To think having to get to the doctors at 6:45am...

[ThisTimeItsPersonal]

Just to get an appointment is unreal!

I got here at 6:45 and there was a queue!! And the people who got here at 7 when they actually open probably wont be able to get an appointment until this afternoon sometime.

I dont blame the actual doctors, they do a really fab job and them and the receptionists are really brilliant at dealing with people - as you get some right nasty people when they can't get an appointment.

But honestly - im tired and yesterday when i rang they didnt have anything available for over two weeks!!!

[williaminajetfighter]

Holy moly OP! Where are you based? London?

[ThisTimeItsPersonal]

How did you guess

Just outside really, between west London and the south east.

Im so tired, dd is 6 weeks and didnt fancy sleeping until about 11

[Sparklingbrook]

OMG that is bizarre. Our GP doesn't even open til 8.30am.

[ThisTimeItsPersonal]

sparkling i wish! I feel for the doctors having to be there so early too!

[Writerwannabe83]

Oh yeah, those poor GPs. It must be hard getting up at 6am for their £100'000 a year salary

But seriously, that is bad! The last thing you want to do when you feel poorly is hang around in queues at that time in the morning! I hope you get a slot and you feel better soon

[pinkdelight]

can't you ring up for a same day appointment? why do you have to physically go there? or is it a drop-in? either way, queueing from that time is bonkers. can you switch surgeries? i'm in London and ours is nowhere near that crazy plus there's lots of drop-in clinics around.

[TarkaTheOtter]

What a ridiculous appt system. Those who really need emergency appts are going to struggle to queue up outside at 6.45. Can you change surgery?

[Hegsy]

6.45am I called my docs at 8.15 and have a 10.40 appt. No way I could have been there at 6.45.

[ThisTimeItsPersonal]

I cant change surgery really because the only other one i can easily get to isnt taking patients at the moment
You can call but the phones don't open until 8 and they rarely have appointments left by the time i actually get through.
Its a shame because as i say, the doctors there are actually really good!

[littlemisswise]

6:45am! is there two 6:45s in the day then? If I had to get to my doctors at that time I'd never get an appointment!

I had a four day migraine last week. I phoned at 11:00 on Friday and was seen at 4:00. Can't complain, my doctors are fab, the receptionists are lovely. I told my GP that my DH is going away next week for 4 months, she said not to struggle in (I am disabled) request a home visit and she'll pop out. I love her!

[Souredstones]

My surgery operates in a similar way, get there from 7:30 to queue, doors open at 8:30, everyone gets seen on a first come first served basis - no morning bookable appointments.

I was absolutely raging yesterday when I duly got there at 7:30, 3rd in the queue, a dotty doris turns up at 8:25 and a teenager soon after, boldly walk straight to the front of the queue without so much as a backwards glance. FURIOUS!! (I do have rage at silly things!)

I've, in the past, rung at lunchtime, and always been able to get a bookable evening appointment within 24 hours. Sadly I had to go yesterday morning for a phased return certificate, I hate rude people!

[DeathMetalMum]

That is rediculous. I strolled into my gp's at 11.45 last week and was given a same day apppintment in the afternoon.

[ThisTimeItsPersonal]

soured that would give me the rage too! I would have said something though

[PeacockPlumage]

What a ridiculous system! Shocking. I would move, pronto. (Surgery, not house, though I'd consider it!)

Our practice has an automated booking system so you can book an appointment from the comfort of your own bed in the middle of the night if need be.

[Weegiemum]

My dh is a GP, his surgery opens at 8, and he starts surgery at 9. Everyone gets seen the same day if needed. But then he's single handed in a rural area, only has 1800 patients and has worked there for 6 years so knows pretty much everyone who comes regularly, and most of the others too. He doesn't go in early but regularly stays late to do leftover house calls and admin - wasn't home till after 10 last night.

Queuing up at 6.45 is mental. What if you're too ill to queue, or disabled? I've never heard of this and I've been around GP-land for over 15 years (though admittedly a lot of that was rurally where time pressures are less but distance pressures more!)

[Amrapaali]

Shit! 6:45 in the morning!! My surgery has recently introduced online appointment systems. Hallelujah!! I can't tell you of the relief. Calling at 8:15 AM on the dot, hanging on the phone, redialling a hundred times... things of the past now.

Why is this not being rolled out across the country?

I feel for you, OP.

[glastocat]

That's crazy. Here in Oz I have a walk in clinic, it's open from 7 am until 10 pm every day, and it's free. In Ireland I had to pay 60 euro a visit which was awful, but at least you could usually get seen the day you wanted. I remember London waiting times being crazy when I lived there, sounds like its got much worse though.

[PeacockPlumage]

I think with a new baby, this is going to become a madsive issue for you. I would put in a formal complaint with the practice manager, asking them to review their booking system. You could also contact the local commissioning group as they are responsible for services available.

[mirry2]

Well that's what it's like for most of us living in London

[LaFataTurchina]

Change GPs!

I see you live in between London and the South East. Are you near any 'commuter' stations? I am in the middle of the commuter belt and my GP stay open 'till 8pm a few eves. a week and also on Saturday morning. You can also get a phone consultation.

[allmycats]

Where I am I had towait 6 weeks, yes 6 weeks !! for the results of some blood tests, there was no earlier appt. as this was not 'an urgent situation' it does not matter if you are taking the wrong dose of thyroxin for 6 weeks apparently.
Urgent appointments are done 'on the day' i.e you phone in and tell them your symptoms and then some one calls you back to triage you and if you are sick enough you get an appointment for that day.
When you go to see the doc and they give you a slip saying 'come back to see me in 2 weeks' you hand this in at reception to be told 'there are no appointments for xx weeks - 'but doctor wants to see me in 2 weeks' you say and they say 'well they don't know what is pre booked' so you can have xx or nothing !!
It's shit service for appointments but the Docs are brilliant (especially now Doc.Arrogant Prick has gone !!)

[Seaweedy]

Are you sure they don't have specific morning salts kept for babies and small children? My old London surgery was insanely busy, but if you phoned or just showed up with a sick small person by eight thirty am, a doctor would see you almost immediately, as they kept a few 'child emergency' slots every morning.

Am now living in the country with a dumb system whereby all mornings at the GP surgery are non-appointment. Which s fine if you don't work and don't mind angling around, but not great if your toddler doesn't fancy waiting for two hours in a waiting room full of tetchy, coughing people...

[ThisTimeItsPersonal]

It used to be a lot better at my doctors but in the past couple of years its gotten like this - even the midwife there was telling me how ridiculous it was!

We're hoping to move in 6 months or so and will hopefully get a better surgery!

[Nancy66]

I sometimes feel like I must live in some parallel universe.

I'm also in London but get Drs appointments really easily. Often same day. No mad, queuing system, no bonkers ring back system.