Is anyone still having trouble seeing/ talking to a gp?

[Makinganewthinghappen]

I have been trying to book an appointment with my gp about my child’s growth - she is 9 and very small but healthy so it’s not an emergency but it’s is still something I would like a gps advice on.

The school nurse has basically said that I would need to go through the gp for any referrals etc .

Anyway I called up a month ago and was told they are only doing phone appointments and the nearest one would be today. But today that have text me at the time I was supposed to have the phone call to cancel. So I have to rebook again.

I was just wondering if other people are having this much of a problem at the moment? I know it was difficult at the height of the pandemic but I’m not sure about now!

I haven’t taken her to the doctor for about 3 years so it’s not something that we do a lot

It seems to really vary, there's been a few posts on our local facebook group from people asking similar to you as they just can't get access to GPs. Some have a system where you can only ring from 8am to book an appointment that day which doesn't favour those who are going to work and trying to get kids to school and the phones just ring engaged and by the time they get through they're fully booked. I have to say that mine has been great, better than normal in fact because they've introdued eConsult (for adults only) so you can log symptoms online and they get back to you within 48 hours either by phone or they make you an appointment to go into the practice. For most things I find the phone consultation fine and one then asked me to go in to take some samples but I went the same afternoon as the phone consultation. I have found that the time they ring isn't always that close to the time they say they'll ring - sometimes it's been much earlier and sometimes over an hour later!

We used e consult initially (you can’t phone them it is e consult they want you to go through). They text me the next day with the appointment for today.

It’s a little frustrating because my husband is starting work late today so he could be on the call as well!

Yep. Mine currently isn't dealing with any long-acting contraception (implant, coil etc). Reading the website for my local sexual health clinic suggests they aren't either though.

It's incredible that pubs etc are expected to get on with things, yet access to basic health care is still restricted.

Our GP will do f2f on request for appointments booked in advance. I'm not sure about the same day appointments.