Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

Chat

Join the discussion and chat with other Mumsnetters about everyday life, relationships and parenting.

Flip

1 2

Original poster

Does your doctor surgery still do face to face appointments?

48 replies

Ticktocktimebomb · 21/03/2023 09:51

I haven’t managed to have a face to face doctor appointment in over 3 years now. I have seen nurses for things like smear tests and jabs but it feels like GP’s have dropped off the earth. I recently found a lump and in a call with the doctor I was told it was probably a cyst and would go away on its own, it has gone away but I’m sure pre-Covid it would have at least been prodded! I’ve now tried to make another doctors appointment and was told I would be called Wednesday afternoon, no window of time given and if I couldn’t take the call I’d be wasting their time (receptionist’s words!). I work and have meetings too, surely an hours window isn’t too much to ask?

Are other parts of the country finding the same thing or are doctors appointments available, just not in my town?!

OP posts:

MrsRinaDecker · 21/03/2023 11:05

Ours is terrible. I have a long term, chronic health condition, and any monitoring / med reviews fell totally off the radar with covid. There is no online option beyond ordering a repeat prescription (so no E-consult, no ability to book an appointment, etc). You have to phone at 8am to request an appointment, are then ‘triaged’, but the reality is calling upwards of 100 times (no call queue, just an engaged tone, and a lottery of hang up and try again) and being told there are no appointments left. I’ve ended up seeing a private GP before because my NHS practice is so inaccessible.

Nannyfannybanny · 21/03/2023 11:06

Ours is the same, we're in the SE UK. Ring at 8.30 as instructed,you are 30,th in the queue on a good day. There are not 30 appointments,you cannot ring for repeat scripts or test results so these must be for appointments. Online doesn't work. I took my phone into the surgery last year, I had an email confirming I have online account,then I put in password,user name,it tells me I'm not registered with this surgery!!! Been with them 12 years. Receptionist told me I wasn't logged into the correct site, although you can blatantly see the surgery name etc on the top. You get a nurse practitioner phone appointment, always have been 5 weeks time. You ring with severe abdo pain, told to ring 111, or go to the ED. My daughter has just moved to a village 30 miles away,was worried about changing GPs, got call back THAT DAY and from GP, scan booked next month. You cannot change GPs here,there just aren't enough to go round. I'm also in a village.

AnnaMagnani · 21/03/2023 11:07

Never stopped. None of the surgeries I know (and I work in community health across a large area) stopped either.

My DM complained her surgery didn't do F2F until I pointed out she'd had a F2F appointment which I knew because I was there.

What they do have is a massive shortage of GPs, which is unsurprising as currently it's a crap job.

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about this subject:

General health

MarshaBradyo · 21/03/2023 11:07

Yes and it’s usually same day

RagamuffinCat · 21/03/2023 11:08

It is so hard to get an appointment. You can only book two weeks ahead, but all appointments are filled up two weeks in advance. So if I phoned today at 8am, I might be able to get an appointment for two week's time on the Tuesday. If I phoned tomorrow, I might be able to get an appointment for two week's time on the Wednesday. Apart from when you finally manage to get through they have already run out of appointments. These are all telephone appointments. The only way I have found to actually get an appointment and possibly be seen face to face is to use the econsult facility, and the GP will usually tell you you need to book an appointment (they specify either face to face or telephone), make a note on your file, and you can then phone and be allowed to make one. It feels like wasting two appointments really, one for the econsult and then the appointment you needed in the first place, but that seems the only way to do it.

GoodChat · 21/03/2023 11:13

Ours do same day face to face if they're not happy with what you describe over the phone.

I'd change practices.

They should be legally obliged to see anyone with a lump.

AnnaMagnani · 21/03/2023 11:21

Why be legally obliged to see anyone with a lump?

There are lumps that straightaway are going to generate a referral, your GP having a fiddle with them is going to make no difference.

gogohmm · 21/03/2023 11:23

Yes, if needed. Generally they triage by phone first

Whoopsmahoot · 21/03/2023 11:25

A telephone appointment and if the dr thinks they need to see you then they will see you that day or the next. I have called at 4.00, emergency call from dr at 5 and seen a doctor at 545. Can’t complain. (Seen again by dr 9.00 next day and into hospital that day for pneumonia)

saveforthat · 21/03/2023 11:34

Ours has an on line message service, you add your request/symptoms/photos. You can also add how you would like to be contacted and what times are convenient. I was sceptical at first but it works fairly well. The NHS dentist however is another story.

jollygreenpea · 21/03/2023 11:35

Our GP are as rubbish as the OP's. Phone appointments, but trying to get through is difficult, near impossible. I have actually gone to the surgery twice, still haven't managed to get passed the receptionist.

I need a scan but our's wont organise one not even on the two week thing.

The problem is all the local GP seem to be a shit as this one, so not much point in changing.

saveforthat · 21/03/2023 11:37

AnnaMagnani · 21/03/2023 11:21

Why be legally obliged to see anyone with a lump?

There are lumps that straightaway are going to generate a referral, your GP having a fiddle with them is going to make no difference.

I disagree, i don't believe the doctor will know if it should be referred without "having a fiddle". When I found a lump (during covid) I had a face to face appointment the same day.

SeeNoWeevilHearNoWeevil · 21/03/2023 11:37

Yes, face to face never stopped at my surgery. If I ring for an urgent appointment I’d get a triage call back and if the person I spoke to felt I needed to be seen, I’d get a same day appointment.

premicrois · 21/03/2023 11:40

AnnaMagnani · 21/03/2023 11:21

Why be legally obliged to see anyone with a lump?

There are lumps that straightaway are going to generate a referral, your GP having a fiddle with them is going to make no difference.

I would imagine it's because if there are lumps that straightaway need a referral there will also be lumps that don't need a referral. Without the 'fiddle' the GP doesn't know which is which.

Referring everyone with a lump would be ridiculous, equally not referring someone with a lump without seeing it is just fucking stupid.

DeepfriedPizza · 21/03/2023 11:43

Our Gp's receptionists decide if you are worthy to be put on the list for a call back from a doctor then the doctor calls to see if you are worthy of an appointment. By the time this happens the day is almost over and therefore there are no appointments left so you need to do it again the next day.

Stroopwaffle5000 · 21/03/2023 11:46

Mine never stopped. They also have an online booking system for face 2 face appointments and online form for triaging and telephone appointments.

HollyFern1110 · 21/03/2023 11:49

Sugarplumfairy65 · 21/03/2023 10:57

That can all be done online surely?

Show quote history

Maybe at OPs surgery it can. The website for my surgery gives basic information on opening times, staff names etc but you can't "do" anything on it. You have to phone. Hence my question.

kickupafuss · 21/03/2023 11:51

I’m amazed that some people can still get face to face. I have made a routine appointment after a telephone one couldn’t solve the problem. I have to wait 6 weeks. My friend is having heart problems and even she can’t get a face to face appointment.

GoodChat · 21/03/2023 11:52

AnnaMagnani · 21/03/2023 11:21

Why be legally obliged to see anyone with a lump?

There are lumps that straightaway are going to generate a referral, your GP having a fiddle with them is going to make no difference.

GP's can generally tell whether it's something to be concerned about when they see/feel it and, if you do need a referral, can refer you to the correct place.

Bearpawk · 21/03/2023 11:57

Mine age very difficult, you're lucky if your get to the front of the phone queue. I can see tbh a&e is clogged up with non emergencies as people have no other choice.

RuthW · 21/03/2023 12:17

I work for a gp. Face to face never stopped here.

SparkyBlue · 21/03/2023 12:57

Face to face never stopped at my GP. They are excellent.

mindutopia · 21/03/2023 14:15

Yes, I've had no issue. Tbf, it's rare that I want a face to face appointment as I have better things to do than spending an hour round trip driving to see the GP. I'd much rather they just ring me and I've found my phone consultations (I've had many) to be really effective.

But when my ds was unwell last summer (with suspected and then confirmed lyme's disease), they were fantastic. I always had a f2f appointment same day if requested.

That said, I was at a previous GP before the pandemic and they were absolutely rubbish and it was impossible to get an appointment of any sort.

Flip

1 2