If you’re in Scotland, Wales or NI are you struggling to see a GP or NHS dentist?

[PinkyU]

I often see the huge difficulties people in England are facing trying to see their GP or dentist, is this the case across all the UK nations?

For context, I’m in Scotland and made an appointment a couple of months ago for a routine check up for my dc at the dentist and waited just over a week from call to check up.

DC2 has been ill this week and needed antibiotics, called the GP and was in for a face-to-face 90 minutes later, though I will say I’ve regularly waited 20+ minutes on hold to get through but have always either had a telephone consultation or a f2f appointment. I’m wondering if my experience is an outlier?

I’ve lived in NI and England this year. Had more trouble in NI the dentist wouldn’t see anyone for anything and hasn’t since March 2020. The GP in NI misdiagnosed all sorts of crap on the phone and never saw me since March 2020 and refused to do my son’s epi pen prescription the week we were moving even though his was out of date.

In the south of England I got registered in under a week, and see my GP every time I need to and have telephone appointments same day if its an emergency and they decide if I need to come in from that. I can’t find a dentist since I moved here though. The only issue is none of our medical records have made it back from NI.

Having lived in Scotland though, NHS Scotland is totally different to the HSC (NHS NI) or NHS England.

In Scotland. My family and I have been able to see our dentist regularly since lockdown. Same for gp. I called my GP last week about a dodgy mole and they saw me face to face two hours later.

I've had no bother seeing or speaking to a GP or dentist. My dd recently made a non urgent appointment with the GP and had a phone appointment within a week.

My dh is a GP and sees most patients within a week and about 50% of his urgent phone alls the same day, much the same now as pre-pandemic.

We're in Scotland.

Central Scotland my 3yr old has never been to dentist my 5yr old hasn't been since she was 2! I've given up chasing the check up! I'm actually considering changing dentists as others have been seeing patients for about a year now! I've only been myself as I had toothache but even then I had to lie and say that I was up all night and taking pain killers etc as apparently just toothache wasn't enough! Turns out I ended up getting my wisdom tooth removed.

I haven't seen a gp face to face since before covid. I've only ever seen a nurse in person for smear test, bloods etc. my 3yr old has never seen gp face to face unless at hospital or out of hours. Even when she's had a rash as a baby! It's difficult to get appointments but usually do get a call back the same day but they just want to palm u off with a prescription.

I’m in Scotland. I’ve been going to the dentist as normal since they reopened after lockdown. Never had a problem.

I haven’t needed a dr but I’ve been to the nurse a few times and it’s been easy to get an appointment. My friend is at the same drs surgery as me and she has called at 8am for an appointment and got one that day, was even offered face to face or telephone.

my granny’s surgery however is terrible, they are very reluctant to see people face to face. They only want to do telephone appointments which is not handy when your 91 and hard of hearing.

I'm in scotland. GP is OK. Can get a phone appointment although usually a few days after I call for one. Dentistvis doing checks ups normally but I called for a outside of check up appointment for my daughter recently and its a 2 month wait. They would only give a closer appointment if she was in a great deal of pain, which she isn't.

I’m in Scotland. As soon as they were able, our dentist was demanding we get our arses in for checkups. They did everyone in household groups to cut down on the full on cleaning regime. We’ve all been seen several times since then.

GP now offer the option of a f2f or phone appointment. Even during full on Covid they saw my son when he had an issue on his penis. The receptionist initially suggested we send a photo!!!!!! I told her absolutely not!

I'm in Scotland. No issues seeing GP but can't get a dental appointment at all (unless willing to fork out and go private). No such thing as an NHS Dentist where I am now. Can't even get my kids registered with an NHS Dentist 😡

I'm in Scotland, i called GP at 10am yesterday for an appointment and was offered 2pm the same day. That wasn't convenient for me and she offered me any day next week. No complaints here.

We are in Scotland. It has been hit or miss. DH had an awful time getting to see a GP (2 years and couldn't get an appointment - I kids you not they just would not see him) and it ended up with a hospital stay and emergency surgery for something that didn't have to get that far in the first place. However I was seen very quickly for a breast issue and referred on the 2 week pathway which ended up being nothing but was handled very well.

Dentist was a nightmare until recently but easier to get appointments now and the DC got check ups ok. This time last year I couldn't even get a private dental appointment.

Scotland, have had no problems accessing GP or dentist, even during the pandemic. And I have needed to due to ageing body!

I’m in Scotland and my Gp is great same day if you phone early. I have an nhs dentist and can make appointments etc.I had to take one of the dc to a and e for stitches and we were in/ out and stitched within 90 minutes. I feel bad for those that struggle to access services When I lived in Edinburgh you called in the morning held for half an hour, All appointments gone for next three days; call again tomorrow. I was hospitalised twice for iv antibiotics for tonsillitis as by the time I got to the doctors they were so swollen I couldn’t swallow my own saliva. I don’t think it’s uniformly great across Scotland it’s patchy and we’re lucky.

Northern ireland here and it's not as bad but still very hard

South Wales here since start of this year. I've never not been able to get a same day f2f appointment for myself or my daughter. Went in on Wednesday last week, empty waiting room and was called in early! Much easier than SE England where we moved from. Can't get an NHS dentist for myself but DD got one straight away after we moved.

Northern Ireland here,

NHS dentists, no problem and they have been taking on new patients. Just need to fill in the paperwork for the first appointment. This is just in reference to the practice I see, my friend got taken off the books from her old practice as didn't attend during 2020/2021 (due to the pandemic) so needed to find a new one, she tried a few others first and then tried my surgery, she is now signed up and got treated with her new surgery,

GP is mostly triaging on the phone so more efficient , then if script needed sent to chemist and told to pick up from there, if need f2f they will book in that day depending on urgency or within a couple of days. Practice nurses are as normal just book at reception.

It's working well very locally, the local hospitals are a shambles as one doesn't know what the other is doing and repeating unnecessarily. I've been sent for the exact same tests by two consultants from the same speciality, both are apparently treating me, Both secretaries say I'm under their consultant, but I've never met either consultant. Go figure.

Scotland (Glasgow) here.

No issues with GP - mother in her 70s has multiple health issues (T2 diabetes, osteoarthritis etc) and her treatment has continued more or less without interruption, although she has been grumbling recently that her appointment with a specialist regarding joint replacements has been delayed from this month until February.

Dental treatment is private, so can't comment there.

I'm in wales. Have been trying since restrictions started to ease to book dental appointments for my children, finally told that they were seeing children again in august but first appointment was October! GP have seen my youngest child the same day twice when she was unwell so no major issues there except having to phone 57 times to actually get through to someone!