Navigating Healthcare

Healthcare and treatment is your choice

As a community built on the healthcare needs of real people, we see the every day challenges that patients face when trying to reach a diagnosis. Symptoms from bladder and bowel conditions can be debilitating, embarrassing and the first step to getting help can be the most difficult. Even from that first consultation, it can often be difficult to progress to get the help you need as efficiently as possible – and by that we mean as quickly and effectively, with as little stress as possible.

As a population, we are living longer and we often have multiple health conditions that need ongoing care. So if you’re experiencing health issues and struggling to know what to do for the best, this article is for you. We have produced an overview of the 4 main routes to care that you can try, if you’re struggling to get help.

1 – Visit your GP

We know, it’s a pain, right?  It’s best to go to your GP in the first place, but this can be the hardest thing to achieve. First of all, we are all aware of the issues getting through on the phone in the first place. Then, before you even get to that all important ‘you are position number ONE in the queue’ it’s frustrating to hear the disappointing recording informing you that all appointments have been taken for that day. 

So you persist. And you finally get through to the receptionist! But then they ask you personal questions about your condition. This is because in many GP surgeries, the receptionist is specially trained in how to deal with your query so instead of just setting an appointment. They may ask you for details of your symptoms, so if you’re not ready for this it can be a difficult conversation to have at that moment.

We recognise that all GP surgeries operate slightly differently, so do ask your neighbours for advice so that you can use the method that works best for your particular practice.

 

There is more than one way to contact your Doctor

1. Call your GP surgery the moment they open their telephone lines. If you don’t get through, try again the next day.
2. If your condition isn’t urgent, try making an appointment online. Many GP surgeries offer a web or app-based appointment booking service for routine appointments.
3. You may be able to get an appointment by walking in and speaking to the receptionist directly. If you can’t get there yourself, ask a friend or family member to help.
4. Is your condition urgent? Try calling 111 first. You can speak to a trained clinician to discuss your symptoms and they can often get an appointment for you that day at a nearby health clinic.

2 – Find your local continence clinic

Continence Clinics are in place around the UK, but how these run and how you access them depends on your local area and which NHS Trust you’re under. This can be a little more tricky to navigate, as some clinics will rely on a referral from your GP or healthcare professional first, before allowing you to access the service.

At Bladder & Bowel Community we’re updating our records of all continence clinics in the UK, to ensure you have the most up to date information at your fingertips. 

You can contact us if you need help finding your nearest clinic via our website.

A lot of the regional clinics are within hospitals, however some GP surgeries are now starting to hold continence clinics on a regular basis. This is of course dependent on local demand and resources, but do look out for this option in your area.

3 – Seek Private Healthcare

If you have private health insurance in the UK, you may be able to seek help a little differently . Private healthcare usually consists of an app system which connects you to a doctor within a few minutes or hours, but mostly you’ll be able to speak with a doctor on the same day. This is much the same as a telephone consultation with your GP, but the prescription route will likely be electronic and sent to your local elected Pharmacy to collect, should this be necessary.

The benefits of private healthcare include being able to speak to a doctor much more quickly, however your prescriptions are considerably more expensive and face to face appointments are not always offered on first enquiry. What’s more, the healthcare options you can ‘claim’ support for may be limited depending on your level of cover. 

 

4 – Reach out to a specialist charity

If you have a particular condition that is supported by charity work or research you may be able to reach out to them for advice. There are many charities set up to support the many types of cancer for example, or for specific conditions which also affect the bladder and/or bowel.

We’ve listed a few of the main ones below that you may seek out:

1. ERIC – https://eric.org.uk/ 
2. Bowel Cancer UK – https://www.bowelcanceruk.org.uk/
3. MacMillan – https://www.macmillan.org.uk/ 
4. Prostate Cancer UK – https://prostatecanceruk.org/ 
5. BBUK – https://www.bbuk.org.uk/
6. Bladder Health UK – https://bladderhealthuk.org/ 
7. Guts UK – https://gutscharity.org.uk/ 
8. IBS Network – https://www.theibsnetwork.org/ 

 

Further Information

There are more ways you can seek help, and we may be able to signpost you better if we know what you need. If you need support with your mental health and wellbeing, which can also impact your physical, social and emotional health, you can seek further information in our article about how living with a bladder or bowel condition can affect your mental health.

Alternatively, you can contact us and we’ll do our best to help.

It can be difficut to talk about your health condition with friends or family, and its important to find a support system that works for you. At Bladder & Bowel Community we offer a community support group which is for people living with a bladder or bowel condition – the group offers a space to share ideas and support, as it can. Find out more and join our Online Support Group for help. Find out more.