I feel incredibly lucky and fortunate reading some of these replies.

I've been needing some medical help (mental and physical) and appointment wise it's generally been okay. Like Punter99, my practice has an online thing too so I can just say "I need to speak to someone about xyz" then my GP will phone me up later in the day and then take it from there if he feels an in-person appointment is needed.

As far as referrals to other departments, it's been pretty good so far. I got referrals from GP > Rheumatology > MRI and it was maybe about 4 weeks from that GP appointment before I was stuffed into the noisy tube. Still waiting on the results but I'm not expecting anything before the new year, which is fine, I'm not going anywhere.

To be honest they are correct. A GP is a generalist. An ophthalmologist is a trained eye doctor. Now, some opticians are what are called dispensing opticians, but most have an ophthalmologist available. Those who have done the undergraduate and post graduate courses can dispense prescriptions.

I was referred for cataract surgery by my optician immediately on being seen. However, the NHS is structured so that the actual surgery appointment has to go through your GP. Took that bit 2 1/2 years.

My surgery does online triage, so no need to phone up at 8am. Type your symptoms in online and then a GP will phone you back later that day. The last time I had a problem with my eye, the GP told me to go to the optician, because they were the 'experts'.

This is now standard going by chats with people around the country.
Going private is not always easy as some need you to be referred by your GP, unless you are paying a fortune...

Sometimes as "society" grows more eloquent in their word usage, and the masses gets used to being told something "is the fact without evidence",  we are ourselves at fault!

Ever called a "customer hotline" and a voice message apologies for "the unexpected increased demand" every time you call no matter the time of day? Could it simply be they are under staffed? Or individuals extenuating the current circumstances for their own agenda?  We all have got used to delays over the last couple of years.

In other words the consequences of this particular scenario can create emotional support in you to a cause elsewhere you may not previously of supported.

Learn from yesterday, live for today, hope is for tomorrow else what is left if you remove a mans hope.

I have spoke to an Optician also and I am now wearing glasses which has helped massively with my good eye. Optician said it could be allergies and prescribed drops for it but did not solve the issue and I have never been known to have any kind of allergies in the past. For the first year I believe it was conjunctivitis, then later developed into red eye which could be the same thing.. I really do not know. All I can say is I am having to constantly fish out mucus from my eye and the Drs keep telling me "everything is normal" when I hand in samples.

Have you tried an optician Dan? They’ve got so many great tools and tests to see what’s going on in and around the eye.


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Fighting or Accepting - its difficult to know which is right and when.

I have had an issue with my left eye for the past 2 or so years since face masks were mandatory where it keeps becoming infected with something, I managed to get a number of GP appointments, never the same Dr. Was always someone different. Tried various eye drops and still the issue persists. It comes and goes, but over the past few weeks it has not been so bad. But after giving them 5 samples they still have no clue what the issue is with my eye. I did manage to get another appointment for a specialist later this month, but every time I called to make an appointment I was always told "unless your issue is an emergency a GP appointment can not be granted". I was refused to see a Dr a few times but I persisted. One Dr told me if it keeps happening to try a course of antibiotics which I attempted to do, but the Dr refused and just gave me lubrication eye drops.

My Drs also state to call in around 8am but the lines are constantly busy and I can never get the phone to ring until 9

My last appt was a phone appointment, talking about my stress headaches. She said we 'get a lot of them'.
The situation about booking appts seems the same in most places. The NHS is on its knees. If you can afford to go private, then do.
Otherwise, persevere and hopefully you will get an appointment. If ever things do get too much remember 111 on the phone and https://111.nhs.uk/ online or 999 if you believe it's getting to the point of an emergency.
Stay well.

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Fighting or Accepting - its difficult to know which is right and when.

Hello,

Is anyone struggling to get a GP appointment?
My surgery you have to ring at 8 and you will be triaged by a receptionist.
If you are lucky you may get a phone consultation with a doctor.