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The UK is a joke

Roswell

I called up my GP surgery at 8AM as they say to do so, and got an engage dial constantly for the next hour and a half upon repeated attempts to call (I tried again every 5 minutes). Then at 9.30AM, one hour and a half after they advertised for people to make appointments they FINALLY picked up the bloody phone, only for the receptionist to say call at 8AM.

I have a toenail that's turned purple and one of my fingers has lost most its sensation and isn't moving properly. I told them this. They said call 111. So I did. I went through a whole load of bureaucratic germanocracy. Then I was told maybe my problem wasn't serious, but go see the pharmacist on this street.

So I did. When I got there, I was told by the receptionist the pharmacist will see you in 10 minutes. I waited 20, no sign of them. It was in a supermarket, this pharmacy, so the security guard was watching me eagle-eyed thinking why is this guy stood there for so long? So I panicked and couldn't wait anymore and left. So much for healthcare in the UK.

  • I've found the NHS a joke ,all 4 of my children have been mis-diagnosed or neglected ,2 could of died ,i got 15 k compensation once .

    My mother they said had a stroke and would die within 24 hours ,so there was no point in treatment,she walked out of hospital 10 days later. my father they said had picks disease and sectioned him and locked him up ,he was just autistic .

    There are alot of kind people in the nhs ,but alot of bad doctors ,who don't like to think they don't know the answer so just guess.

    We have one of the highest death rates in the world 

  • That sucks. You did really well. Sorry the system is a joke.

  • I've heard quite a few experiences of crappy healthcare at the moment. Really sorry to hear that you had a bad experience. Hope you're doing a bit better now Roswell! Take care of yourself.

  • in reply to aidie

    I make sure that I go to Craigavon Hospital for A and E purposes.

  • in reply to Blue

    But yes, fair point, I can go to another pharmacy. I just don't like that you suggest it's as easy to deal with a security guard as getting a sunflower lanyard or awareness card. My anxiety levels would still be high with those.

  • in reply to Roswell

    Sounds like a possibility. Take care & don't hesitate to get seen if it gets worse. Services are crapper than usual at the mo, unfortunately, but persistence is key. 

  • in reply to Trei

    Thanks. I feel quite a lot better now. I think it's not as serious as I feared. I don't know really but I found something online that said it could just be bleeding under the nail. I think I might have been wearing my shoes too tight. I walk a lot so it could have just been the toe was stubbed.

  • Thats terrible. For GP appointments, the best thing I found was to wait outside at 8am. If that's not possible for you, keep redialing constantly until you get through. Don't wait 5 minutes. use ring back if you have it. Good luck. 

  • in reply to Blue

    Stop being so presumptious. You don't know how Autism affects other people, only how it affects you.

  • in reply to Desmond79

    last time i was in A&E it was a 10 hour wait.  Stay away from antrim hospital.

  • You need to go to another pharmacy maybe one that’s not in the supermarket or shopping mall/complex. 
    have you made any attempts at calling the local authority for a needs assessment yet. Because you social/support worker could help you get to another pharmacy to be seen. 
    their is no point in posting it on here and whining about it when you have barely made an effort, you decided to leave to pharmacy early if you had stayed you would have been seen. If you where worried about the security Guard and you know they make you anxious why didn’t you take advantage of the sunflower lanyard and autism alert cards. 

  • Go to a different pharmacy, have your foot examined.  If they think it's serious then they should call an ambulance.

  • Here in Northern Ireland, A and Es are abysmal. We go to the ends of the Earth to avoid hospitalisation.

    However, you are right that Covid has turned our Health Service upside-down.

  • This is why people go to A&E rather than their GP, as then they will be seen and investigated. Not what A&E is for but with the other stages so bad, can anyone really wonder.

    A minor ailment unit may be available in a hospital in your area as it is in mine.  They are nurse led and no appointment is necessary and a specialist will be called if anything needs investigating.  Although primarily concerned with first aid, they deal with any suddenly occurring health issue which is giving worry.  And they immediately refer you to hospital if they consider it an emergency.