Active discussions

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Can drs have no pre bookable appointments?

184 replies

Franklyfranky · 15/01/2025 17:38

I need some blood tests because I’m pretty such I’m anaemic and low vit d (have history of it symptoms are the same as when I’ve been quite poorly with it)

I cannot get a blood test without a gp appointment. I cannot pre book a GP appointment. I have to call the emergency line everyday. I cannot get through. Ive been told categorically the GP does not have pre bookable appointments. I thought they had to?

is anyone familiar with the guidelines to say if this is correct?

OP posts:
Original poster
Franklyfranky · 15/01/2025 18:13

Calmhappyandhealthy · 15/01/2025 18:10

Email the practice manager and complain

Write as above

Ring 111 and ask for a GP appointment

See a PA or a Nurse Practitioner for bloods approval

Turn up on the surgery doorstep at 8 am

Ring at 8 am

Nurse Can’t do bloods app

wont let you in at 8am (used to work)

can’t get through at 8am, not even in the queue

OP posts:
Original poster
Franklyfranky · 15/01/2025 18:12

Iudncuewbccgrcb · 15/01/2025 18:01

You said above at 17.48 that they have an online facility but you didn't submit it because there wasn't any dates to pick!

While I was posting in response to that you then completely contradicted it and said they didn't have an electronic option at all?

Which is it?

And it's not an emergency- so just keep ringing until you get through. Or register with a different surgery perhaps?

Show quote history

There is a weblink for pre bookable appointments and it functions like a calendar but it’s entirely greyed out until 2028 so for all intents and purposes it doesnt exist.

there is no form you can fill in.

if you get through the appointments are gone and the process starts the next day again ad nauseum.

its the only one I’m in the catchment area for

OP posts:
Taigabread · 15/01/2025 18:11

Franklyfranky · 15/01/2025 17:58

Also because surely it can’t just be a service for on the day emergencies. That’s ludicrous

Show quote history

My GP is the same OP. Its disgusting, they are not an emergency service they are first line primary care and should be covering a whole host of health issues that are not emergencies but nonetheless need dealing with.
Huge numbers of us are being denied basic healthcare

Calmhappyandhealthy · 15/01/2025 18:10

Email the practice manager and complain

Write as above

Ring 111 and ask for a GP appointment

See a PA or a Nurse Practitioner for bloods approval

Turn up on the surgery doorstep at 8 am

Ring at 8 am

Original poster
Franklyfranky · 15/01/2025 18:09

MushMonster · 15/01/2025 18:04

Do they mean they do not have any available ( which is the case with most GPs) or that they have given up on providing non-emergency appointments?
I do not know the law, but I am positive the latter is not legal, right? It makes zero sense.
Last time we needed the GP, we went into a list to have an appointment given. You read it right, there was a waiting list for them to get your name on a future slot. I was 3 months in when I got a text with my appointment date, another 3 weeks or so ahead. Receptionist took a comprehensive list of symptoms and prior related history.
It is dire. We pay for it with our taxes and this is what we get. Here hoping it improves soon.
OP, call them, clarify, check with your trust. I suppose it is better in writing, like an email? Otherwise, you will have to take a day off to pop in. You may get the appointment that day, or a future date.
There was a season where I did take days off to be able to call the GP to get an appointment. I kid you not! It was that hard!

They meant that they don’t offer them period. They do for nurses but not the dr and only the dr is able to organise a blood test, which is fine, seeing a dr would be ideal because I’ve been unwell with this for months.

it’s same day emergency only, and you can’t get through on the phone and they don’t let you in at 8. I feel it’s an impasse.

OP posts:
Original poster
Franklyfranky · 15/01/2025 18:07

Balloonhearts · 15/01/2025 17:58

My surgery is like that. Although they find you an appointment pretty quickly if you ring 111 and tell them your GP won't see you unless you ring at 8am.

That is the only way realistically to get an appointment here

OP posts:
Original poster
Franklyfranky · 15/01/2025 18:05

Lobstercrisps · 15/01/2025 18:00

OP you definitely don't have econsult?

I can arrange things this way, I also have the email address for the practice.

It is shocking you can't prebook for chronic recurring illnesses.

No there is no online form or anything like that

OP posts:
user2848502016 · 15/01/2025 18:05

Ours only have them if you fill out an e-consult or if it's a follow up appointment for an ongoing issue

reichs79 · 15/01/2025 18:04

At my surgery you phone at 8am for an urgent appointment, throughout the day they'll book you in an non urgent with the GP or nurse. The most I've been is 7th in the queue on the phone and the longest I waited for an non urgent was a week. However this may change as our practice has been taken over.....

MushMonster · 15/01/2025 18:04

Do they mean they do not have any available ( which is the case with most GPs) or that they have given up on providing non-emergency appointments?
I do not know the law, but I am positive the latter is not legal, right? It makes zero sense.
Last time we needed the GP, we went into a list to have an appointment given. You read it right, there was a waiting list for them to get your name on a future slot. I was 3 months in when I got a text with my appointment date, another 3 weeks or so ahead. Receptionist took a comprehensive list of symptoms and prior related history.
It is dire. We pay for it with our taxes and this is what we get. Here hoping it improves soon.
OP, call them, clarify, check with your trust. I suppose it is better in writing, like an email? Otherwise, you will have to take a day off to pop in. You may get the appointment that day, or a future date.
There was a season where I did take days off to be able to call the GP to get an appointment. I kid you not! It was that hard!

SoNiceToComeHomeTo · 15/01/2025 18:03

Franklyfranky · 15/01/2025 17:45

well yes quite, but I’m looking to confirm if my previous thought that they have to have the option of pre bookable appointments is correct. Because I will email the practice manager with a screenshot. They’ve already been in serious trouble with cqc on this sort of stuff.

Show quote history

I can't speak generally, but my practice has bookable GP appointments. You go through Patient Access app, explain the problem and ask for an appointment with a doctor, nurse or whatever. You can't actually book it online, but the surgery gets in touch in the next hour or so, offering an appointment (unless there's some reason that they think you don't need one in which case they will explain why). The appointment is usually for the same day or at least the same week.

Iudncuewbccgrcb · 15/01/2025 18:01

Franklyfranky · 15/01/2025 17:55

There is no online form you seem pretty hung up on the idea of them offering an online form. There is no online form.

the only way to get a blood test is to get an emergency appointment with the dr

Show quote history

You said above at 17.48 that they have an online facility but you didn't submit it because there wasn't any dates to pick!

While I was posting in response to that you then completely contradicted it and said they didn't have an electronic option at all?

Which is it?

And it's not an emergency- so just keep ringing until you get through. Or register with a different surgery perhaps?

hopeishere · 15/01/2025 18:01

They are not "emergency" appointments. Most GPs now offer a same day service. Call in the morning and the you get a call back. Most urgent calls prioritised first.

In my practice you would have to discuss your issues with the doctor first. You can't self refer for blood tests loads of people would misuse that option.

Lobstercrisps · 15/01/2025 18:00

OP you definitely don't have econsult?

I can arrange things this way, I also have the email address for the practice.

It is shocking you can't prebook for chronic recurring illnesses.

KittenPause · 15/01/2025 17:59

However due to certain medication I'm taking my surgery call me to book in blood tests

Original poster
Franklyfranky · 15/01/2025 17:59

PersephoneSmith · 15/01/2025 17:57

I have to drag myself to the GP for annual /biannual diabetes reviews. There wouldn’t be a hope in hell of me getting there if I had to pick a day to try to get an appointment by phoning in at 8am.
Surely it’s not feasible that they ‘don’t do pre booked appointments’?

I guess this is my point, are they allowed to operate in such a way. You used to be able to turn up at 8am and queue but they won’t allow that anymore either

OP posts:
KittenPause · 15/01/2025 17:58

At my GP you have to pre book a blood test with their HCA but i have to have a GP appointment prior to that for him to refer me to have that blood test

Balloonhearts · 15/01/2025 17:58

My surgery is like that. Although they find you an appointment pretty quickly if you ring 111 and tell them your GP won't see you unless you ring at 8am.

Original poster
Franklyfranky · 15/01/2025 17:58

Iudncuewbccgrcb · 15/01/2025 17:53

You seem to be getting hung up on prebooking a date - no they dont have to offer a selection of dates for you to prebook. I'm not clear where you have got that idea from.

Submit the online form saying you are experiencing a reoccurrence of symptoms of anaemia they will probably get back to you with an appointment for the nurse to take bloods at some point or date for a clinic in the future.

Also because surely it can’t just be a service for on the day emergencies. That’s ludicrous

OP posts:
PersephoneSmith · 15/01/2025 17:57

I have to drag myself to the GP for annual /biannual diabetes reviews. There wouldn’t be a hope in hell of me getting there if I had to pick a day to try to get an appointment by phoning in at 8am.
Surely it’s not feasible that they ‘don’t do pre booked appointments’?

Original poster
Franklyfranky · 15/01/2025 17:55

Iudncuewbccgrcb · 15/01/2025 17:53

You seem to be getting hung up on prebooking a date - no they dont have to offer a selection of dates for you to prebook. I'm not clear where you have got that idea from.

Submit the online form saying you are experiencing a reoccurrence of symptoms of anaemia they will probably get back to you with an appointment for the nurse to take bloods at some point or date for a clinic in the future.

There is no online form you seem pretty hung up on the idea of them offering an online form. There is no online form.

the only way to get a blood test is to get an emergency appointment with the dr

OP posts:
Iudncuewbccgrcb · 15/01/2025 17:53

You seem to be getting hung up on prebooking a date - no they dont have to offer a selection of dates for you to prebook. I'm not clear where you have got that idea from.

Submit the online form saying you are experiencing a reoccurrence of symptoms of anaemia they will probably get back to you with an appointment for the nurse to take bloods at some point or date for a clinic in the future.

PizzaPunk · 15/01/2025 17:51

Mine just tell you to come into reception and grab a blood test form, and book it yourself using the list of clinics on the back.

Original poster
Franklyfranky · 15/01/2025 17:49

Doctor1988 · 15/01/2025 17:46

The short answer in England is no, they don’t have to offer pre bookable appointments.

It seems sensible to see a doctor prior to the blood tests to decide which ones you need if the presentation is being tired all the time. There are many other causes that could be picked up with the appropriate blood tests aside from anaemia, including thyroid issues and diabetes. A consultation first will mean you get the right blood tests.

Is there not an electronic option to submit your symptoms so that it can be triaged and an appropriate appointment made?

No there’s nothing and therein lies my problem, you can’t get through at 8am and you can’t prebook

OP posts:
Sampler · 15/01/2025 17:49

My surgery is exactly the same op. Have to call them at 8.30am no matter what now.
This has changed, 2 months ago you could pre book a non urgent appointment.
fecking awful 😞