To think this GP appointment booking system is insane?

Or phone while on the commute?

Get the form filled out at 8am and just leave the house 10mins later

I wouldn't mind an initial telephone consultation but it's hard to even get that!

People should start complaining to their MPs about this because it's completely insane now post covid. Pre covid People could see their GP's but they've got used to not seeing patients directly. I suspect a lot of Drs prefer not seeing patients and just talking to them on the phone.

However, as a primary first port of call service, GPs must see patients directly. My husband was misdiagnosed over the phone which caused catastrophic health issues. This resulted in permanent reliance on the NHS which could have been avoided if the GP had seen him directly. They are causing more problems by not seeing patients directly.

I've been trying to book an apt for a migraine review before getting my tablets again. The receptionist keeps suggesting I go to A&E instead. This is why A&E is completely crippled because people go there to be seen by a Dr because they can't access their own GP.

But why have they stopped people making appointments say for a few days ahead?

We did have a call at 8.30 appointments gone by 8.40 system but switched to a form and it's been brilliant. It opens at 6 am but I've had issues dealt with when filling in the form at 10am, it didn't require a face-to-face appointment though.
There has been better communication about appointments too. For example I filled in the form with my daughter having UTI symptoms. The GP requested I picked up a sample pot and brought a sample with me. Previously they wouldn't have known the reason for the appointment and we would have been sent home with the sample pot wasting an appointment as without the positive urine test they couldn't diagnose the UTI. Instead we left with a prescription for antibiotics

I think it can be a good system but as with all things the specifics of how the surgery implements it is key!

Same here. They have a limited number of appointments, not sure what else they can do.
Why can’t you use your phone to book?

If the appointments have all gone, it's because the number of appointments the NHS has funded have been filled. Doesn't really matter how you organise the way they are filled, the reality is that whichever way it happens people are going to miss out on appointments because demand is higher than supply.

That's mad. I just rang yesterday at 10am and could choose both time and doctor for the same afternoon.

This is the exact same for my surgery, “8-3pm” only I’ve never seen the online form available beyond 9am as it’s all booked up.

Can you fill the form in on your way, on your phone? Or are you driving? If so, is it possible to pull over and quickly do the form and then continue?

I usually have my answers typed out already so the form takes all of 2 minutes max to complete. I dare say there should be some small opportunity to throw the request in within your commute?

Ours has online booking which you can sometimes get a phone appointment through, but it's usually 4-6 weeks in advance and they can't tell you what time the doctor will ring. I can never get an appointment on the day.

I've got chronic health issues and the support I get from my NHS gp consists of telling me to pay for private treatment and not much else.

Our surgery uses an on line form system which is triaged and appointments allocated accordingly. I was reading yesterday about someone who filled in the form and got a response that they needed to be seen by a GP 'today' - but they couldn't have an appointment. They rang and said they'd be happy to wait to be seen the following morning. But they were told no appointments then either. Only option was to go to urgent care 20 miles away.

Mine is like this. I've never had a problem, quite the reverse. It needs an overhaul elsewhere

Can you take a day off?

Arrive at GP's at 7am and wait outside.

@Ezlo my gp you have to phone at 8am and wait till they answer. and wait and wait and wait. one day i eventually got through at 8.10am. no appointments left. I then asked exactly how many appointments they had available before they opened the phone lines. the receptionist sheepishly said ONE! one appointment for about 100 phonecalls at least per day!! absolute shite!

Why can't you do the online form on your phone while commuting?
Sorry, was thinking commute = public transport but you may be driving I guess.

You can't ring ours. It's either use the online form or physically go to the surgery.

The online form gives the choice between same day or "my problem can wait six weeks "

I jest not.

However my mother's surgery you can phone up and generally get an appointment within 3-4 days

We can send the online triage form in from 6am, works so much better

i fill in form on line always when very ill i have a lot of health issues. i get a text within an hour each time on list for on call gp to phone i always get a phone call same morning, i must have great doctors, i know other people who cant get appointments. so i know its hard

I agree it's a pain but the easy answer is you need to find some way to do the online form at 8am. I would leave for work 15 mins early, pull over somewhere safe at 7.55 and do the online form on my phone, or take my laptop and hotspot it to my phone and do it in the car.

I logged on to ours at 8.06 and the online system was closed and advised me to call 111 or go to a&e. I just would like someone to look at a couple of skin patches!

Ours opens at 7am. Last week I tried at 730 and it was full

Ours is very similar and I just can't what has changed. It all worked well pre-covid and now if you are lucky enough to get an appointment then the waiting room is completely empty even thought appointments are like hen's teeth. It does feel like they are now allowed to provide a poorer service.

Would love to hear from any GPs who can explain what's gone wrong.

Have you thought of signing up to an online GP's?
I use GP at Hand (NHS so it's free). Never have to wait more than 24hrs for an appt. Prescriptions are sent directly to my pharmacists.

The only hassle is if i need to see the doctor face to face, as their office is a little bit away from me, but all the appt. are by video phone and in 3 years only had to see the doctor in-person once.