Can’t get a GP appointment. Frustrating

I really don't understand why postcode lottery is allowed such influence in many important areas of life where the offerings and procedures should be the same, in a country wide agreed, best practice.

You need to insist on being seen, I had a lump on my neck and it was thyroid cancer. I don't want to scare you, but you need to push for the 6 week cancer pathway.

I had this problem then I tried ringing just before on the actual dot of 8.30, like 8.29 and 59 seconds ! There were still three people ahead of me somehow

I would go there when they open. If lines open at 8.30 then likely surgery opens earlier. I would be there at 8am to book. You definitely need to see a GP and, as others have said, it’s not up to the receptionist to triage you. Regardless of the blood tests, you need the lump checked. I’d then move GP to one that has a better system for booking appointments!

I work in this field. You should be able to get a GP appointment. Download the NHS app and use the message system on that. NHS 111 can help as well, call them and they can get you an appointment at a hub or book an appointment at your usual GP practice. Alternatively you can go to your nearest urgent treatment centre and wait to be seen. Not ideal I know. If you are having real constant trouble at your practice then change practices. And as others have said you can make a complaint to the practices, CQC or your local ICB or health board.

All practices are contractually obliged to offer online consultation from 0830 to 1830 each weekday. There's been quite a lot of publicity!!

You sound quite entitled. All practices now operate total triage. You don't make a nuisance of yourself on the phone. You fill in an online consultation and they will ensure you get the appropriate care. It's that simple.

My GP surgery used to have that. I used it a few times and really liked it. They’ve stopped it now for some reason. Great!

In these circumstances I think I’d be queuing at the door at opening time so you can get on the list in person , then I’d look for an alternative practice that has online e consult .

111

At my surgery you have to call at 8 on the dot and may still have to wait. I called once at 2 mins past and was caller 11 in the queue. I called the next day at 8 and was caller 3 so I stayed on the line. They will always offer a phone appointment first and they don't give you've time. I waited all day she called me at 7 that night. They will usually arrange to see you if they think they need to and or sounds like your problems need to be seen.

Not sure where you are and whether you can just click through on this, but Betsi Cadwaladr offer a link to book a blood test online. Haven't clicked through so don't know what they require but thought maybe worth a go?

Have you done an eConsult? Just fill it in and the surgery come back with a phone appointment or in person appointment quite quickly for the following week.

I'm confused about what you mean when you say the symptoms of an underactive thyroid and diabetes are the same. Do you mean you're tired all the time and think some blood tests might reveal why? If you're ringing and saying you're tired all the time, then I'm not altogether surprised you're being told it's not urgent. There are obviously lots of other reasons that might explain tiredness too.

You do need to get an appointment at some point and I agree GP services are pretty shoddy in a lot of places now. It's not for a receptionist to say that a lump in the neck is non-urgent. I suppose she's assuming it's viral, and it may well be, but she's not qualified to make that assessment. I would complain to the practice manager about that and ask for an urgent appointment. Equally, you could get a urine dip done at a pharmacy (or buy some dipsticks and do it yourself) and if it shows there's sugar in your urine, you'd be on more solid ground to insist on an appointment asap.

Have you been seen yet?

https://app.nhs.wales/login

Contact your GP practice manager if they're not part of this.

Get the NHS app. All surgeries have to release appointments daily on there. Most are released at 8am

Same at my practise. I’ve had countless times where I’ve rang, sat in a queue and then told ‘no appointments. Call tomorrow at 8am’ when I’ve already sat and waited and am now late for work and I can’t be late again and again and again and again.

And if I DO get an appointment I frequently don’t get called back until some time after three, and I usually miss the call because I’m in work.

They’ve made it almost impossible for anyone with a job to see a dr.

It’s appalling.

Are you able to make an appointment with a Nurse Practitioner?
My daughter did an e-consult that resulted in seeing the Nurse Prac. It was the nurse who referred her to the hospital (like you, she has a lump on her neck). She’s had a hospital appointment and a CT scan all done within the last 4 weeks. She hasn’t seen a Dr at the GP surgery at all.

Formal Complaint to the practise manager, stress that their current booking system is making an appointment inaccessible for you - my old GP’s were
solely queuing up and phone bookings, both opening at 8am and it’s totally impractical if you’ve got a kid to get to school, work to get to and can’t wait on hold for 40 mins.

I had a phone call and an appointment the next day.

I’ve since moved to a practise that do online e-consult, much better.

Could you try econsult? They should call you back then

Try 111. They will assess you and have access to GPs calendars. I did this and got a same day appointment.
Failing that, complain to practise manager

What symptoms do you have in addition to the lump? Do any of your symptoms warrant a more urgent appt?
I would contact the practice manager and list all your symptoms both mental and physical and explain your difficulty getting an appointment with your GP.
Ask what their waiting times are for non urgent appt .

Id change GPs. Mine you phone and tell receptionist broefly what it is. I then get a telephone consult. For bloods I was sent a link to book at the local clinic and told to collect the relevant fornm before going to the appointment. Also we call after 10.30 for routine non urgent and expect a few days hence for appointment

The state of the NHS is just shocking at the moment.

OP - I would visit the GP surgery in person, tell them you have not been able to get through on the phone for an appointment and if they decline to help then politely demand to see the practice manager. Don’t leave the surgery until you have an appointment, or someone has seen you. Take care.