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Private referral as can't get an appt with GP

Jenijen81
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Hi everyone, I've just joined the forum.

 

Has anybody initially gone private to get a referral? How does it all work? 

I can't get an appointment with my GP. Patients have to call at 8am for a same day appointment, they are so busy that we redial 100+ times before we can get through and by then all the appointments are gone and we are told to try again the following day. I'm always mid school run at 8am so it's really difficult anyway. The receptionist is very inflexible and tells me to go to A and E if it's urgent...

If I was to go private, would they do the same things as an initial GP appointment? (Examine me and refer on if necessary?)

A bit of background about me, if it helps. I've just turned 40 and have 4 children under ten. I've been having irregular, heavy periods for about 8 months (17-28 day cycles when they were always 30 days), lots of discharge (some blood stained), lots of spotting between cycles (everyday for the past month), heavier vaginal bleeding with a bowel movement, low tummy cramps, a bit of back ache and fatigue (although I've been permanently knackered since having children!).

 

Thanks for any advice

Xx

 

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    Gosh, that's really rubbish with the GP system. How firm have you been with the receptionist? I know it's especially hard at the moment but they do have a duty of care to you and it's not the receptionist who should be 'triaging' it's the Dr who can offer a telephone appt. on the day. I would push this.

    I empathise about feeling knackered since having children and I've not got 4 under 10 y/os!

    What do you mean by heavier vaginal bleeding with a bowel movement? Is this when you're not on your period? 

    xx

  • Offline in reply to SunshineH

    Thank you. I do need to be firmer I expect, but find it hard to be as I think they are having a hard time of it at the moment with people kicking off about not being able to get appointments. (I'm a wuss).

     

    Yes - when not on a period I bleed when having a bowel movement

  • Offline

    Hi,

    I have gone privately due to the wait time.  You need to get a doctors referral but I did mine through Babylon Health which they did the referral and they then sent the letter to my GP.

    Hope this helps

    Kernow

  • Offline in reply to Kernow200

    Thanks Kernow.

    Do you mean you saw a private Dr and then they referred you to the specialists that you needed on the NHS?

    I'm a little worried that once I start with the whole private service, I won't be able to get out of it and it will cost me £1000's.

    Do you have any opinion on whether it would be best to see a private Gynecologist or a private GP?  

     

    X

  • Offline in reply to Jenijen81

    Hi,

    No,  before Christmas I had pain in my breast and my doctor said it would take 6 weeks to get a referral in our area unless there's a lump.  I was in so much pain on Boxing Day and couldn't get through to 111.  So I contacted Babylon Health who are NHS.  They did a referral and I have gone for a private consultation as I'm extremely worried and painkillers are not helping.   Bablyon send a copy of the referral to your GP.  

    Kernow

  • Offline

    Hi,

    Do they have an online booking system?

    I completed an online form with my concerns and a Dr called me the next day with an appointment that same day.

    They then did a referral to the hospital for suspected cancer (although she said it didn't mean she thought it was cancer). I had an appointment with the hospital 3 weeks later. Now I have to wait 3 weeks for an appointment with the consultant.

    I hope it helps. It's a pain trying to get through on the phone.

    x

  • Offline in reply to Anon2

    Thank you 

    No, all appointments have to be made by phone. They used to have an online system, but they suspended it when the pandemic started. 

    I hope your appointment goes well XX 

  • Offline in reply to Jenijen81

    Hi Jeni

    My GP surgery went to this system (phone up on the day) for the same reason and you just couldn't get through at 8am.  I tried for 3 days, then luckily my GP had picked-up the endoscopy report and proactively dealt with it/arranged phone call.   It was incredibly frustrating - like they were denying me help/progress with my health.  

    You need to pursue the GP route.  Tell them how many days you have been trying to phone and that you are on the school run at 8am.  Perhaps you might be able to have more success at 8am whilst the schools are off?  Failing that explain your symptoms to the receptionist if you can bear to (I know it's difficult and you are entitled to some privacy) and justify why you need an appt.  I've read another thread about this symptom and how it was ignored . . . . . .   Have you got someone who can phone on your behalf?    Does the GP have a triage system where you can speak to a nurse when all the appts are gone and you consider it urgent enough (it is urgent if you've been trying for days and can't see a dr).  Or ask to speak with the GP Practice Manager.   Or ask how you raise a complaint about not being able to get an appt?  

    Failing that - walk into the minor injuries / A&E.  You're the most important person here, not the GP process.   Others on here have done this when all else fails.  

    I don't think you'll get any luck with "private"  - you access private medicine through a referral from a GP or another NHS practitioner.  Private med just doesn't do daily care.   

    Like others have said, the NHS used to have a commitment  to seeing anyone within 5 days.  There is a duty-of-care requirement on their part.  

    Your situation really upsets me.  Good luck, and let us know how you get on.   

  • Offline

    Hi Jeni,

    I know it can be difficult to be pushy but really try to do it. I agree fully with Me_.

    It could be something as inncocuous as a fibroid causing your symptoms but you need advice from a GP. 

    x

  • Offline in reply to Jenijen81

    Hi, 

    I first saw my gp in March about my irregular period n spotting. The gp said it was because of perimenopause. I am 48 now. 

    But as I felt something wasn't really right, I went to a private  ultrasound clinic to have a scan and it showed the uterus lining very thick. The staff who did the scan told me to inform my gp. When I told gp, she said it was normal but would refer me to see a specialist to see if I needed a coil. Then I waited...nothing happened. In August, I went to have another scan at the same private clinic. The scan showed the uterus lining was even thicker than before. So I again sent the scans to my gp, same reply but still no referral appointment was heard in a month. Then i went to see a private specialist at the private hospital in my city without a referral. I waited for 3 weeks for the free slot for seeing that doctor. On that day, he gave me a scan n immediately said I needed a biospy to see if it was a polyp or something else. Then the biospy came back in a week showing it was uterine cancer. He immediately referred me back to the NHS n on 28 Oct, I had hysterectomy n now I need radiotherapy as it is stage 2 endometrial cancer. 

    So my comment is: do not wait for nhs or gp if your symptoms persist, it may take forever. The cost of seeing the private doctor in my case was about 1000 to 1500 pounds. Then once I was under the oncology path of the NHS, i.e. the hysterectomy n now radiotherapy, it is free of charge. 

    Maybe the gp practice in your area is different. Hope my story can give you some reference. 

    Best wishes, 

    Chui 

     

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