what do you actually do if you need medical attention and you're with dmc? answers on a postcard?

[hellosailor]

I have a recurring kidney infection which over the years I have been told by the docs it's important to hit with antibiotics on the very first day it emerges as it spread so quickly I have ended up in A&E several times, but obviously this is the second day in a row I can't even get through to the recorded message stage of dmc, am in considerably more pain today than yesterday so while I wait for the infection to reeeeally take hold while failing to have access to a doctor or antibiotics, I was thinking

wave some nettles over the afflicted area?

power of prayer?

apply a poultice?

consult a witch doctor?

pray some more?

anything else I could actually do?

[melbourne groover]

Usually you can get an emergency appointment if you ring later in the day after the carnage of appointments opening has passed...or at least talk to someone there? Sorry if you've already tried this!

[Monkey]

What Melbourne Groover said. I would add that if you kick up a fuss (like my husband did a few weeks ago), they will miraculously find you an appointment. Especially if you say you are going to complain to the PCT and start asking searching questions such as how many GPS are working today in what is the GP surgery with the most patients in East Dulwich.

Hope you feel better soon.

[Fuschia]

Mail them.

[email protected]

and cc Lucy Harvey, the practice manager

[email protected]

Good luck.

[Fuschia]

Also, waiting till 6 and calling seldoc will mean either they get through to DMc on your behelf and DMc will squeeze you in between 6 and 7, or seldoc will see you themselves

[MGolden]

Another option although you sahouldn't really need to do this is get a prescription today whne you get seen and ask if you can have a second prescription so that when the infection recurrs you can take that prescription to the pharmacy on day one. You would still need to make an appointment to replace that prescription but it would mean you could have a prescription in hand as it were.

Prescriptions are valid for about six months so, depending on how frequently you get the infections, you may ned to actually have the antibiotics at home rather than the prescription.

Hope you feel better soon.

Michele

[Strawbs]

i CHANGED from DMC to the gardens as hated it so much there but I know you can call and request that the duty doctor calls you back and then will do so that afternoon in their allocated time slot. They can atleast tell you to come in and be squeezed in etc or give you some advice. Hope it helps!

[buggie]

The other option would be to attend/call and make an appt with the walk-in centre at Lister Health Centre in Peckham, while not resolving the DMC issue at least you'd get the treatment you need. HTH's x

[EDmummy]

Please ensure you make formal complaints about the problems you are experiencing (details here http://www.nhs.uk/NHSEngland/AboutNHSservices/doctors/Pages/NHSGPs.aspx). If they are not able to provide the service the community needs then something needs to be done!

[PB]

I second the Lister Walk in health centre in Peckham.

What may be really useful though, when you finally do see a doctor - speak to them about having an antibiotic prescription in hand so you can treat yourself when you feel the first signs of infection. I have had similar problems with kidneys and early intervention is the key.

[Gidget]

I don't think you can make appts at the Lister if you are not a patient there can you? Last time I went they couldn't see me as they said the waiting time was too long. Remember Fuschia saying she was once told 3 hrs. wait time.

[hellosailor]

Thanks everyone, ,very much appreciated! Lister not really an option I suspect as last time I went there they said you couldn't make an apt and the wait was 5 hours ,which I just don't think I can do with a teethy toddler and throbbing kidneys..

Seldoc always an option tho I hate to take up one of their slots with something I should be able to sort out during the day with my own surgery, but will prob end up going tonight if I can't get a cancellation at dmc..

I do normally have a set of emergency antibiotics on stand by, just as people have suggested, but as I've been lucky for the 18 months and haven't had an infection, they are out of date I think, so I think best to get fresh ones in case the old ones have lost potency.

I am loathe to move from dmc as I was very grateful to have the midwifery care of the Lanes when I had my daughter and would like to be with The Lanes again if I'm lucky enough to have a second baby, but obviously it is far from ideal not even being able to get through to your surgery on the phone, let alone get to see a doctor...anyway sorry to bore on, nothing that hasn't been covered a gazillion times on here before obviously..

Thanks Fuchsia for those details, will use them!

xx

[tiddles]

I must admit I too am getting sick of the hoops one has to jump thro to see a doctor. When I mentioned to the receptionist that how tricky it is, I was told it was a nationwide problem and the phone was put down on me. Once one has an appt, the doctors are great but this queing outside in the morning lark is just not on (an not always practical with small children and school run)

I am seriously thinking about changing now even though we have been with them for sixteen years.

[Monkey]

Tiddles, that is unbelievable. I prescribe DMC a big heavy dose of reality check. Dr Gupta would have to venture out of his mansion on to the mean streets of South East London though. Never have I hated a surgery with so much passion.

We're at the Gardens now. So far so good!

[cashewnut]

It's worth trying the DMC later in the day if your medical issue is urgent. I've called mid-morning in the past and been given an appointment almost straight away after explaining what the problem was.

[tiddles]

I am tempted to write via the email links given above but am concerned about being labelled difficult or worse, struck off their list (I should hasten to add I have no previous 'history' ) which I believe makes it tricky to be taken on elsewhere.

[Fuschia]

I haven't been struck off yet, despite a fair few complaints over the years!

That person Lucy is actually pretty helpful if you are polite but firm...

[midivydale]

This is a serious problem with DMC which could have cost me dearly. I had repeated UTI's during my pregnancy and as it was so hard to get through ended up with acute pyelonephritis and had to spend 5 nights at Kings at 19 weeks. Had I had an appointment when I needed and asked for one it would not have gone that far. It was a terrifying (and painful) experience.

After I complained following this incident (backed by my midwife and Leonie Penna at Kings) I have never had a problem getting an appointment again. I was seen throughout the rest of the pregnancy by dr Prahbakaran exclusivly and she saw me on the day every time I needed to see her (which was frequently unfortunately). She was and is a brilliant GP and she followed up with superb diligence for the rest of my pregnancy.

A horrid experience through and through and had I not been with the Lanes I would have moved surgery straight away.

At the moment I have resorted to take my 7mnth olf and que up at 7.45 rather than try the phones. Only works as I am on maternity leave,no idea how to solve this once back at work.

I wonder how long DMC can continue with this. And why oh why are they still accepting new patients?

[Fuschia]

Dr p is lovely and also prioritises me, after previous complaints

[Gidget]

Did you have to get PALS to intervene re getting prioritised?

[Fuschia]

No I made several complaints to the practice manager and then explained all my woes to dr P when I saw her - now I find that if a problem arises she tends to call me back personally to sort it ... Alternatively Lucy Harvey sorts things and mails me or arranges a call. It's not very quick though, so isn't necessarily the solution if I can't get through to make an appointment.

We usually end up at seldoc or a and e, which shouldn't really be necessary.

[Fuschia]

I don't feel bad now about being assertive

When twin 2 was 10m old despite several visits to the surgery a serious kidney infection was missed culminating in her having a fit, emergency hospital admission for almost a week

Exactly a year later twin 1 was admitted to hospital with pneumonia that had also been missed

About a year later, after twin 2 had been diagnosed with asthma and had a couple of ambulance dashes with that, both developed breathing problems at the same time

I called DMc who had no

Slots and sent me to the lister - where they tOld me the waiting time was 3h plus

I went back to DMc and insisted on an appt

The receptionist said one of them could see the emergency dr but not both ...

I must admit I rather saw red

Which one was the priority? The one who by then had had pneumonia twice, or the asthmatic one ....!

Eventually they saw them both

Now I just approach them ready to do battle if necessary

[cashewnut]

Blimey maybe I just got lucky!!

[Gidget]

Fuschia,

What a stressful way to live if you have a sick child - ready to do battle......so sad.

[Fuschia]

The sad thing is that the doctors are usually, fine, some of them are really lovely. The surgery just seems overwhelmed at times, you can't get through by phone, there are no appointments etc

I fear it will only get worse with nhs reforms