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Original poster

How easy is getting a GP appointment?

28 replies

wheresmyhairytoe · 03/01/2020 10:51

Just wondering if my GPs is the norm.

I saw a doc nearly 4 weeks ago and was prescribed anti depressants. He didn't want to put them on repeat without seeing me again and said to come back in 3 to 4 weeks. I went to reception to make a follow up appointment to be told they can't book them more than 2 weeks in advance.
I then rang up 10 days later to make one and was told the earliest they had was 15th January (which is more than 2 weeks in advance!), this was no good as my tablets would have run out by then. She told me I could ring for an emergency on the day appointment but it wasn't really an emergency.
I rang this morning to be told I couldn't see a GP but could wait for a call back. I've now been sat here over 2 hours waiting.

This just seems the most ridiculous, confusing system to me? I barely visit the GP so no idea if this is normal or not?

OP posts:

Baaaahhhhh · 03/01/2020 11:04

They all have stupid systems OP. Firstly though, when your GP rings, they should be able to override the system and get you an appropriate appointment, so that should be OK.

But generally, yes, most GP's run odd systems of next day, next week, two weekly, monthly. Then they have a different system for on-line, which is open continuously, but only on set times of the day, and with set doctors. Then you have nurses appointments, which are pre-filled for smears, or dressings, or bloods..... and can't be filled with a different kind of of patient. This one blew my mind. I actually had to specifically ask the receptionist to change a free "dressings" appointment to a blood test appointment as it was at a time I could do. She was able to do it, but only does it if asked !!!!! Fucking hell, what a messed up system.

As a aside, my GP is really good at fitting you in if you need to be seen. They triage on the phone, but then are very, very helpful if really needed.

busyweeks78 · 03/01/2020 11:05

Not unusual where I am unfortunately. The gp I’m registered with next pre book able appointment is six weeks time. As the doctor has asked you to see them again they should give you appointment with one. Hope things get better for you soon.

Tableclothing · 03/01/2020 11:09

When people start antidepressants it's usual to see them again in 2 weeks (side effects can be unpredictable, especially at the start, and it's worth checking in at that point)

Your mental health is very important and in future, if the only appointment available is an "emergency", then book it. You need/deserve to be seen.

I hope you get sorted today.

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General health

Mabelface · 03/01/2020 11:11

Usually within a couple of days, if not the next.

Floralnomad · 03/01/2020 11:11

Why are you sat waiting , give them a mobile number and get on with your day . At our GP , pre bookable appts are released every week for 2 weeks ahead however they have a walk in every weekday morning where you are guaranteed to be seen and can specify which dr if you want to . Best GP surgery I’ve ever been registered with .

Tableclothing · 03/01/2020 11:12

At my GP practise the pre-bookable appointments are usually full 6 weeks ahead. Consequently, everyone who didn't get 6 weeks' notice that they would be ill rings up at 8.30 for an on-the-day appointment. Those are all gone by 8.33.

Depending on the problem, when that's happened to me I've either asked to be seen by the practice nurse, asked for a call back from the GP, or gone to a walk in.

Becles · 03/01/2020 11:16

I get seen the same day

QuestionableMouse · 03/01/2020 11:18

If my GP needs to see me again at a set time she will book it for me at the appointment.

Might be worth asking about when you do get in.

Original poster

wheresmyhairytoe · 03/01/2020 11:23

flora I have given them my mobile and obviously I'm doing stuff in the house but have shopping etc to do and would rather not discuss my mental health in the middle of tesco.

All I want is someone to prescribe me more tablets as they've worked well but I'm about to run out.

OP posts:

RunningAwaywiththeCircus · 03/01/2020 11:24

This reply has been withdrawn

Message from MNHQ: This post has been withdrawn

missyB1 · 03/01/2020 11:26

Yeah the system at our surgery is different but still doesn't work particularly well. We can book online as far ahead as you like BUT definitely won't get an appointment in under 4 weeks - and that's if you are prepared to see literally anyone. If you want to see a particular GP chances are you will wait 6 weeks.

On the day is for urgent stuff and the bar is set very high for those appointments and you will be triaged and wait for call back.

I worked in the NHS for 26 years and I never thought things would be allowed to get this bad.

DivisionBelles · 03/01/2020 11:29

I tried for days to get an appointment before Christmas, ringing every day at 8.30am. Everything had gone each time I tried. I finally managed to get an appointment for 24th Jan, the earliest prebookable appointment they had.

My dr even had a form you can fill in online to get someone to call you back. Three times I did this an I had no reply. When I asked the receptionist about this, she said she didn't even think anyone checked it and wasn't sure what it was for! Unbelievable, especially as the 'book an appointment' link takes you straight there.

MrsPnut · 03/01/2020 11:35

Ours runs a triage system where you can call and ask to be put on the triage list before 10:30am and a GP calls you back. You do not need to give information to the receptionist just ask to go on the list.

Usually it means they can prescribe etc over the phone and you can collect from the surgery. If you need to be seen then they have appointments to give out and you will be seen that day. I probably have to be seen once in every 5 times I go on the list, usually the GP can organise whatever I need over the phone but I have a chronic autoimmune disorder with some heavy duty drugs so need more care than most.

I can also book appointments a few weeks in advance, usually can get one within the week if you are happy to see any GP.

Freshprincess · 03/01/2020 11:46

I had the same situation and was rationing my tablets to alternate days. I told the GP who told me that running out of medication is an emergency as far as he’s concerned.

The system at ours is not great either. They’ve switched to a new system to offer more on the day appointments. Fine except they don’t allow pre-bookings for more than a week in advance. It took me 3 days of calling at 8am to get an appointment. If the doctor tells you to come back in 6 weeks it could be 8 before you get an appointment.

I know it’s all down to underfunding and it’s not the receptionists fault, but it’s so hard not to be annoyed about the whole thing.

ohohohmerrychristmas · 03/01/2020 11:47

System for ours at present is that you phone reception, they ask what’s wrong with you and then they decide who you can/can’t see (GP, nurse practitioner, pharmacy, self care) , and how long you have to wait for the appointment .

Probably 90% sent to nurse first .. who most of the time sends you back to the GP !

In the summer last year I had seven UTIs back to back, for three months. Every single time they told me to ring the pharmacist, who said to phone the surgery back, so they sent me to see the nurse as a non emergency , who told me to see the doctor - and then reception said it wasn’t an emergency, as I’d seen the nurse ... that process six or seven times ...

Freshprincess · 03/01/2020 11:49

That is to see any GP. If you want to see a specific one you keep ringing till you get a day when they’re not booked up. We only have one female GP, it must be like winning the lottery if you get to see her when you want to.

endofthelinefinally · 03/01/2020 11:52

GPs ought to be able to book follow ups themselves.
When I was providing a clinical service to several practices I stated on day one that I needed to book all appointments for my patients and that reception staff were not to be allowed to book or cancel.

Original poster

wheresmyhairytoe · 03/01/2020 12:00

I've just rung them back after 3 and a half hours to check I'd not been forgotten.
Snottily told she is ringing people back in priority order, fair enough, so I'm near the bottom of the list.
DH is at another surgery and was prescribed antidepressants 2 weeks after me and has already had a follow up appointment and another booked in. Annoyingly I can't get registered there.

OP posts:

beyondtheshed · 03/01/2020 12:07

Ours is like yours hairytoe and DivisionBelles. Nigh on impossible to get an appointment and if you do, and then the doctor asks you to book a follow up in a week or two, you know full well that you're not going to be able to book it! Our elderly neighbour needed help booking his appointments last year and I know from that experience that his surgery is equally difficult - almost worse because when you ring, after 30 minutes on hold (listening to "You are now... number 4 in the queue" etc) you get cut off and have to re-dial!!! Aaaargh!!!

ActualHornist · 03/01/2020 12:12

Mine is great. I called yesterday and got an appointment for my son for Monday. Not urgent. I rarely have to wait more than a week, and if I do, it’s because I want the nurse or the female doctor, both of whom are part time.

Our surgery is obviously an anomaly, but I really hate the way they don’t standardise the system!

Kelsoooo · 03/01/2020 12:52

My GPs are hit and miss.

Call on the day for "acute" issues. Rang yesterday at 8 am and got an appointment same day.

Pre-book, not awesome tbh.

Nat6999 · 03/01/2020 13:19

It really annoys me that if they want to see you about test results they expect you to be able to drop everything to go to see them, but if you are asking for an appointment you can be waiting over a month. I had made an appointment before Christmas to see the doctor about something that was worrying me, in between I had a blood test & the surgery rang to say I needed to see the doctor about the results, I had this appointment booked for the next day. I went to the appointment where the doctor spent the whole time talking about my blood results, when I managed to get a word in about my original worry, I was told my time was up & I would have to make another appointment. The next available appointment was 20 January so I have spent all Christmas worried about what is wrong with me & in pain. I dread ringing to see a doctor, you have more chance of going to tea with the queen than getting a convenient appointment.

FaceLikeAFlittin · 03/01/2020 13:33

I had to make a follow up appointment with GP (at Gp’s request) after seeing the consultant. First appt was 6 weeks later and for telephone consult only.

I can never get a same day appointment for love nor money. I always seem to be number 5 in the queue for a good half hour. And by the time I get through there are no appointments left.

Original poster

wheresmyhairytoe · 03/01/2020 14:31

Four hours later I got to speak to a GP. Been prescribed another 2 months worth of tablets. Just gone to get from the pharmacy and they hadn't signed the prescription so had a wait while they rang the surgery and sorted that out!

OP posts:

MyNameIsMrsGrumpy · 03/01/2020 15:06

I phoned today for a double appointment and got one for Tuesday I could of been seen Monday but I’m back at work 🤷‍♀️

I can phone and get a Gp to call me back that day normally within a couple of hours, and if they think they need to see me I get seen that day.

Rarely have to wait more than a week for an appointment if it’s routine.

Small Rural practice here maybe 3000 patients. All the gp’s are good but I like to see a particular female one and she’s great.

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