What's your experience when it comes to getting GP appointments? And other questions...

Our GP's appointment system is phoning at 8.30am for a morning appointment, or 9.00 am for an afternoon appointment.

It is rare that you can make an appointment for a few days away.

Once you manage to get through on the phone it is generally possible to get an appointment with someone. It may not be a GP - they seem to use a lot of nurses and nurse practitioners at our surgery. But that is fine by me.

They have recently introduced online appointment booking - so I will see how that goes.

My surgery is brilliant (Worcestershire). They have an automated booking line for appointments so you do not have to speak to a soul. You can book and cancel appointments with Doctors/Nurse just by pressing buttons. Painless.

You can get a same day appointment, they also do late night appointments once a week and Saturday mornings.

I just wish everyone could have the same experience.

Impossible.

I got so fed up with fighting with reception about what I need and when, even when advised by the doctor themselves. I've given up and taken myself off my medication.

They would always insist it was nurse I needed to see when it wasn't. They insisted I needed to have a chat with a doctor when it was the procedure that needed doing, not the chat, THAT I'VE JUST HAD. They made appointments for injections on days when I knew I wouldn't be around and told them..so they tell me one date but put me in for a different one resulting in wasted time and effort on both sides...

I've never bothered calling them when I've been ill...I'd rather walk or be carried into A and E about to collapse than deal with them.

Any complaints made went nowhere and I'll never understand why I have to give out all the reasons why I need to see a doctor infront of a waiting room full of people..even more so when it's of a more personal nature.

My old surgery was brilliant, same day appointments or the next day if they happened to be a bit busy. That GP retired in March and I know I'm still quite lucky compared to many others but my new surgery has been a bit of a shock to the system. If you phone up for an appointment and it's not an emergency that needs seeing right now you'll need to wait two weeks, there seems to be no middle ground. My DP's repeat prescriptions got messed up in the change to the new surgery and rather than sort this out over the phone, they demanded he come in. It has taken three months before they could furnish him with an appointment he could actually make without taking a whole day off work and he has been without his medication for that time. It's completely ridiculous.

Oh yes you also can't be in the situation where it's not urgent but it can't wait 2 or 3 weeks. Which tbh is the case for Most illnesses

2 weeks wait here or ringing at 8.30am to get a same day appointment. Same day appointment is something that I've only used for the dcs so quite painless. But god forbid if you do that for an adult. You then questioned as to what sort if illness it is and can you not see the nurse etc. why IMO is wrong from receptionist. I don't want to tell all my health problems to someone who us not a HCP. And for that person to make a decision on my behalf as whether it's an emergency or not.
A family member had a 3 week waiting list for an appointment. And another had to speak to a triage nurse first then maybe to a GP who gives a prescription over the phone. Except that it's do do in such a rush that previous illnesses aren't taken I to account and mistakes are made (eg medicine for heartburn for a stomach ulcer in someone with a history of stomach ulcers...). How on earth a GP can make a diagnosis over the phone, I have no idea. You might as well tick a few question over the internet and receive your prescription by email.

Our GP surgery (part of Tameside health care) is 100% excellent.

If I ring before 10am I can get a same day appointment. I can get one for the next day every time I phone.

I rang once at 3pm stressed about a rash which was a reaction to my baby's vaccine. I couldn't get an appointment but within 5 minutes the nurse who does the jabs rang me and talked it through.

The idea of having any less service makes me so cross. I know I have it lucky. It shouldn't be luck, it should be normality

At our surgery, calls for an appointment must be made between 8am and 8.30am. Normally, this is a pretty hectic time getting everyone ready for school/ work so weeks can go past unless it is really urgent or the surgery write to ask you to come in.

May I add that when you do get to see the GP, I have utmost respect for their professionalism. They must feel exhausted seeing so many people yet they are always cheerful and pleasant.

The repeat prescription answerphone service can be a bit iffy so you need to order well before running low of medicine.

My surgery is brilliant. Ring saying you're ill and you're in the same day. Ask for a less urgent appt and you're in within a week. Or you can book it online. Cannot rate them more highly.

You phone dead on 9am. It is then engaged for the next 45 minutes or so.

If it is 'urgent' you get triaged by a nurse.

If not 'urgent' you make an appointment for about 3 weeks ahead.

There is nothing in between actually really urgent needing treatment now and something that can wait 3 weeks.

Also you can only ask for a triage call back during the morning. If you find a breast lump after lunch or your tonsils turn into pus filled craters in the afternoon you have to wait until the next day to ring.

HA, timely!!

At my surgery you habe to know 2 weeks in advance that you are going to be ill!! Or do the whole pressing re dial at 8.30am.

If you do manage to get the much needed appointment on the day you or your child is ill you are reminded several times that it is an emergency appointment and is only for 5 minutes, you are even given a card on arrival to remind you that you can only discuss the one illness that the emergency appointment was given for and all other issues must be booked through the booking system. Which of course is full for the next 2 weeks!!

Love it!!!

I'd rather not share on the board - is there an email address I could send to instead?