The reason we offer same-day appointments is because, for many people, seeing a doctor urgently is very important. It can be extremely stressful not to have access to immediate healthcare when you need it.
You can imagine feeling suddenly very unwell, having a high fever or experiencing an injury, and having very few options of where to go to access appropriate healthcare. People are often sent to different places, and it’s difficult to know where your condition best fits.
You may have a high fever and try to get a GP appointment with your NHS GP and struggle to do so, but you’re aware also that your condition is not appropriate for A&E. So what do you do?
You may not have considered a private option before for urgent care. You may have assumed that private care is more for planned or routine issues such as operations, seeing a specialist, or conditions requiring hospital care.
However, private care has many options for urgent doctor appointments. And urgent care when you need it. These appointments sit somewhere between a routine GP appointment and needing A&E, making them perfect for the following circumstances: the most common reasons we see patients book urgent doctor appointments.
Respiratory Infections
Conditions like bronchitis, pneumonia, or severe colds can lead to difficulty breathing, persistent cough, or chest pain, prompting individuals to seek immediate care.
As we discovered more and more during the pandemic, some respiratory infections can start off feeling mild and then escalate and become more serious, affecting our breathing and causing shortness of breath. In these circumstances, it’s very important to see a doctor and not try to see it through alone with rest and fluids.
Injuries
Accidents resulting in fractures, sprains, or cuts that may require stitches often lead to urgent visits. People want to address pain and prevent further complications.
One of the most frustrating things about an injury such as a finger cut or a wrist fracture is that it’s not something you can ignore or delay looking after but also can result in a 6 to 8-hour wait at A&E. It’s important that there is an option that prioritises injury such as these and this is where private care such as ours comes in.
When you see us for a wrist fracture, for example, you will see a doctor who will examine you at a time that suits you. You will then have an x-ray with an immediate result and either have a cast fitted right away or be referred to a specialist if the fracture is more complex, who you will see within a day.
Our affiliated urgent care centres can see you for injuries after no more than a 20-minute wait and ensure you get the most appropriate care as quickly as possible.
Gastrointestinal Issues
Symptoms like severe abdominal pain, vomiting, or diarrhoea, especially if persistent, can indicate serious conditions such as appendicitis or food poisoning, leading to urgent attention. One of the biggest dangers of this kind of illness is dehydration, and you may need urgent IV fluids.
So, a fast assessment of an urgent GP appointment is necessary to make a quick action plan, should that be the case.
Skin Conditions
Rashes, severe allergic reactions, or infections like cellulitis can cause discomfort and concern, prompting individuals to seek quick evaluation and treatment. It’s easy to ignore skin conditions and assume they are not serious.
However, conditions such as cellulitis can escalate quickly and need immediate and urgent medical intervention. Some skin conditions can also indicate the presence of a severe illness, especially in children, and urgent intervention is needed.
Fever
A mild fever when unwell is normal; however, when it exceeds 38.3°C, it’s important to seek medical attention through an urgent doctor appointment.
Overall, urgent doctor appointments usually fill the need somewhere between an NHS or private GP appointment, and they need to go to A&E. It’s a separate category that is very helpful to know about as it can save you time and ensure you receive care as urgently as you need it.
For more information, call us or book online today.
