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Original poster

Impossible to see a GP!

66 replies

daffodilandtulip · 03/07/2023 09:37

Does every GP have this "ring at 8am" system? I've been trying to get an appointment for ten working days. Even in the miraculous occasion that I get through at 8:02, the appointments have all gone.

(Mind you, not that it matters if everywhere has the same system, I've asked the other local GPs and they are full.)

There isn't even any kind of triage - they don't even ask - what if I've got something serious going on?

OP posts:
TheTurn0fTheScrew · 03/07/2023 10:03

Mine triages via an app. They encourage anyone who is able to use this rather than ringing. Sometimes the GPs will message you for more info if you've indicated that's ok, and once I've had the whole (pre existing) matter dealt with over the app. Other times they call, and I've been offered same/next day appointments where needed. They still have phone access for those who can't get to grips with the app. IMO they offer a decent service.

jigglytip · 03/07/2023 10:06

Mine are terrible and now AGAIN on their Facebook page they say their phone lines are down again, its every fucking week🙄 and no use emailing or using econsult, they just ignore it

DustyLee123 · 03/07/2023 10:07

We have an app that is triaged, then you get signposted to the best person for your complaint.

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Catspyjamas17 · 03/07/2023 10:09

I don't understand why, when I look, there are never any appointments available to book online. Like, not any in two to three weeks time, let alone on the day.

Surely they are just making rods for their own backs by making everyone use the phone system even for non-urgent matters?

ComtesseDeSpair · 03/07/2023 10:13

I understand the logic behind it, people are less likely to forget to attend an appointment they made a few hours ago than one they made two weeks ago (and for which their symptoms may now have cleared up, so they forget to cancel the appointment.)

If your symptoms are serious, all the surgeries I’ve used over the years have indicated that you should tell the receptionist so: they always hold back a handful of appointments for this, or can offer a GP telephone call.

HamstersAreMyLife · 03/07/2023 10:15

I booked online yesterday for today, got a text at 8am to say cancelled due to needing a different professional (no Dr appts available on the app for the next 16 weeks) so called at 8.10 and have 2 appointments for this afternoon. It was inconvenient tbh I wish I could have just used the app as if I was at work today it would have been impossible to get through. The system works well at ours I suspect due to deterrent value and the fact they take quite a bit of detail when you ring which means they can use different professionals for different things.

RoseAndRose · 03/07/2023 10:16

Mine have a mix of on the day and future appointments.

Unfortunately, the future appointments now get booked so far in advance, that anything you think needs seeing within the next 3-4 weeks mean you have to go on to the phone that day method. But it starts with a call back telephone triage (which is usually available) and works pretty well from there.

Floralnomad · 03/07/2023 10:16

We’ve just moved from the ring at 8 system to the online triage , it’s all rubbish compared to what we had pre covid . Added to which 3 of the best Drs have left in the last year .

Original poster
daffodilandtulip · 03/07/2023 10:37

My symptoms aren't serious in themselves, but going on for so long is starting to really affect me. I'm taking max dose paracetamol daily so I can carry on as usual.

And the receptionist doesn't really give you chance to discuss this, she just says there's no appts left and hangs up.

OP posts:
Whiterose23 · 03/07/2023 10:48

Ours has appointments available at 8am but encourages you to email.
I have a lump that I was concerned about. Emailed a picture to the GP, received a phone call an hour later asking me to come in that day as the Dr wanted to look at it.

My daughter had an issue and again I emailed with an outline of my concern, the GP called me to discuss and she was seen within two hours of my email.

This surgery always gets a bashing on social media about a lack of appointments so I don’t know if I’ve just been lucky.

AmyByTheTrain · 03/07/2023 11:00

Ours is a submit an econsult at 8am system. Just as rubbish. Last time I used it, I waited all day, then got a call at 5pm advising that they thought my son should have his lungs listened to that day, but we should take him to urgent care, as they didn't have any appointments for a week. By that time, the local urgent care wasn't taking any more patients for the night. I was livid.

RaraRachael · 03/07/2023 11:01

We fill in a form online and the GP decides if you need an appointment or can just prescribe you something to pick up at the pharmacy. The waiting time for a GP appointment is 3 weeks - used to be the next day pre Covid.

My sister lives in the next town and says they can't see a doctor unless it's a dire emergency. They get seen by a practice nurse.

Whenwillglorioussummercome · 03/07/2023 11:04

We also have to request online and be triaged. Waiting time for a non-urgent phone appointment currently 10 weeks. You can phone at 8am but I never have. The couple of times an issue we’ve had has been deemed potentially serious we’ve had a call/message the same day.

I find it really distressing to feel that we essentially have no access to a GP in person for anything that isn’t triaged as critical, but I can also see the logic of prioritising. I just miss the reassurance.

Catspyjamas17 · 03/07/2023 11:05

Just had a look online and found about 4 telephone appointments available for two weeks from today. I guess that's what passes for good service now.

Original poster
daffodilandtulip · 03/07/2023 11:11

@Whenwillglorioussummercome it is worrying. What happens if you miss a key point that you don't realise is a symptom, they don't then think it's serious, they phone you back and say it's fine because you've missed this key point and they haven't seen your face...

OP posts:
Whenwillglorioussummercome · 03/07/2023 11:16

@daffodilandtulip I know public health experts who are extremely concerned about the wider impact of this lack of access to primary health care. In other countries with functioning health care systems you either go straight to a specialist doctor or have good primary care in place. We are losing an incredibly important layer of preventative and early stage health care here. It really scares me.

urghhh47 · 03/07/2023 11:30

Ours you ring between 8 & 12 on the day and get triaged. Tbf i haven't tried ringing at any other time than 8am but so far it's been:
call back by GP by 11am
call back by GP by 10:30am
call back by nurse practitioner by 9am
ftf appointment at 11:15 (running 20 minutes late)
call back by GP by 10:30am
We moved to the area 6 months ago and i've developed a serious heart condition in the past year - can't fault the GP at all they been excellent. The hospital have been rubbish!

mumda · 03/07/2023 11:37

Looking on the NHS app now
31st July for a f2f bookable (62 available over the period 31st -11th August)
31st July for Telephone appointments.(29 available over the period 31st -11th August)

So slightly better than previous 50 day wait for an appointment.

You can ring up and try for an appointment but that way lurk depression and despair, assuming the phone system actually works.

Cluelessat33 · 03/07/2023 11:38

My 74 year old Mum was told she had to wait nearly 3 months for a none urgent go appointment, for pain management for a issue with her hip replacement. If she wanted one earlier she would need to call each day to check for a cancellation. Baring in mine this is severely impacting on her mobility, its pretty dire. She did ultimately do as suggested and got a 5 minute phone consultation earlier, which was all that was needed to prescribe her different pain relief and anti inflammatory medication. Thankfully she's retured so had the time to do that!

Chocolateship · 03/07/2023 11:40

I'd email the practice manager actually, even if there aren't any appointments the receptionists are supposed to triage or tell you how to access an alternative service.

Luxell934 · 03/07/2023 11:45

Mine are quite good actually. You don't have to call at a specific time for an appointment, you can call at any time and be seen the same day if it's a serious issue. Otherwise they will book an appointment for you at a later date.

For example my husband called about a mole he was concerned about around 12pm and they made him an appointment same day for 4pm.

They also have a come and wait system where if you need to be seen the same day you go between 2-4pm and just sit wait to be seen.

NannyR · 03/07/2023 11:50

The phone system at our gp "experiences technical difficulties" on a very regular basis and even when it's working it's impossible to get through to speak to someone - my last attempt (at 4pm, so not the morning rush time) I was in a queue for 40 mins before I had to hang up due to needing to work. A few months ago I tried calling at 8am, it took 138 re-dials to get through, in a queue for 20 mins then someone picked up the phone and hung up. They have recently started a new online service but it has a limited number of enquiries per day and they are all gone by 10am.
I dread the thought of being ill and having to negotiate this system whilst in pain or being seriously worried about a symptom or experiencing mental health symptoms.

Floralnomad · 03/07/2023 11:54

Having said it’s rubbish , I’ve filled out the online triage this morning and now have a face to face appt on Wed . It’s the first time I’ve actually managed to get an in person appt since the pandemic ! I did put on the form that I wanted a face to face appt so maybe that helped .

Melroses · 03/07/2023 11:56

I only had to use the 8am thing once and it was a nightmare, I was messed about with appointments canceled and rearranged and it took 3 weeks in the end and my prescription ran out.

Now I use the message service - they get back to me and either it is all sorted or they make an appointment for a test or something and it only takes a couple of days.

roarrfeckingroar · 03/07/2023 13:26

Mine has this system but they're brilliant. 9 times out of 10 you'll get a phone appointment that day and if you need to be seen in person following that they'll call you in same day.