Not a hcp but been very ill with covid and had to go into hospital today (double vaccd) and it has been incredibly hard to get any help. GP here is refusing all covid symptom patients, say call 111, 111 say call GP. Lots of people in the hospital today had the same and some had been left dangerously ill and were also been kicked off and left to wait in the cold, one 85ish year old in a wheelchair, no phone and clearly very scared and shaking with cold. It is very third world like, infact I think third world may have better healthcare in some parts of it.
I have spent 5 weeks very ill with husband past few days needing to help me 24 hours a day as so ill I cannot stand up, got several flags for sepsis, constant vomitting and diarrhea no food or drink is staying down and shaking violently, low oxygen readings and 111 saying your GP can do everything. Our GP will help with nothing, even when I reported breast cancer symptoms with a lump in April which is still there was told it would be fine as it varies in size. It probably will but it would be nice if someone would help. I had enough of everyone arguing (always well paid middle aged men who maybe go private for their healthcare) it wasn't their job and just replied have you tried getting a GPs appointment and that it is impossible to get any healthcare in this country and 111 offered hospital GP appointment with 6 to 8 hour wait. That is the first help I have had.
It was quite shocking there rammed full, the male doctors ranting about GPs (completely get that but complain to government / GPs / not someone very sick and powerless), the female nurses being amazing but looking absolutely exhausted and run down and seemed to be doing a lot of work you would expect doctors to be doing. Ward full and cleaning was minimal as staff so busy so imagine its a hot bed for spreading covid as everyone mixed together and minimal cleaning of toilets in covid A&E. It was the nurses who raised sepsis concerns, all the nurses (bar one male nurses who said with chronic diarrhea I was not allowed to use any toilet until I was in next section) were amazing. But people were clearly being put in danger, there was who phoned GP said very ill with covid, GP said we won't see you and over the phone told her its just a virus you will be better next week. She was in there with sats of 87, wearing an oxygen mask being tested for about 4 life threatening conditions though then kicked out at 91. After the BBC reported patients were being made to wait 4 hours outside A&E in the cold with no access to toilets the system now seems to have changed to you are kicked out as soon as they have finished whether there is anyone to collect you or not standing in the cold and people are being kicked out very ill and no access to toilets. I was out for an hour with severe diarrhea, thankfully I have not eaten for 3 days and made it back. I was with an 85ish year old in a wheelchair shaking with the cold, no phone, no idea if anyone was going to collect her, clearly very frightened. I stayed with her until someone came after about 20 minutes for her. And its surely only to get worse. I only saw one doctor at all for anyone the whole 9 hours I was there and I spent around 8 of it on the majors part of A&e. The GPs do seem to work long hours don't help me or my children with any mental health issues and autism diagnosis but they do help my husband. Seems there just isn't enough of them relative to need. Suspect it needs a whole lot more money and less private contracts. I wish we had French healthcare like my husband's country.