How easy is getting a GP appointment?

[wheresmyhairytoe]

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?

Glad you got sorted eventually!

My surgery actually runs fairly smoothly. There are 3 practices within a couple of mile radius, so as long as you can travel, you can usually get an appointment on the day or within a week. We don't have to tell the receptionist what the problem is, however on the chance that no on the day appointments are available, if you explain the problem, one can usually be found. I've only done that once when young DD had a suspected chest infection, I explained that and they found an appointment for her.

Really easy, but it's a very small place, only only two GPs and they both do part time alternate days working so only one working at a time and can ring up for same day appointments later or book online.
The last place I lived had a ring up method, you'd ring up, then later in the day they'd ring you back and could only get appointments for that day couldn't book in advance which was ridiculous.

Mine seems better than most. They have a drop in a Tuesday where you wait to be seen which works for me because I don't work Tuesdays.
Can usually been seen in a week quicker if you are flexible on times.