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Pregnancy

Talk about every stage of pregnancy, from early symptoms to preparing for birth.

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Original poster

27 weeks, lump in breast. GP receptionist won’t give appointment

21 replies

JustThePerson · 04/02/2019 12:22

Hi,

I’m worrying myself here because I’ve found a lump on my breast. I’m 27 weeks pregnant. Just looking for some reassurance that things will be ok.

Also, I called my GP this morning for an appointment but the receptionist would only give me a phone appointment because I didn’t feel comfortable telling her about this. So I’m waiting for a phone call from the GP to see if a warrant an appointment! AIBU to think this system is wrong? I know they need to triage people but because I don’t want to tell a non- medical professional my personal info, I can’t get an appointment! Maybe I should have just told them?

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Anondonkey · 04/02/2019 12:24

I would have just told them. When I found a lump they had me booked in for a couple of hours later. They can’t give away emergency appts for non-emergencies so a basic triage system at reception is the perfect way to prevent time wasters IMO.

MrWolfknowsthetime · 04/02/2019 12:25

She has arranged for the GP who is a medical professional to speak to you. I’m not sure what more she could have done tbh.

LadyandGent · 04/02/2019 12:26

So the receptionist won't give appointments unless she knows what they're about is it?

babysharkah · 04/02/2019 12:27

I would have just told them.

Anondonkey · 04/02/2019 12:27

The GP will no doubt be unable to do anything over the phone so you’d have to go in for an exam anyway. So rather than waste time for the GP to call you just tell the receptionist and get the right care at first time of asking.

TwitterQueen1 · 04/02/2019 12:28

You should have told the receptionist. You can't expect her to do anything other than arrange a phone call if you refuse to give a reason why you need to see a doctor.

TwitterQueen1 · 04/02/2019 12:28

You should have told the receptionist. You can't expect her to do anything other than arrange a phone call if you refuse to give a reason why you need to see a doctor.

TwitterQueen1 · 04/02/2019 12:31

LadyandGent
I think that in most areas surgeries are pretty much booked up for weeks in advance but they will always find a way to squeeze you in if it's urgent or very worrying, in which case the receptionist is always 1st triage.

Sidge · 04/02/2019 12:32

Why on earth wouldn’t you tell the receptionist you want an urgent appointment for a lump in your breast?!

How do you expect her to allocate an urgent appointment if you won’t tell her what it’s for? That’s exactly the sort of thing those urgent appointments are set aside for!

Talk about cutting off your nose to spite your face.

CreakyBlinder · 04/02/2019 12:36

They're doing the best they can because they don't have all the information.

MoreCheeseDear · 04/02/2019 12:36

Just tell her. Ridiculous not to. It's your own fault you have to wait.

Celebelly · 04/02/2019 12:40

I had this recently (found large lump at 37 weeks). I went private in the end just because of time issues (didn't want to be spending hours at breast clinic with a newborn baby - my appointment was for after due date).

Anyway, I think I'd have just told the receptionist tbh. It's nothing to be embarrassed about (and the number of people who have seen my boobs in the last few weeks has made me remarkably blasé about it!). Then it would have been clear it's the kind of thing that needs to be seen.

Chances are once the GP has felt it, she'll refer you on to breast clinic and they will give you an appointment based on how urgent they think it is. Mine was within three weeks, but I have a family history of breast cancer.

Original poster

JustThePerson · 04/02/2019 12:55

Yeah I know. I thought after I should have just said but at the time I just didn’t expect it and just had a knee jerk reaction. It’s not out of embarrassment for it being my breast, I’ve had 2 kids already, I’m past that. I think it was more out of worry of what it could mean and not really wanting to talk about it in general. I know it’s not logical!

I have no doubt that I will get an appointment today when I speak to the doctor so I can’t and am not complaining on that level. It just made me think that I can’t be the only person who could miss out because of embarrassment or whatever other reason.

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Original poster

JustThePerson · 04/02/2019 12:57

@celebelly I hope it all turns out ok for you.

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QuilliamCakespeare · 04/02/2019 12:58

Really daft not to just tell the receptionist. If a GP is going to call you there's literally nothing else they can do.

YABU.

I'm sure it'll be ok though OP. I have a lump in my breast and it's just a spot of hard tissue, been there for at least ten years now with no problems.

MyKingdomForBrie · 04/02/2019 12:59

What do you expect them to do though. Hand out precious emergency appointments for someone who could have an ingrown toe nail or a wart in their thumb? The NHS is under huge pressure, everyone has to work with the system to help.

Celebelly · 04/02/2019 13:00

Thanks! It was just a big cyst in the end so got drained and I was in and out in an hour. Apparently quite common in pregnancy so I'm sure yours will be the same I know how worrying it is, though!

MeredithGrey1 · 04/02/2019 13:57

At my surgery they wont give you an appointment without a telephone call from the doctor, regardless of what you do or do not tell the receptionist. Its a bit annoying as it leaves you waiting with your phone all day, (ok for me as I work in a relaxed office, not so ok for people with some other jobs I imagine) but I guess they've figured out this is overall the best way despite some inconvenience.

FrowningFlamingo · 04/02/2019 16:28

It's a really common system for that to be routine for everyone in a lot of surgeries anyway.

We don't use it at my surgery, or much in the way of receptionist triage either. Which is why I get patients booking into 'urgent on the day' appointments for form filling and ear wax .

TacoLover · 04/02/2019 16:32

You should have told her. Your life(and baby's life) is more important than a bit of being uncomfortable.

Justus22 · 04/02/2019 18:22

Unsurprisingly lots of abrupt responses (always is on mums net) but I've seen a friend on fb say the same about her surgery and she felt uncomfortable discussing with the receptionist, I know her personally not to be an unreasonable person. I get that it's thrown you off guard but get the reason they do it too. If I was you I'd call back and say you don't need the Dr to call you but you have found a lump you need checking urgently. You don't need to say where even or go into detail. It'll safe you and the Dr time and hopefully she'll get you on quick. I hope all is OK. I had an ultrasound last week on a 3cm lump I found on my upper abdomen, it turns out it's just a harmless lipoma (fatty lump) but the doctors all took it very seriously until it was investigated properly. Try not to worry, I know it's hard, the Dr Said it's likely it was there long before I was pregnant but body changes have bought it out. X

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