Advice over Gp not seeing my baby

[xnyl]

My son (21 months) had had reoccurring perforated ear drums, infections and discharge from his ears since he was 4 months old. It was a constant battle to get the GP to see him, usually the nurse would prescribe antibiotics without seeing him. I've had two trips to A&E who have referred him to ENT, but the waiting list is huge.

The last infection was 3 weeks ago and I had to take him to the walk in centre (as it burst and discharge started and he become unwell) on the weekend, he was given antibiotics and they said both ear drums had perforated but would heal and advised the GP needs to see him in two weeks.

I cannot get an appointment. They keep telling me to phone at 8am, I am doing this and they say the appointments are gone, I explain he really needs a follow up but they literally told me to come to the door at 8am to chance getting an appointment! I have two toddlers, I work full time I can't take a morning off to "chance" getting an appointment.

Is it like this everywhere? I don't know what to do.

Tbf if all is now well, and he already has a referral for ENT, there is little point seeing the GP for them to say ‘yes antibiotics have worked, all looks fine now, come back if any other problems”.

Is booking to see ENT privately an option? It would likely just be for the initial consultation then they would have him in the system iyswim.

I agree with @APseudonymNeeded the priority at the moment is pursuing the ENT referral rather than seeing a GP to confirm what you already know.

Whenever I'm referred anywhere healthwise, scans/consultations etc., I contact the appointments office and advise them I'm willing to take a short-notice appointment at any location (our HB covers a substantial geographical area).

I've been seen much sooner than my original appointment date due to offering this flexibility - a couple of the appointments were same day and not exactly local, but I took them to get the ball rolling. Is this something you could do?

In order to get through and get an appt with my GP I have to start repeat dialing at 7.58am for when the lines open at 8am as if you start calling at 8am by the time you get through 15min later they've all gone.

It sounds like it would be worth you looking at a private ENT if at all possible, 18mo is such a long wait for a little one in pain.