4m x 3m Omlet pen, cube, new auto door still boxed and coop light

[stoice]

SO frustrated.

 

I slipped on my decking the saturday before last. Landed on the small of my back (Coxix?) just above my most padded area. Full on, like the carton characters do when they slip on a banana. Ouch wasn't the first word I used! Although I use it now. My back hurts. I've been getting by on ibuprofen but it's been over a week with no improvement so I thought I'd see a doctor. I've also come towards the end of my pill repeat prescription (just under 3 weeks left) so I need to make an appointment for a pill review to get more pills. Ok I've left that a little late. Well. Gave up calling yesterday as it was constantly engaged so i popped in on way from work to make an appointment. I don't see myself as an emergency and am not fussed what doctor i see. First available appointment for any doctor: 1st May!!! Great. was told if i phoned in today they could get me in under their 48 hour appointment schedule and get one for thursday. Asked 'as I'm here now, can i make an appointement for thursday' - 'no, you have to ring tomorrow'. Great. So I've been ringing since 8am - constantly engaged. 9:01am i get through to be told they are all taken!!!!!! I swear they just keep the fone off the hook and deal with walk-ins until the appointments are all gone. Of course they are closed for easter aren't they? So how about tuesday? i ask. No - 'only same appointments after banks holidays'.

 

Am I going to have to make an 'emergency' appointment just to get seen? This is ridiculous. I'm not at deaths door or anything so would feel a fraud using an emergency appointment but what else can i do?

 

Anyone else experienced the same?

[clootie]

I know exactly what you mean. It's ridiculous that you have to make an appointment to be ill these days. Get whatever appointment you can - you're in pain and you need to be seen. For all you know you could have chipped a bone - get it checked out pdq. Hope you feel better soon stoice

[Chickvic]

I cannot believe they want you to wait until MAY! I'm sorry but I would ask for an emergency appointment, you could be making things worse by not having any advice.

 

My Dr's are just as bad, it you haven't got through in the first 5 minutes then you can forget it then they point out that you don't have to phone first thing to get an appointment

[Looney]

I was lucky this morning, rang to get an appointment for Bogwoppit at 8.10am and saw a doctor at 9am. We've generally been quite lucky here although you do have to be able to mega flexible to make the appointments.

 

 

What is frustrating is if you don't have a pre-booked appointment and ring in the morning for a last minute one they won't allocate you an afternoon appointment if all the morning ones are taken. You have to wait until 2pm and then ring again.

 

edited to add: hope your back gets better stoice. I would class it as an emergency if it is preventing you from getting on with day to day things.

Edited April 7, 2009 by Guest

[Leicester_H]

I'm lucky - anyone who turns up at my GP's between 8 and 9.30 is guaranteed an appointment that morning.

Its pain to have to turn up, get appointment, go home, wait and go back (they won't do it over the phone) but at least you get an appointment. Aftenoon appointments are all prebooked.

 

You should ask for an emergency appointment. You may have done something serious. You can't wait until May.

 

H

[bronze]

Don't get me started.

Recently ds2 was really quite ill. Lethargic, not moving or talking, grey and passing blood and clots, d&v earlier in the week but nothing left as he couldnt keep anything down including sucking a flannel. Really wasn't pleasant. (hes 4)

So I phone nhs direct because I wasn't sure if it was worrying enough to warrant a& e and they said phone the doctors. So I did. But I was at home on my own, I don't drive and my friend didn't have her car either so I asked them to come out. Oh no we don't do home visits only for those who need it.... the elderly. So I asked them to get a doctor to call me as soon as possible as I was really quite worried ( I was crying with stress and fear and thats rare for me). Almost an hour later I rang them again. o sorry theyre out on rounds so I started complaining a little. Oh hang on I'll just ask him, comes back to phone ' he says take him to a&e. So I had to phone DH get him out of a meeting, wait two hours for him to come home and then take ds to a&e. Sat in a&e for 5 hours before we were seen (with dd (2yrs) too and Dh had to go and carry on working. Eventually saw a doctor who said. Your GP should have dealt with this....ahhhhh

Turns out ds had torn his bowel and they sent him home

[bronze]

I'm lucky - anyone who turns up at my GP's between 8 and 9.30 is guaranteed an appointment that morning.

Its pain to have to turn up, get appointment, go home, wait and go back (they won't do it over the phone) but at least you get an appointment. Aftenoon appointments are all prebooked.

 

You should ask for an emergency appointment. You may have done something serious. You can't wait until May.

 

H

 

 

thats rubbish. If I needed an appointment I have to use the community cars and I would have to go after I had dropped of the children. I couldnt be there for those times and I certainly couldnt get there and back twice

[A chickychickychick-ENN!!]

That sounds nutsville.

 

I'm quite lucky at my surgery. They have the same system, but they can also use some common sense and sort of triage the appointments.

 

You definitely need help. That bit of your back sounds like the sacrum to me. The coccyx is almost between your legs and you wouldn't be able to sit if it was that.

 

Bet it hurts like crazy. I did something similar about four years ago and could barely move. I went to a chiropractor because I thought I'd jarred it and needed the pressure clicking out. Worked like a dream.

 

I think chiros can be a bit nuts if they think they can cure everything with back manipulation, but back manipulation for backs can be a very useful thing indeed.

 

I'd also ask the local councillors and/or MP to look into the not being able to get an appointment thing. It seems crazy.

 

If you don't want to see a chiro and the doc isn't free, the only other option is A&E. But DO get it seen to whatever you do. The longer you leave a back problem, the more the back 'sets' round the problem and the harder it is to put right - if at all - the longer you leave it.

[chickenanne]

Our GP surgery has a no appointment system in the morning: you turn up from 9am, book in, and wait for the Dr to become available. Sometimes you can be seen in 20 mins, sometimes a couple of hours or more. It sounds bad, but actually I quite like it because if you need to see the doctor you always can - for those times when you're ill enough to be off work then it's ideal. The downside is that the morning surgery is no use to you for "everyday" things as you can't really take a mornign off work for a doctors appt if it isn't anything critical.

They do afternoon appointments which tend to be booked up well in advance, but that works well for the routine stuff when you're not desperately in need of seeing the doctor, waiting a couple of weeks isn't unreasonable for something really routine,a dn if it can't wait then it's the morning surgeries.

If I were in your shoes, I would either (a) try to speak to the doctor on teh phone, or (b) go ahead and make an emergency appointment. Waiting 3 weeks for a non-routine thing is not possible.

[stoice]

Well I'm well enough to be at work, which is where I am now drugged up on nurofen with a cushion on my uncomfortable office chair (Ahem, er... working and surfing at the same time! ) so here's my plan... Being at work makes it tricky but I thought if I try to call again just before i leave work at 4pm and say it's an emergency (Should be back by 5pm). Then if they can fit me in as an emergency tonight, great. If not then hopefully early tomorrow. Then i can tell work what my plans are straight away and that i may be late in tomorrow and hopefully get seen. How people get to see their doctor again if they are requested to make a further appointment, I don't know. Surely they keep some appointments by. Failing that I may ask to sit in the surgery tonight in the hope there's a cancellation. Joy

[theherd123]

So sorry to hear about your accident and i hope you get seen soon as it sounds like you need it!

 

Anyone else experienced the same?

 

YES!!! Just this morning in fact! Gold dust springs to mind!

 

Isabelles eczema is getting a little better on her body but over the last few days her face and head have flared up terribly.

We put mitts on her to stop scratching but she chews on these, they get wet, she wipes her face with them & her eczema then gets worse.

We take the mitts off, cut her nails as short as they can go but she still manages to scratch herself to ribbons

 

My poor little baby looks like she has had a fight with a cat her head is that scratched and her cheeks are so red and sore we just dont know what to do.

 

Can we get an appointment to see a doctor - not on your life!

 

I called this morning and have been told to call tomorrow in the hope i can see somone tomorrow night IF they are doing a late evening surgery, if not then its call again from 8.30 am Thursday morning and pray i get through on the phone lines

 

We are hoping for more creams, an appointment with a consultant and possibly a silk eczema suit

[Tiggy]

I work in a GP surgery but sympathise with you, I think we've had this conversation before, the government put in the 48 hr rule and surgeries have been set targets. Apparently its what people want!!! In practice all it does is throw up a whole load of red tape that is a hassel for patients and a pain in the bum for staff, a bunch of appointments are blocked off every day for emergencies and cannot be opened by the desk staff until the following day, which is why you had to ring back Prob why they could not book a routine GP slot until the 1st May too,

 

then all the book on the day slots are normally filled up by people who have simple coughs and colds and sore throats, as a nurse practitioner it drives me mad

[Guest]

I really think you should see a doctor! You must have an out-of-hours service nearby. If I were you I would use that! I had terrible pack pain for yesrs and suffered in silence because of my useless doctor (now ex). I ended up paying privately for scans, consultaions etc, to get a diagnosis.

 

If you get worse - go to casualty - it's what we pay taxes for after all!

 

Hope you improve soon!

 

Louise

[Guest]

 

My poor little baby looks like she has had a fight with a cat her head is that scratched and her cheeks are so red and sore we just dont know what to do.

 

We are hoping for more creams, an appointment with a consultant and possibly a silk eczema suit

 

Oh the poor mite - I do hope you get some help for her soon as things can be improved with the right regime!

 

Louise

x

[theherd123]

Tiggy you are in the West Midlands - you dont work at my practice do you?!

 

The reception lady i spoke to was really understanding and sympathetic but like you said she could do nothing and i will just have to call back and pray i get through!

 

Thanks Louise - we are hopeful!

[Yorkshire Pudding]

We too were at the GP this morning, YS has a chest infection and has been prescribed antibiotics. Poor little mite has been coughing all week, throwing up occasionally and is so tired he's having an afternoon nap for the first time in 5 years.

 

We are lucky in that the practice is quite big and I can usually get an appointment if I'm not fussy who I see. You need to phone early - 8 or close afterwards, but unless there's some kind of epidemic on, it would be rare not to get seen.

 

However if I need an appointment booked ahead with a particular GP, those are much harder to come by... I have booked 6 weeks in advance before now.

 

 

Stoice it sounds like you need to be seen so don't feel guilty about bookeing one of those emerency slots if there is no other option.

 

Emma I hope you can get Isabelle in soon!

[chelsea]

I think you've definitely been patient and waited long enough. You need to be seen asap really.

 

Dont get me started on doctors appointments! whenever I go in or drive past our small village surgery I tend to see the same people going in (unemployed people who havent worked for years but look capable of working ) and taking ages in with the doctor, yet when anyone else goes in you are in and out within 2 minutes! (mini rant over!)

 

Hope you get it sorted soon Stoice

[sadietoo]

Hope you managed to get an appointment ok by now..Back pain is absolutely the worst it affects every thing you do...you have my sympathy. Our doctors surgery offers a same day appointment for everyone, but that does mean you have to be on the phone at 8.30 and as I work about 15 miles away from home it is not convenient as would appear at first. It works very well for the large retired elderly population (which in this part of West Sussex is most of the population) but not so good for those of us with kids at school or jobs to hold down....hey ho... at least we have the NHS....could be worse....

[Plum]

Bit of a coincidence you talking about this. My husband has a shoulder injury and is frequently in agony. He saw the GP ok a couple of weeks ago and had a steroid injection, needs to go for another with a double appointment but they are all prebooked for next two weeks and booking on the day only single appointments are available. How mad is that! In the meantime he is really suffering. Good mind to go private but why should we just because there are crazy systems?

NHS is supposed to be listening to what people want but it has a long way to go.

 

Theherd 123 why not try making an appointment with the nurse pratitioner they will have access to the GP's ear.

[Chookiehen]

All of a sudden, I feel quite blessed by our tiny village practice. Two doctors and one nurse work valiantly each day, and if you phone and need an appointment that day, you can be seen by a doctor, even if you have to go and sit for one of the two open surgerys, at either 11:30 or 4:30. I have phoned a couple of times, for Squidger, first thing, and had a doctor pop down in the car before morning surgery, complete with a selection of appropriate medication, ready to be prescribed and handed over ( we have a dispensing surgery, as the nearest pharmacy is miles away)

 

Chookiehubbie hasn't been great over the last few weeks, and he's had to phone a couple of times for quick appointments and never been let down.

 

On the other hand, in the last house, we had a giant surgery up the road, with 20 doctors, and would struggle even to make appointments 4 weeks in advance - when I was pregnant with Caitlin, I needed to make an anti-natal appointment for the week before my c/section was due, and was unable to get the appointment, and as a consequence her heartbeat & presentation wasn't checked for nearly 8 weeks before the birth, and we nearly lost her when they discovered the cord was prolapsed due to her presentation when I went into early labour.

 

Emma, I would echo Plums advice - the nurse is usually easier to get an appointment with, and will get the gp through to deal with things if need be.

[Guest]

I'm lucky with the one I have now - its phone at 8am for same day or book about a week ahead. It has taken me up to half an hour to get through sometimes but I've always got an appointment. They have Nurse Practicioners too so that can be handy if you just need a prescription - they give you a full once over too - listen to chest, take blood pressure etc.

 

I called this morning at 8am and was one of the first through (I was calling before the clock ticked over and getting "The surgery is now closed" I got straight from that to the queue without gettign engaged) But then again they will be quieter than usual this week as a lot of the malingerers (and that includes the kids!) are off. Funny how in the holidays less people are ill!!!

 

James has a Whitlow (sp) again - VERY reluctant to go as the last time it had to be burst and that was VERY painful. But I know it needs antibiotics and it could get worse over a long weekend - I don't want to be calling out a doctor for this (I'm not one to call out a doctor for a "sore finger" but the last time, when it needed bursting the kid couldn't use that hand because the finger hurt so bad and he is not a whiner - more of a get on with it sort of kid). I would call out the doctor if I needed to though - NHS direct are useless and this kind of thing is not a hosptial matter - the Doctor pays for an out of hours service to cover call outs and I pay my taxes for this service.

 

Anyway - I better go and get dressed as our appointment is at 9 - I could have got an earler one but we weren't dressed and we live 8 miles away from the surgery (which is a bonus as it means we can get out prescriptions from the dispensary - if you live locally you have to walk round to the chemists)

[stoice]

In the end I called about lunchtime and said it was an emergency. They saw me at 4pm! Doc prescribed me stronger NSAID medication (Non Steroidal Anti Inflammatory Drugs). He said there was a possibility I had chipped a bone and asked if I could be bothered with an x-ray (Considering how tricky it was just to see a doctor? I don't think so!) but in the end we both thought it was just muscular. And he extended my pill repeat prescription review to a years time in stead of 6 months which is a bonus. All sorted. Back was feeling a little better last night after the Dicloflex kicked in.

 

Thanks for all the advice, just so frustrating isn't it?

[Blackrocksrock]

Dicloflex - great drug - watch your stomach - makes people incredibly constipated! - me included.

[Valkyrie]

Well for goodness sake - haven't you realised that you should make an appointment before you injure yourselves or be ill? Tut tut!

 

Plus you have to pass the dobermans at reception, who seem to be able to know what is wrong with you because they ask for your symptoms and decide whether you need to be seen quickly or in 2 weeks. I just tell them it is urgent and personal and I don't want to discuss it with them nowadays. Although I haven't been for a long time now - hate the docs, prefer the dentist.

 

I had Dicloflex for my neck - super dooper! As I get IBS, I was quite happy with the opposite end so to speak!

Glad you are feeling much better.

[theherd123]

I have an appointment!

 

Ok its at 7pm tonight with an unknown doctor, its right in the middle of Isabelles evening sleep but....

 

I have an appointment!

 

Poor little thing she is lying next to me now wearing half a tub of emmolient, an eczema suit, 2 pairs of mitts and a cotton hat. She is battling to rid herself of the mitts and hat but they are holding out at the minute!

 

Thanks for the advice about seeing a nurse - if it was just a routine appointment i would see the nurse but we really want to be referred to a consultant - can nurses do that?