Good afternoon all,

Looking for some words of comfort and/or opinions please.

I've had a sore throat for approaching 12 weeks now. I left it 4 weeks before seeing a GP, they did a swap which apparently found fusobacterium. I had 1 course of antibiotics, followed by another type but the sore throat remains, a repeat swab shows the bacteria has gone but the sore throat still persists. I also have some difficulty with swallowing, feeling like I have to swallow twice sometimes / like I have a lump in my throat around the adams apple.... I also have 1 prominent lymph node.

The doctor as a final option gave me a steroid nasal spray for post drip which has also not worked. They have finally with me asking numerous times agreed to do an ENT refferal, however a week later ringing my doctors surgery it is still awaiting the secretarys refferal - they are short staffed blah blah. 

I feel like a persistent sore throat for 12 weeks should be seen a lot more urgent, if the refferal hasn't even been sent after a week then god knows when I will be seen.

I'm investigating the option of private diagnosis but without private health insurance it's money that I will struggle to afford but at the same time my mental health which is usually 100% fine is ruined, I'm stressed, worried and depressed with the fear that this could be something more sinister than a normal sort throat.

Is there a way to get a quicker refferal from my GP? Would ringing 111 and stating my symptoms likely get me seen quicker?