How to see a GP in less than a month

andrewk08

Hi, a week ago a found blood in my stool and had very severe pains in my side. I tried to make an appointment with my GP at a health centre in Ashboune in Meath. The booking system told me, there are no appointments in July. Now in August, it tells me there are none for August. Every morning at 8am, I check for cancellations, which for my last appointment a year ago took 6 weeks.

It's just over a week now and despite the pains subsiding, my family think I should still see a GP. I am a private patient and also have private health cover. Is there another way see to see a doctor without going to A&E and collapsing on the ground?

zell12

Are there walk-in clinics around? https://doctor365.ie/

Akrasia

Have you tried phoning your gp? They'll usually triage appointments to see urgent cases

youtheman

As a slight aside, have you tried the bowelscreen.ie facility?. Think you have to be 59 or over. Brilliant facility that is free of charge. Works independently of your G.P.

wandererz

If you're willing to drive 30mins then consider Star Dental and GP in Clonsilla. Last time i checked they were still taking new patients. Call them up and ask them.

Quickest thing though is to go to A&E at Connolly Hospital in Blanchardstown.

You will have to wait a few hours but they should be able to do relevant tests.

ednwireland

if you have private healthcare. they normally have an online GP service. I've used them and they will normally refer you for scans and to consultants pretty quickly ( because they aren't seeing you in person)

headtheball14

There are clinics you can book an appointment online. I have used Suffolk street clinic at the bottom of Grafton st . you can book online and to be honest I have found them way more thorough and helpful than my own gp.

the_amazing_raisin

Check with your insurance if they have any walk in urgent care clinics

Laya and VHI both have clinics in Swords which should be driveable from Ashbourne. The Laya clinic is open to the public, but it is expensive at €180 without insurance

Irish Life also cover some clinics including Laya, you'll need to pay in full and claim afterwards

ax530

Did you phone ? I find the online booking system only gives out a small number of appointments to suit routine things can plan far in advance. For actual unexpected illness need to phone they will have spaces to fit you in

wirelessdude01

Just phone. No where puts all appointments on the system, some are always kept in reserve for emergencies.

Former Former Former

Yeah you really should have phoned, and they'd have told you to go straight to A&E. Blood in your stool and severe pains in your side and you still haven't seen someone a week later? Cannot emphasise how important it is that you get medical advice asap. At least go to one of the private urgent care clinics if you don't want to face public A&E.

ligind

Lots of solid advice above and I hope you have acted on it by now.

I am gp adverse but I would not wait a week to be seen with those symptoms.

PixelCrafter

Given the symptoms you're describing, I'd just suggest going to A&E and waiting it out. Those are quite serious.

andrewk08

Thank you for all the enthusiastic replies.
I have tried my GP booking system over 200 times now.

BTW I'm 30mins north of Ashbourne, so Dublin is 60-90 mins

• Just phone - They won't do this and the problem is, that the booking system will not allow me to book next month or 6 weeks away.
  (I'd gladly pay double the price to get an appointment)
• https://doctor365.ie/ - 90mins each way
• GP doesn't do triage or take phone appointments
• bowelscreen.ie not old enough for another 6 months
• Clonsila, thanks but too far
• Online GP service - Will try this
• VHI, I will try
• A&E Well now the pain has subsided, I don't see it as an emergency

watchclocker

You need a new GP if they don't triage for emergencies, that's not normal

VHI swiftcare or online doc in the meantime

andrewk08

Thank you all. I managed to get an appointment on Thursday and will check out the VHI options for future urgent visits. My GP definitely needs a proper booking system.

andrewk08

The access to a medical professional sage continues.

The GP told me to make an appointment to have blood tests done, first available appointment was a month after my GP appointment and cost me €42. Recently my wife was sent for blood test on public system with no wait, she went the following day.

Over the past week, the pains in my abdomen have moved to prostate area and I am weak and sweaty. I am worried that if I have an infection or something that this is too long a wait. This started on 1 Aug so waiting until the 4th September, seems ridiculously inadequate.

BTW - I rang the medical centre and there is no option to talk to a person and the only way to make an appointment is with the online booking system, which can takes weeks. Yes I know I need to find a GP that I have access to, but I believe that is almost impossible.

Former Former Former

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123727387#Comment_123727387

Over the past week, the pains in my abdomen have moved to prostate area and I am weak and sweaty. I am worried that if I have an infection or something that this is too long a wait. This started on 1 Aug so waiting until the 4th September, seems ridiculously inadequate.

You are 100% to blame here.

I'm sorry to be blunt but whatever is keeping you from going to A&E or an Affidea/Laya private clinic, get over it and go. You could have been seen by twenty doctors at this point.

JVince

VHI have a walk in clinic in Swords https://www1.vhi.ie/healthcare-services/urgent-care/swords.html

VHI also have a phone service via app https://www1.vhi.ie/healthcare-services/vhi-app

I've used the Laya online gp and have found them superb. Always an Irish based gp and able to do referrals if required.

I use my own GP for periodic full checkups.

From what you have posted you have made the difficulty yourself as there are several options open to you that you did not look at. If you have health insurance, read all the benefits, have numbers to hand (oncall nurse, oncall doctor, walk-in clinics etc)

I have laya membership number and the relevant contact numbers on a sticker inside the medicine cabinet

HildaOgdenx

Contact whatever health care provider you are with today.

You should be able to get a clinic appointment very quickly, possibly even today.

andrewk08

The VHI app will not allow me register, I'll try to sort it later in the week by ring them.

I have an out of hours doctor in Drogheda (Nedoc) that I'm trying to get an appointment with right now. If not, Ill drive to the walk in clinic in swords tomorrow.

Thank you for the helpful suggestions.

the_amazing_raisin

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123728068#Comment_123728068

The Laya Clinic in Swords will also take walk ins if VHI is busy

You just need your policy number for VHI

The clinic closes at 10pm. Stop faffing about and go there now, you probably have a major infection at this point

andrewk08

Yes, I believe that I have an infection. My GP should really have given me antibiotics and to wait until sept 4th for a blood test seems wrong.

stargazer 68

Good grief OP. You would have been sorted if you had just gone to A&E when it was suggested a week ago! Get sorted before you get sepsis!! Stop faffing about

andrewk08

I went to my GP and week ago and she referred me for a scan and a colonoscopy and told me to book bloods (4sept). She didn't say go to A&E.

glen123

why GP didn't take bloods during your appt?? This doesn't sound normal at all.

the_amazing_raisin

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123728488#Comment_123728488

Never had a GP take bloods, they always said to book it with the nurse in a separate appointment

Different practices, different rules

the_amazing_raisin

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123728386#Comment_123728386

Okay but that was based on your condition a week ago, which I understand has worsened since speaking to the GP

You really need to head to an urgent care clinic

Gremlinertia

To the original poster - go to urgent care be it a 24 hour on call service, private or public clinic..

Thread is being closed

Grem