"Patient triaging"

When requesting appointments with a GP patients are triaged by the reception. Based on the symptoms you give over the phone the reception determines if a patient is best seen by a GP or a paramedic etc. I was screened this way and the paramedic sent me to a podiatrist stating it's a minor dry feet issue. Seeing me limp with sore, bleeding soles of my feet the Podiatrist I saw through a private appointment suspected psoriasis, immediately referred me back to GP with a letter requesting the GP to refer me to a specialist. I am now receiving specialist dermatology treatment. I am one of lucky few, primarily thanks to the Podiatrist. My condition isn't life threatening but has been spreading to hands, palms, elbows and at it's worse affects ability to stand on my feet, get to work or hold a spoon. What if it is a patient with a serious condition but was initially showing mild symptoms that only a GP could diagnose? How can the reception screen a patient just on hearing their symptoms? I empathise the NHS is under huge strain in every way even pre COVID-19 and some people do abuse the system but the public, the vulnerable only has one health system to rely on. GP surgery is our first and only access to see a doctor when in need.