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Original poster

24 days for next appointment to see GP - is this normal now?

30 replies

WalkersAreNotTheOnlyCrisps · 16/09/2019 13:08

Just that, I've rang the doctor's for a routine appointment and can't get in until the 10th of October. Is this the norm or is that as ridiculous as it seems?

OP posts:
Didiplanthis · 16/09/2019 13:10

Our surgery that's probably on the long side for pre bookables but we have a lot of book on the day appointments and also will fit in emergencies as needed.

Didiplanthis · 16/09/2019 13:10

Also anyone that needs to speak to a doctor can and will be fitted in if needed.

Original poster
WalkersAreNotTheOnlyCrisps · 16/09/2019 13:12

They did ask if it was an emergency, to be fair. 3 weeks just seems ridiculous.

OP posts:

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General health
timshelthechoice · 16/09/2019 13:13

Yep, sounds normal. I always ask to see whomever - practice nurse, physician assistant - if I need to be seen now.

PurpleWithRed · 16/09/2019 13:13

According to GPs (there’s a dashboard somewhere) the average is 10 days, but I dont know if that includes same-day appointments. 3 weeks is ridiculous. Is it something you could see the practice nurse for?

SilverCrushedVelvetX · 16/09/2019 13:15

I must be very very lucky. If I want an appointment foe the morning I have to ring dead on 8 am for an appointment. If I want an afternoon appointment on the same day then I have to ring on dead o. 12noon. I've never had to wait always been seen the same day. I don't understand how surgeries can make you wait nearly a month!

MinesaPinot · 16/09/2019 13:15

Blimey, not at our surgery. If I phone I usually get an appointment within 2 or 3 days at the latest.

But our surgery is extremely good I have to say.

SmileCheese · 16/09/2019 13:15

Our surgery doesn't do routine appointments. You call on the day and they allocate the appointments on a first come first served basis. I presume they keep some back for emergencies but for a general routine appointment you could spend weeks calling everyday before getting one. I would much rather know it was booked in for 24 days time than face ringing every day for as long as it takes to get one.

Original poster
WalkersAreNotTheOnlyCrisps · 16/09/2019 13:16

No Purple, it needs to be a GP. I may be better off phoning every morning to see if there are any cancellations.

OP posts:
MinesaPinot · 16/09/2019 13:17

Sorry, forgot to say that is for routine appointments and I usually say I am happy to wait.

If it's urgent they will invariably get you in same day.

Span1elsRock · 16/09/2019 13:25

Ours is a small rural surgery and routine appointments are usually 3 weeks, you can wait up to 6 weeks if you want to see a particular GP.

They will do same day emergencies but you see whoever is available and it's literally a timed 5 minute appointment.

fussychica · 16/09/2019 13:28

Totally normal at ours. It has to been an emergency appointment if you want/need to be seen on the same day. Even telephone appointments are hard to get.

ememem84 · 16/09/2019 13:31

Every time one of these threads appears I say how lucky and grateful I am that we pay for our gps appointments. £45 a go. But I am guaranteed an appointment same day. Maybe not with my preferred gp. But if I’m ill and need a same day apt I get one.

jellycatspyjamas · 16/09/2019 13:34

I can always get a same day appointment. I might need to wait if I want a particular GP but usually a couple of days, not 3 weeks.

Sammy867 · 16/09/2019 13:36

No I can always get a same day appointment even if it’s not an emergency. I live in a village however and services are very good. GPs are friendly, willing to talk on the phone if you just want to ask a quick question; all very reasonable

Buyitinbamboo · 16/09/2019 13:44

I've been at 2 surgeries in my area and both have been around 3 weeks for non emergency. Been like that for nearly 10 years. If you want a specific GP you are looking at more like 6 weeks

Bouffalant · 16/09/2019 13:48

Totally normal unless it's an emergency.

ellzebellze · 16/09/2019 13:52

Yep. Sounds about right. I rang in the middle of August to make an appointment, and it is later on this afternoon.

They have a policy of either wait weeks, or if it is urgent to ring on the day. Nothing in between. So obviously most people are CFs and say it is urgent.

Lunafortheloveogod · 16/09/2019 13:55

It depends on the surgery and the issue itself, if it’s contraception or something that’s non urgent in a busy area that’s normal. If it’s an urgent issue or a very small practice it’s not. My current gp will see me within a week at most (there’s only one gp in the practice) my old gp couldn’t fit me in for 8 weeks at one point.. I moved to a smaller practice because it wasn’t practical to have to be on deaths door to get seen this month and they refused to do reorders of certain medications if they hadn’t been reviewed.. meds ran out in one week but they couldn’t fit me for 8 and wouldn’t cover the gap even though they were working well.

Original poster
WalkersAreNotTheOnlyCrisps · 16/09/2019 13:55

You can tell I haven't been for a few years, I'm sure it was always the week after they'd fit you in.

OP posts:
Greeni · 16/09/2019 13:56

My GP doesn’t do appointments anymore, you can’t ring either. You have to send a message through mygp and hope they email you back

Atlasta · 16/09/2019 13:59

I rang to make appointment and after id given brief details of my problem I was told it was 21 days away.
While it was not urgent it was not something I couldn't wait 21 days to see a doctor about so I declined.
Rang at 8 a.m the next morning, briefly outlined my problem again and was given a new appointment an hour later.

Original poster
WalkersAreNotTheOnlyCrisps · 16/09/2019 13:59

Bloody hell Greeni what an awful system that is!

OP posts:
BackforGood · 16/09/2019 14:05

I I need to fit it in around my diary as well, then yes, it can be that long BUT you can see a Doctor on the same day at 9 open surgeries a week at our GPs, (you rock up, and wait), so there is never any need to wait that long, unless you choose to.
However, it is more an more of an issue, and makes it understandable as to why so many people turn up to A&E with things that really ought to be going to a GP with.

JacquesHammer · 16/09/2019 14:12

6 weeks here for routine....

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