Fuming

No helpful thoughts dalrymple23 about your current situation, but it would have been a good time to have rung 111 when you initially thought you had a DVT and certainly when you were coughing up blood. I feel sure they would have been of more help. Their calls are recorded so nothing can be invented. I have found them very helpful although you have to be patient with all the questions which often feel irrelevant. Hope you get some tests done quickly and answers.

Three weeks ago I tried to make an appointment to see a GP. Told receptionist that I thought I might have a DVT. No appointments available. I suggested that the clot travelling to my lungs, heart or brain might actually kill me and is that what NHS economies are all about? She told me to ring at 0830 the next day.

Did same. Could not get through. Several days later, someone from the surgery called and invited me for an appointment with a GP. Two weeks hence. In the intervening period, I had a strange episode of uncontrollable shivering, the rattle from my lungs could be heard in the next village and I started coughing up blood.

Called surgery on the Monday and was seen on the Tuesday by, not a GP, but a nurse practitioner. Allegedly, she would make arrangements for me to have a chest X ray.

On Thursday, I had a call from the DVT clinic at the hospital asking where I was. No idea what the woman was talking about. Her colleague swore blind that she had a conversation with me about the appointment at 1700 the previous day (no - I was with the physio). "The woman" rang the surgery who also swore blind that I had made the appointment with DVT clinic at reception on my way out. No. Went straight to the waiting car.

What on earth is going on? The blame game? I am not yet that ga-ga. Or are these people trying to make me so?

Any thoughts would be appreciated.

Good job the sensible GP looked at my husband's sore tonsil, (only one of them,) and put him on the two week pathway, he had it out, it was cancer and then he had to have six weeks of radical radiotherapy every week day for six weeks. We are very fortunate to have a really good surgery.

I feel for you. I had a similar experience in August.
I started sweating profusely, it was running through my scalp and dripping off my hair. My whole face was also running with sweat and I felt weak. I rang the surgery at about 3pm and to my astonishment, was offered an appointment at 5pm! Believe me, that NEVER happens.
I was seen by a young man, in plain clothes, who I assumed to be a GP. He didn’t examine me, but typed my symptoms into the computer.
He then told me I was suffering from hyperhidrosis, a medical type of excess sweating and prescribed a spray containing aluminium hydroxide, an antiperspirant agent to spray on my scalp.
After returning home, I started collapsing every time I tried to stand up. I rand 111 and they advised A&E immediately. There would be a really long wait for an ambulance, so I opted for a lift from my neighbour.
On arrival, my BP was 81 over nothing and pulse of 135.
Very quickly I had a drip in and admitted. To cut a long story short, I was having an internal haemorrhage. My haemaglobin had dropped from my normal 135 to66. Then I started passing dark red motions. I needed blood transfusions.
I’m still undergoing investigations, but it’s looking like the colon.
I have since found out that the eejit who prescribed anti perspirant is a physician associate.
I’m still unsure whether to take it further

Babs03

Well this is the latest in what is the ongoing saga about my awful GP practice.
A while ago I went to see a GP or someone I thought was a GP but was later told was a nurse practitioner. Anyway I had a really bad sore throat and a low level fever, he didn't even look in my throat and promptly announced that it couldn't be tonsilitis because older people don't get it. He then proceeded to launch into a lecture about the ill effects of taking anti biotics when they aren't necessary and told me to take Ibuprofen and gargle with salt water. Which I did. My throat didn't much better but my ears started up, I was in agony, so went back to the GPs, this time I saw a GP who said I had a nasty ear infection and prescribed antibiotics, I didn't think to mention what the nurse practitioner had said, thing is I believed him, had been ages since I had had tonsilitis and I imagined it must be like glandular fever only affecting the young.
Now I have a sore throat again and in conversation with my daughter told it couldn't be tonsilitis because I was too old to get it, she laughed and said that her MiL is in her early seventies and had it not long ago. Then I googled and found out that it is less prevalent in older people but if you have tonsils you can get tonsilitis.
So why did that stupid man tell me otherwise, was he just trying to get rid of an old fogey cluttering up the waiting room?
Am sure the awful ear infection was a result of an untreated case of tonsilitis, would write a letter but who really cares these days.

well I feel sorry for you.I'm sick to the back teeth of incidences like this .I could list several here but it would identify the people involved. It's really scary I think.

My husband saw our GP with a sore throat & was given antibiotics for Laryngitis when it did not clear he was given a further two doses.Twelve months later he died with throat cancer.So much for seeing a GP.

Please do not allow under 12's anywhere near aspirin

On the subject of palming people off… I see there is a vaccine for people who suffer reoccurring chest infections in the winter. My husband falls into this category.. but as he is over 80… he doesn’t qualify for it!! How is it we hear that hospitals are overrun in winter with older patients suffering chest infections!! Who made this decision! He is paying £300 to have the vaccine privately. Not an option for all. I did ask why this ruling was in place and was told it was due to economic reasons!!! False economy which will cause chaos and distress!!!

I have seen nurse practitioners and doctors at out practice and have been impressed and grateful for their care. I know GPs so often nowadays are overwhelmed with too many patients needing help that it makes sense to see someone else who is properly trained instead. But in any system things can go wrong, and no one (including doctors) is infallible. So I think if you are unhappy with treatment or a consultation and you think there is room for improvement then it is a good idea to send a complaint. (Not a rant! )But clearly set out what happened, and what you think went wrong, complete as far as possible with dates and names. If you can add a suggestion for how things could be improved, then do that too. For me, this is worth doing and I have in the past also sent a message to the practice website saying I was grateful for the help and treatment I had recieved. Worth giving positive feedback when we can, to people who are often overworked and still doing a good job.

Inadequate GPs and surgeries have always been with us, but at least you could see a doctor then, good or bad. Just turn up at 8.30 and join the queue in the waiting room.

What is more the doctor saw you. Eye-to-eye. If you looked anaemic, you got sent for a test. On the telephone, where a doctor cannot see you someone can be brought to the edge of death with anaemia, because the doctor could not see the patient and forgot it was one of the biggest risks with their medical problem. The result was a critically ill daughter whose survival was not asured. Yes, she lived, but if the doctor, good or bad, had seen her, one look would have told him she was anaemic and a blood test was required as soon as possible.

Don't think poor GPs and surgeries are a new thing. I can remember one local GP going back over 40 years who was nearing retitement and couldn't wait to get people in and out of his surgery and had little or no empathy with his patietnts. You knew if he was on duty at the local surgery that it would be a very quick visit and a scribbled prescription. Luckily the two younger doctors in the surgery were far more professional and one recognised I was developing measles when I passed out at school.

Shinamae

At 71. I still have my tonsils and appendix…
Quite aware that something could go wrong with either of them, but hopefully not..

But do you still have your index ?

Yes I agree. I had a very good experience in contacting 111 for
DH and the subsequent very quick arrival of 2 very efficient and sympathetic paramedics. They completed a raft of tests. The only not joined up bit was that their test results didn't automatically feed through to the GP. I had to take their printouts to the GP surgery to be scanned into his notes.
I expect that will link up eventually.

I have used 111 for myself and found it very helpful.

Can I put in a good word for the paramedics who now do the home visits. Did you even realise it was still possible to get home visits?

DH has had 2 this week because he was too ill to get the surgery and I was too ill to take him. We both have very bad respiratory infections.

The paramedic was superb, did all the necessary checks, had a huge printout of DH's underlying medical problems, which he consulted, and today used as the basis of referring him to the local Day hospital for further assessment, even though standard measurements, BP, pulse etc etc were OK. He said he was clearly very ill and his history of lung problems meant he needed extra tests . Any prescription he gives has to be signed by a doctor.

I am often very critical of the NHS, and with good reason, but for me the 111 service and now how home visiting works are a beacon of just how good it can be.

eazybee I agree with you. I also saw a nurse practitioner when I broke a bone and she was spot on.

I saw two nurse practitioners at two separate hospitals and was most impressed by both of them. The first occasion the junior doctor had signed me off without even seeing me (I had a broken wrist) and I was left to wait for five and a half hours before we discovered what happened; the Nurse P rectified it, and made things move. The second occasion I thought I had broken the other wrist; the NP thought not, but that I had chipped my elbow and asked for a specific X-ray in that area. The radiographer did not do this; I was sent back, treated to a diatribe about 'those nurses'. but the NP was proved right and showed me the minute chip on the second X-Ray.
Both NPs introduced themselves and told me who they were; they are highly qualified and experienced and I am surprised at the behaviour of the one in the OP's case. Perhaps it was a Practice nurse (not the same thing at all,) or a Physician Associate?
I would trust Nurse Practitioners above junior doctors.

My DH was due his blood test to be taken at home as he is bed bound. A nurse turned up unannounced this morning. Polite and pleasant but unexpected today. No prior text or phone call. Had it been the same time yesterday I would have been out for 20 minutes at the GP myself for a test result diagnosis. DH not able to answer the door. What a waste of resources that would have been. The nurse just shrugged his shoulders when I commented.
DH is also due his covid and flu jabs as well. No idea who will turn up to do them. No idea who to contact to have an idea of the date. I will ring the GP surgery later today, but they will no doubt say nothing to do with them. Its all a bit slapdash. We were pleased to have the blood test at home don't get me wrong and will be pleased to have the jabs, but it's not a linked up service and for the sake of a text is potentially wasting money. Sorry to have derailed from the actual thread, but it is all part of the overall problem.

Doctor didn't diagnose me with an underactive thyroid for 2 years, he insisted I was depressed. Spent 15 minutes with a nurse practitioner who said she was sure she knew what it was and did a blood test. 24 hrs later I get a call to say doctor needed to see me urgently. He looked at my results and said I must have been feeling awful, life must have felt like swimming through treacle. No shit Sherlock I'd been telling you that for 2 years.

Sometimes a nurse practitioner gets it wrong, sometimes a doctor does. They are all human.

I remember being diagnosed with Streptacoccal Pharyngitis back in the 1960s and it being described as 'strep throat' so I don't think it is anything new. My previous comment related specifically to tonsillitis.

annodomini

Anyone can get a bad sore throat with or without tonsils. I got it many years ago - without tonsils - and it was called pharyngitis. My throat was covered in little white spots and my temperature was well above normal. I think it's what is now known as a 'strep throat'.

Yes, I had that even though I still have my tonsils. It is very painful and makes you feel really ill.

Anyone can get a bad sore throat with or without tonsils. I got it many years ago - without tonsils - and it was called pharyngitis. My throat was covered in little white spots and my temperature was well above normal. I think it's what is now known as a 'strep throat'.

Caleo

GP surgeries have leaflets with info for patients. Should have a leaflet for tonsillitis or sore throat. Save everyon'e's time an anxiety.

Isn’t it just the sort of common sense we grew up with?
You didn’t go to the doctor for minor things- Mum would look out the Angers Junior Aspirin for 99% of problems and Syrup of Figs for the other 1%!

I think the myth about older people not getting tonsillitis stems from the fact that large numbers of boomers had their tonsils whipped out. Often their adenoids were removed too. I often felt envious of the large numbers of my classmates who got to eat jelly and ice cream post op.

Nowadays T&As are not so readily removed.

GP surgeries have leaflets with info for patients. Should have a leaflet for tonsillitis or sore throat. Save everyon'e's time an anxiety.

Your nurse practitioner is right about not taking antibiotics for a simple sore throat. Most adults have enough antibodies. However if the sore throat develops into a stiff swollen neck, acute fever, bad earache, and/or white spots on the tonsils, then go back to the GP or nurse practitioner.

I expect you could have got the above info from a reliable website or from 111, and saved your blood pressure .