care afterwards has been worse if that's possible.

Midwife wanted to do a telephone appointment the day after I got home despite ds having 100% tongue tie and my nipples being sore. No one would check my episiotomy, I told them I thought I had an infection, I had to phone nhs 24 for antibiotics.

My baby had diarrhea for 2 weeks and was beginning to show signs of dehydration (light nappies). He was 3 months old at the time and the gp wouldn't see him, said he'd be fine as he was feeding extra.

The HV didn't do his 4 month check, he hasn't been weighed since he was 6 weeks old. And I had to push for the 6 week check to be done.

And don't get me started on how much my 4yo has missed out on.

I'm sorry your baby is in pain

It’s disgusting. Why won’t your GP see your baby? I had a smear test last week - why is this ok but they won’t see to a poorly wee baby?

It needs to stop now, too many people using covid as an excuse to basically just not do their jobs properly and be lazy bastards.

I’m starting to feel like that’s what it is rosie

It’s rubbish isn’t it. My dc was born in jan 2020 and by the time I’d recovered from birth we were in lockdown. Nothing has restarted here (semi-rural) and in any case, I’m back at work now. I’ve made no mum friends and feel as alone now as I ever have.

Every situation like the one you’ve experienced tips me over the edge into rage or despair. It’s thoroughly frustrating, especially when all logic seems to have been lost on what we can and can’t do.

No advice op but you have my absolute solidarity and sympathy!

shouldistop that sounds similar except I haven’t got a four year old as well. It’s horrendous.

@Greyrootszerohoots same here .

Midsummer, Can you make a phone appointment? GPs around here are incredibly busy and prebookable appointments get used up very quickly. Receptionists will put patients on a triage list if they need urgent or semi urgent assessment and a doctor will ring them back and then if necessary bring them up to the surgery. There is also the option of econsult ; the forms get read and dealt with in 24 hours. 111 can make GP appointments if they feel it is valid and another route not more appropriate. We have no walk in centres but there are daily surgeries with physicians assistants , often by phone or zoom and they can advise and treat.

@midsummerflowers

I’m starting to feel like that’s what it is rosie

I agree too and l work in healthcare!

Have you been offered a telephone appointment? If not, phone and ask for one. My DD had one, it was exactly what was needed to diagnose they really needed help and was admitted to hospital for surgery.

If you can't get an appointment, then I suggest A&E if you have a little one in pain.

I hope you feel better soon. It's not easy though. I think we've all been there, life hasn't/isn't the same for many of us.

Why are GPs still closed? I haven’t needed one thank goodness but feel for you all new mums so much. Why are they still not back to normal? Surely health workers have been vaccinated for months now. I don’t get it.

Our GP doesn’t appear to pick up the phone anymore so sure ... you can attempt to get a telephone consult at a time they then miss

We got told to go to A&E which is just a waste of time for everyone, and misuse of resources because the GP’s seem incapable of figuring out how to see patients

I don’t have much patience. No other countries systems have locked down their GP layer in this way. I know our GP’s are private businesses and it usually doesn’t impact things so much but at the moment it does feel like a “take the money and run” job.

As is usual ... I am sure “NAGPsALT” ...

It's disgraceful and frankly criminal that people are unable to access healthcare. It's like we are in a third world country but no, this is England in 2021.

I would complain through all avenues available!!!

This is appalling @midsummerflowers

I know you shouldn't have to but I agree with others you need to push .
My DH had to challenge PILs GPs pre Covid as they were already woeful at providing timely appts - he did this through the practice manager which may be an idea ?
This is why people are presenting at A&E !
I would make a nuisance of myself to be honest for a baby in pain .

And yes people need to complain in droves if GPs are avoiding face to face contact at this time .

Good luck OP

The GP should see an unwell young child or baby on the day. GPs really are working flat out and they will be willing to see you, but it may take a while to get through because there is high demand. You are likely to receive a phonecall first to discuss their needs.

GPs are not closed. They are actually treating something like 20% more patients than they would normally be doing at this time of year. Add in staff sickness and isolations and the system is struggling. I repeat - GPs are not closed.

It is ridiculous. My daughter was offered a telephone midwife appointment. What use is that? She has said she will take a face to face when available. You cannot check people properly unless face to face. I think we should allowed to opt out of the NHS and not pay 20% of our income tax if we do. She also had a GP call. He called 2.5 HOURS late! when of course she was not in a business meeting and had spent 2.5 hours worrying about the call and its time. That is not acceptable. Had she been sitting in the surgery they do not allow delays to be that long. The sooner we can opt out of this awful NHS the better and take pot luck with the virus and private provision.

@Xenia - yeah, it's a shame that society does actually exist and we all have to pay for it. Fuck Thatcher and her legacy, BTW.

OP, sorry your baby is poorly and I hope they get seen and are better soon.

I repeat - GPs are not closed.

Yet many are working from home. How can they claim to offer a full service when there's not even a GP in the surgery?

I don't know any Gps in my area who are working from home. Maybe they are isolating having had a household member with covid or a child off school because of a covid case and they have to work from home. We have had several staff members whose husbands have got covid and they are now isolating.
I had 2 lots of time off WFH earlier in the year as I was waiting covid test results. We can't open for all appointments yet due to the fact we have to space people out in the waiting room. I'm getting quite good at looking through my phone surgery which is the same as my old face to face surgery and telling people to come down rather than phone then come down. It's quite obvious sometimes when people are going to need examining. Id love it if we could open up but we are advised not to. Our nurses appointments have to be spread out too so not too many in the waiting room

I am with you. I have complied throughout but I'm doing it anymore. DF has been in hospital for a month now, I am unable to visit him but thousands can cram into stadiums to watch sport, that has been the nail in the coffin for me. In my (large) city, 22 people are in hospital with covid, but A&E is overrun with people presenting with many other things now that have been ignored and people have been unable to access a GP with.

It’s ridiculous now! I’m so sorry your baby is in pain 😢 have you rang 111

@Orf1abc - if you can provide data about 'many' working from home, that would be super.

I must tell my other half. He's been working 7 day, 18 hour weeks for months. He could have been at home all the time!

18 hours per day, clearly more than 18 hours per week ...!
Sorry