How the hell do you navigate the NHS in England?!

Have you tried ringing 111? That’s what to do for an urgent issue when you can’t wait for an appointment.

@Lisa I haven’t yet but might try. I just assumed they’ll recommend ringing my GP or going to A&E also? I don’t mind waiting a reasonable amount of time for an appointment as long as it’s being looked in to, it’s just that my GP can’t give me one (apparently for the foreseeable future). Is that normal in England? At my previous GPs in Scotland I’d be able to book an appointment for a few weeks ahead. I’m just very reluctant to go to A&E which is 45mins away and could be a long wait considering I wouldn’t be classed as an emergency. I’m still only a few weeks post op so not the most mobile with baby yet.

In response to above: not necessarily and sometimes 111 have access to ‘emergency’ or urgent appointments you won’t that they can book you in at surgeries near to you on short notice

Sometimes it's just better to go into a&E if you can, they would have the equipment to do a bladder scan and also take bloods if needed. I think it's important that you get seen as your post op c section just in case if there are medical problems. The GPs are terrible, mine has a online form and normally they are quick to call you back or even I've had the GP call me back.

I’ve rang 111 before who can then refer you to out of hours or emergency care centres where you can get an appointment pretty quick.

@Charlene I don’t have any advice, sorry lovely.. but yeah, this has been my experience at 3 different doctors practices. I have to call them when they open (if I manage to get through to a receptionist) and ask for an appointment on the day. They then tell me they are full for the day, even though they have only been opened for 10 minutes, and to call back the following day. I’ve never been able to book an appointment ahead at any of the practices (both in London and Cambridge, as I moved). I hope you manage to get through to someone who can help/advise you xx

You can self refur in my catchment. I was told about after giving birth. Could you contact the maternity unit at your closest nhs hospital? I don't see how your gp would know what was bookable. They simply should send a refural off and the physio department would be the ones to book you an appointment. In this case for pelvic health (my area had a dedicated physio for this). You could also try calling the physio department directly to see if you can self refur as I'm sure you should be able to up until you LO is 2.

111 can get you an emergency GP appointment not necessarily at your own GP but one nearby. There are also urgent care and minor injury walk ins that are a bit like A&E but maybe you want to go there instead. Honestly if you have something wrong and you’ve exhausted the expected routes they leave you with no choice but to go there so don’t feel bad. You have to prioritise your health! Sorry you’re going through this

My advice is to exaggerate your symptoms, play post partum card, depression, how it may affect the care you provide to your newborn. Unfortunately that’s the only way to make things moving over here. I would also consider changing GPs if that’s an option for you.

Does your GP do E Consults? I find this is the only way I get a GP appointment - I never phone and I tend to get an appointment notification the same day once I have done my E Consult. Also usually your previous care provider should send your documents to your new GP this way they pick up any referrals etc needed. Same as when the midwives discharge you they should of sent a new referral to your GP to let them know your now in their care

Does your gps do econsult. Our gps don't give on the day appointments anymore, you do an econsult. They process them and by 10am you either have advise, a perscription sent to pharmacy or a text/email/phone call to tell you when your face to face or phone consultation will be that day. Honestly better then the old system of mass ringing at 8:30 to be told at 8:45 all appointments for the day are gone. Your local hospitals maternity triage should see you for th3 first I believe 45 days despite you not giving birth there because it's to do with birth.

@Helen they have an online booking system that just says no appointments available to book and the local maternity said it’s a urology problem so my GP has to deal with it. I’ll maybe try them again tomorrow and explain the lack of appointments or I’ll do the 111 thing.

@Charlene if you are unable to get through to your doctors as close to 8 as possible, I think it's around 75% of appointments they reserve for on the day I would go ahead and call 111 and explain you have tried the doctors multiple times and you need help with your pelvic health following birth. It's shocking you can't get an appointment, I thought mine was bad.

@Charlene that's a shame. If you Google econsult you will be able to see if your GPs use it when you search for your GPs on the online form. As a lot of GPs do use it. There will be a urology issue section normally and then you can put your issue down and they should refer you. Hopefully your local hospitals quiet quick. My husbands a urology specialist and they're pretty much up to date with everything.

Do you have the nhs app? My GP puts appointments on their at 5am and 8am so if you're quick you can usually get one at those times, or as others have said, use online consultation and you should get a response x

I just keep ringing my GP first thing in mornings til they give me an appointment. Failing that I ring 111, who now can give you emergency appointments with your GP (on phone). But for physio I actually just referred myself. Worth a google if that’s an option where you are. But it’s a real pain how overstretched the GPs are now! Xx