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Original poster

DD has double conjunctivitis and drs surgery are "too busy" to prescribe eyedrops[fume]

44 replies

spacecadet · 20/04/2006 14:50

dd woke up this morning with conjunctivitis, in both eyes, eyelids glued together, i bathed them, then rang gp and asked for chrloramphenicol, receptionist said, sorry gp is too busy today, theres only one doctor on and hes having to cover another surgery, so i said, ok, can she have an appt, receptionist says yes, friday 28th april!!!!!

OP posts:
3mum · 20/04/2006 14:55

You can now get chloramphenicol eye drops over the counter so any decent chemist should be able to sell you these.

waterfalls · 20/04/2006 14:57

You cant get them over the counter for children under 2 though, has to be presciption.

TinyGang · 20/04/2006 14:59

That's terrible!Angry

madmarchhare · 20/04/2006 15:02

Call them back, tell them that you will have to take her to casualty then. I did this once and was begrudgingly given an appointment by stroppy mare of a receptionist.

Original poster
spacecadet · 20/04/2006 15:02

the eyedrops in the chemist arent licensed for use on under 2's so cant buy them, poor little thing, her eyes are red raw and gloopy.

OP posts:
mommie · 20/04/2006 15:03

having just caught conjunctivitis off my dd (it is incredibly itchy) i sympathise enormously. can you get a doctor to leave a prescription for you at his office after a telephone consultation?

Original poster
spacecadet · 20/04/2006 15:04

madmarchhare, they actually told me to take her to the primary care trusts emergency walk in centre, rang them and they said sorry, we cant treat under 2's arrgghhh!!!, rang gp back and the receptionist said rather acidicly, sorry, we are opersating with only one gp, take her to casualty.

OP posts:
Original poster
spacecadet · 20/04/2006 15:05

mommie thats what i asked for, was told sorry, there was no gp there this morning and this afternoon, he is too busy.

OP posts:
expatinscotland · 20/04/2006 15:06

ring them again. there's a circle in hell for doctors' surgery receptionists. ask to speak to practice manager.

their staffing problems aren't your problems, ffs.

or wait and ring NHS24 and get an after hours appointment.

mazzystar · 20/04/2006 15:07

casualty for conjunctivitis?! are they having a laugh?

when ds had conjunctivitis over a w/e i rang the out of hours service, who faxed a prescription to my local chemist for me to collect, without even having to see the doc. can you try that/

can you find a nicer dr?

Original poster
spacecadet · 20/04/2006 15:09

have just phoned again, receptionist said, she would put dd's script request to the front of the pile but wouldnt gauruntee it would be done before tomorrow evening, she said there was nothing else they could do, as there was only ONE doctor there today, one doctor fgs, its getting ridiculous, its a big village and the surgery covers eight other villsages and most days there only 2 gps there, and they close on weds!!!!

OP posts:
Original poster
spacecadet · 20/04/2006 15:10

thank god im moving in 2 weeks, loads of people in the village complain about the surgery, its seriously understaffed for the area it covers.

OP posts:
madmarchhare · 20/04/2006 15:11

Oh fgs sc, I bet you were steaming. I would say try the 24 hour doctor but then you would need to find a pharmacy.

Call back as expat suggests and ask to speak to manager, complaining about attitude and so on.

You may have to take her to casualty if no joy though. Your poor dd.

madmarchhare · 20/04/2006 15:12

x post

Original poster
spacecadet · 20/04/2006 15:13

cant beleive that i may have to go and sit in casualty for god knows how long for something a gp could treat, this is why casualty departments are so blimmin overstretched.

OP posts:
mommie · 20/04/2006 15:13

spacecadet...it is a ridiculous situation you are faced with. i'd just go down to surgery with crying baby and sit there. i am always interrupted when i go to my gp's by a receptionist rushing in during appt asking the doc to sign a prescription. takes 2 secs

Original poster
spacecadet · 20/04/2006 15:15

no use going to surgery, they will make me wait till end of surgery!

OP posts:
expatinscotland · 20/04/2006 15:16

i'd ring NHS24. that's where we wind up gettng most of our care b/c of crap GPs and their cow-faced receptionists.

we got one straightaway on a fri. evening when dd2 got oral thrush at about 6 weeks.

bloody GP just fobbed us off.

madmarchhare · 20/04/2006 15:16

ah, go just before they close?

myermay · 20/04/2006 15:18

where is it that you live? the reason i ask is that my ds had conjucitivous the other wk and the gp prescribed 2 bottles (just incase ds1 got it). So it's unopened in the fridge. I know your not meant to just give out antibiotics but it's just an idea if you're desperate. I'm sure the pharmacist could help you.

Original poster
spacecadet · 20/04/2006 15:20

expat-will probably end up going there, thing that annoys me is the out of hours service is held at a hospital 15 miles away, then i have to drive around looking for a pharmacy thats still openAngry.

OP posts:
Original poster
spacecadet · 20/04/2006 15:21

myermay-im in cambs.

OP posts:
myermay · 20/04/2006 15:22

sorry not much help then, i'm in Farnborough, hampshire

waterfalls · 20/04/2006 15:22

Whenever my gps surgery wont see me or the kids, I wait a while, call them back and say NHSDirect told me I must be seen today, amazinglythey find me an appointment the same day.

waterfalls · 20/04/2006 15:23

Can you go to a pharmacy and tell them its for one of your older children?

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