Has anyone actually managed to get an appointment with a GP?

[EachandEveryone]

Honestly, I despair. London. You wait ten minutes to listen to a long winded message finally telling you to book an online appointment. After signing in the website tells you that your practice doesnt offer this facility. The receptionist said you have to ring at 8am on the day. I literally know so many people that have had treatment this year that has started far too late in the day☹️ None of it covid related.

Ive got oedema from my neck to beyond my clavicle its just come up over Christmas and google is freaking me out. I guess afew more days wont matter although fitting phone calls around work is never easy. Remember the days when you could make a GP appointment afew days in advance? Will we ever get those days back I wonder?

Yes but I asked for one tbf I said I would happily take the phone call option I just didn't know how the Dr would examine his foot over the phone I got an appointment in person ASAP

@milly74
“ So it took 2 x calls for them to agree to see you? What's good about that? Why not just book you in for F2F appt?”

I actually requested a phone appointment as I knew it was a recurrence of an issue I’m waiting for surgery to resolve and because I knew the chance of getting a call back was higher than requesting a f2f.

And it was 1 call by me and 1 in return from the GP who decided that she wanted a swab taken as it’s the second time in the last 4 weeks I’ve needed antibiotics. If it hadn’t been for the decision to get the swab then it would have been dealt with without the need to visit the surgery and I could have collected the prescription from the pharmacy later that morning.

I think they’ve been brilliant to be honest (east London). Ours is GP telephone triage, after calling up and being held in a queue but usually less than 10mins. If out of appointments for that day they direct you to a hub.I find this much more convenient generally, even if at work, and prescription sent to the end of the street. Smear and son’s flu vacc all done within days of booking too.

I rang a couple of weeks ago with a chest infection and was booked straight in for a face to face, which was efficient, ran to time, and was useful.

Maybe you need to shop around a bit OP?

In May, our daughter (who was a newborn!) had a suspected urine infection and the HV said we must book an appointment ASAP. I couldn't get through on the phone and ended up going to the actual Drs surgery. The receptionist told me I couldn't book there and it HAD to be done over the phone. In the end, I had to say that I wasn't prepared to move until she either had an appointment or was seen by a Dr or a nurse. She was seen by a Dr within 20 minutes.

I felt awful refusing to move but at the same time, our daughter needed seeing.

Thankfully, we've managed to get appointments after that incident too

I’m
Not sure why one poster keeps saying ‘stop hiding’ over and over??? Seems very strange

My GP practice have been great- I’ve not needed F2F and found telephone/ pics etc very efficient and prefer it. They have been prompt and responsive, referring to secondary care quickly. I’m aware they have also largely delivered the vaccination programme. So I imagine they are rather busy!

They’ve always been available- some people find econsults and telephone consults preferable and would like them to continue to be an option, far more efficient and mean I don’t have to take time out of my working day so much. Enough with the hysterical ‘stop hiding’!!