Dr's phone calls when you work

Our surgery insists on this for everyone - including deaf patients.
A neighbour had gone into the surgery to book an appointment and was told it was phone triage only, then an actual appointment either in person or by phone if deemed necessary. She pointed out she was deaf, so wouldn’t hear on the phone if they called. Receptionist said in that case she should get her daughter to answer and discuss her symptoms!!
After much argument they relented and said that as she is deaf she can go into the surgery in person and wait for a triage appointment later that day if any are available. At that point the triage nurse will decide if she needs to see a GP and reception would book either an in-person appointment or a phone consultation. 🤦‍♀️

I asked a colleague to look after my class, similar system, I was in agony, possibly costochondritis (sp?), also shit signal inside the building.

Getting a repeat prescription is another nightmare. I use the app but it doesn't seem to work half the time.

My surgery is useless for booking appointments online, they just say they cannot do it, even though there is supposed to be a patches system which I was never able to get activated. So even though I work from home and the surgery is two minutes down the road, its rarer than hens teeth to get an appointment the same day if I need one. I can ring to get one booked in advance any time though. I can order prescriptions through the NHS App which is a godsend as they never seem to reply to their emails. My rheumatology department nurse had to send another letter to them to put a medication on repeat prescription because they had missed the previous one they had sent months ago.

I also teach. It's a nightmare since we have to be at school well before the phone lines even open at our surgery.

It enrages me that GPs surgeries are like this. Just give me a time for the appointment! I get that you might run late. I've had consultant led phone appointments and other health professional phone appointments at a specific time. Why is it so hard for a GP?

In our surgery, you used to be able to book online. Nope, not any more. You used to be able to book an appointment weeks in advance. Nope, not any more. You used to get an approximate timeslot. Nope, not any more. The surgery might get back to you any time in the next 48 hours.

Yes, it's a complete mystery why the private GP in our town is doing so well. I have just had a look and I can book a private appointment in 30 mins.

I’d waited in all day for gp to call me about my anti depressants, finally gave up and was at till in Tesco said can u give me a minute as at till and was told you aren’t the only patient I have and no you’ll need to make another appointment! . Didn’t bother as it was just too much for me. Attitude was appalling

Yep. I went though a stage in winter where I kept getting chest infections. The problem is I have asthma so they last a good 6-8 weeks. My first chest infection was in October and I'd basically recover and then 2 weeks later get another. I managed to get a doctor's appointment in July where I got my first lot of antibiotics. The doctor then told me off for not having had an asthma review in 10 years. The problem being, I commute 1 hour each way to work and the asthma clinic only runs on a Tuesday 12-2. Ridiculous hours for working people, and also for children at school.

It doesn’t really work for anyone, unless they have literally nothing else to do. Almost everyone has things they need to get on with during the day.

I think maybe you will get more posts from working people because they can be between a rock and a hard place if their employer doesn’t allow them to take calls at work. But the whole system is ludicrously unworkable.

that hasn’t been my experience.

The receptionist takes your details and then just says you could be phoned by the doctor at any time and to keep your phone on you & be ready to take the call. It could be in five minutes time or hours & hours later and any time in between. And that’s after you’ve gotten through to speak to a receptionist- I’ve phoned over 200 times in the past trying to get through. Sometimes when you finally do get answered all the appointments are gone and you’re advised to “try again tomorrow” 🤦‍♀️

Yanbu it’s ridiculous
I wfh and it can generally work out but not being given a specific time is a nightmare - I am in and out of meetings all day I just need a time or a relatively narrow slot (eg one hour)
allowances should def be made for those who can’t have their phones as they work

I wouldn't mind a phone call at a specific time, or even "between 10 and 10:30". I could make myself available for that long. But we get no indication except "before 1pm", they may or may not call at all, if they do call and you can't answer they immediately call again and leave a terse message saying they have been unable to contact you and if you still need an appointment you should call again tomorrow. This can all be achieved within one minute. If you call the next day, it has been recorded as a DNA!

I literally haven't seen a GP since before the pandemic, and I think I've spoken to one once, on my son's behalf. Lucky we are healthy, because we really have no access to primary care.

My surgery doesn't offer doctor's appointments later than 4.50 ever. I can see the nurse until 8pm for my regular injections but if - for whatever reason - they need to speak to a doctor, that has to wait until the following day.

Things like smear tests and vaccines I've always booked in advance as they are with the nurse

We have this system. You message fir an appointment, they message back with a time the Dr will call. Generally it's about that time. If it's not convenient, you letbreception know via message and ask them for a more suitable time. I've had phone calls after 5.30pm. Lots if surgeries offer extended hours too, mine offers Thursday evenings and Saturdays. Have you asked if you can rearrange the phone call or have it at a suitable hour? No Dr is expecting you to have a private conversation in front of a classroom full of kids.

It's a batshit crazy system and I am not even a teacher, but I often miss calls.

It’s ridiculous. Then if you’re lucky they say will call some time in a four hour window so good luck waiting for that if you’re working.

For you, yes, but as others have said, this is not the system in place in many places, where you are just told the doctor will call you at any time ( no specific time provided). This is how it is at my practice and it is impossible. I agree with the OP.

The way some surgeries work is insane to me. Ours are fantastic in comparison.

You can ring any time and make an appointment. If it's an emergency you'll get offered same day.

You can also book online and choose the doctor or nurse you want to see, and then filter by day and time.

Or you can fill out an online consultation and someone will ring you back.

Or you can go in and they'll book you an appointment in person.

It doesn’t work for SAHMs either. Trying to do the school run while on hold for the doctor’s receptionist is horrible.
8:30am and 2pm- couldn’t be timed worse 🤦‍♀️

I don't own a mobile phone so I have to wait within earshot of my home phone.

How would that work?
Ok, we will just not bother running that bus then.
Luckily I am SE so very flexible but often when dealing with my GP I do wonder how people who aren't manage.
DH sometimes works on secure sites with no phone and has had to use a Private GP before so he can book a specific appointment.