NHS Walk-In Centre

[meester]

Has anyone ever been to one?

Are they a waste of time? I'm not registered with a doctor and they suggested I go to the walk-in centre to get seen (I have conjunctivitis, fever, slight pain in swallowing/sore throat, cold). I understand they don't have any GPs, and I'm quite suspicious....

[ringo_24601]

They're like A&E, but for less serious issues... sounds like you might need some antibiotics.. why not register with a GP and get it sorted? A walk-in center wouldn't be very good for continuous treatment but might get you what you need

[Bargain Rzl]

I went to London's Liverpool Street branch once - I had not long moved house and hadn't got round to registering with a new GP yet. When you get there, you fill in a form (at which point you get told off for not having a current GP) and then it's first come first served. I went in the busy after-work slot and was seen by the nurse within half an hour. The only negative thing was the actual advice I was given! - the cream I was advised to buy (for a fungal foot infection) turned out to be practically obsolete and I had to take a pharmacist's advice on a substitute product...

[merlinormartin]

Hi Meester :) ... i have used the NHS walk-in many times and found them a great help. My local walk-in does have a GP who attends at certain times of the day/evening; if they suspect you need to see the GP they will tell you to wait or come back at a certain time when he is available.

[elle45]

My son was badly scoulded last year!! We went to the walk in center and had excellent service there!! I thought it was better than hanging around in A&E!!

[Savvy_Sue]

I've used one, and would do so again. But it's no substitute for getting a GP. Can you not be seen as a temporary patient somewhere - presumably you're registered somewhere?

[JennyW]

I've used our local one on a couple of occasions. First time I was worried about a broken toe - seen to straight away, x-rays. Second time I fell over and banged my head so just wanted to get checked out - straight in and seen to. Our one is excellent :T

[angel]

I've been to the one in Croydon twice and it was great. I burnt myself quite badly on Christmas day and went there instead of A&E as I thought that it'd be quieter. It was and I was the only patient. They said that they'd only had eight people in all day! A wonderful service.

[angel]

So why would my doctor prescribe antibiotics for a sore throat countless times in the past until I realised that the sore throat would probably just go of it's own accord anyway and stopped going to the doctor for them?

I'm not questioning you at all, just wondering why I'd been given them so many times for sore throats.

[moneysaving pharmacist]

So why would my doctor prescribe antibiotics for a sore throat countless times in the past until I realised that the sore throat would probably just go of it's own accord anyway and stopped going to the doctor for them?

I'm not questioning you at all, just wondering why I'd been given them so many times for sore throats.

Because doctors often find it difficult to end a consultation without issuing a prescription.

[angel]

Because doctors often find it difficult to end a consultation without issuing a prescription.

That's what I was thinking that the answer would be. It's a good job that I decided to stop going there with sore throats!

[frivolous_fay]

That's what I was thinking that the answer would be. It's a good job that I decided to stop going there with sore throats!

Sore throats with bacterial origins do exist, though :)

I think it's pretty poor that a doctor won't be sensible with a patient and not just send them away with a scrip just because they think they'll feel better because they've got something to take. I hope it's not very common!

Drinking plenty of fluid is the best advice for a viral bad throat, afaik.