Can I make a formal complaint can’t get appointment

[Lovelybitofsquirrel3]

I have diagnosed depression and my sleep is effected. and ironically I have been trying to get medication for my anxiety and depression so that I can improve my life but appointments are months away and they tell me to phone at 8am but I can’t because I’m not awake. I tried emailing to book one instead but they tell me that they can’t.

Ask for their vulnerable patients policy

Not all GP practices offer appointment booking via internet/apps. Our doesn't - you have to phone at the appointed time, no other options at all, not even turning up at reception - they just turn you away and tell you to phone!

There should also be a practice safeguarding officer who you could contact, as well as the practice manager.

If your practice uses the NHS app (I think they all do) you could try getting an appointment on that? I’ve messaged my surgery at 9ish before and been successful. The earlier the better though.

No, they don't "all do" at all. Our GP surgery hasn't activated any of the appointment booking features on the Apps and make it clear you have to phone for appointments. There's no online appointment booking, no "messaging" to ask for appointments etc. It's basically just for ordering repeat prescriptions and viewing limited health records.

You have responsibility for your own health though. You can hunker down and stubbornly refuse because they aren't doing things on your terms but the only person who'll suffer from that is you.

You'll need to ring at 8am -if you can't, ask someone to do this for you. Take the booking, even if it's for months away. Better to have something booked in rather than still being in the same place in a few months with no appointment.

@Lovelybitofsquirrel3 no, it's really not. If you're chronically tired any way because of these sleep issues, then there's absolutely no reason why you shouldn't be prioritising being awake and available at the time needed to call them in order to access an appointment.

You're far from the only person on the planet who struggles with sleep (and lack thereof). You're making excuses for the fact that you won't take the simple step of setting an alarm and inconveniencing yourself to get an appointment.

I dont see how you've got grounds for a complaint when you're making no effort to phone at 0800

The first thing they'll probably ask you is how many times have you phoned and not got through. You say none because 0800 doesn't suit you

Good luck with that

Set more than one alarm. Put them away from the bed so you have to get up to turn them off. You can go back to sleep once you’ve made the appointment.

In the nicest possible way, set the alarm, 2 alarms if needs be, and help yourself by ringing at 8am. I did exactly this yesterday and had an appointment at 9am, be prepared to leave the house and take any available appointment. That’s how you get seen.

On another thread you mention your 6 year old. Who is looking after them at 8am? Can't that person wake you up so you can call the doctor?

It's a totally shit system, but 99% of the country have to do the same. Set alarm (if we're not already up and about for work etc) and get in the queue.

At some stage, you need to take responsibility to get it sorted.

well how do you suggest they do it as you say you're not willing to wake up at 8am to make an appointment?

Absolutely this. You have to help yourself - nobody else can do it for you.

Can you book via nhs app

I work night shifts too so I get how you feel.

Either do it on a day off or set an alarm, call then go back to sleep.

It's your responsibility not the surgery.

What will happen if they say you need to come in at 8am for an appt? Sorry, no, I can't get up for that time?

Good grief.

I had a similar problem and could never manage to ring in time but I had the guts to admit that was my fault for being hopeless.

You need to help yourself here OP, other people can't do everything for and work around you, you won't get any better with this attitude.

Set an alarm at 7.50, make the appointment and go back to sleep.

You can get someone else to ring, so see if it’s something your support worker can do, I’m not able to ring, so someone else does for me, when i signed up to the surgery there was an option to sign or tick or something that let others book or get results for you etc

Sorry but YOU need to take responsibility for your health. They are giving you the opportunity to get an appointment, but you aren't taking it. There is no reason on this earth you can't set an alarm to phone at 8am. I have been the lowest of the low, and I have been on antidepressants for 4 years. I know how hard it is to take that first step. But only YOU can take it. I found it so incredibly difficult to make that first phone call. But I just had to. And YOU have to.

Set a day in your mind that you're going to phone, get the alarm set, and do it. You can go back to sleep afterwards. If you're sleeping through alarms, set a louder one. Get a neighbour to knock on your door. Anything. There is always a way!

Ironically it is their problem because they are the ones who should be treating my anxiety and sleep issues

It's not their problem at all, in fact it's not even a problem. You just don't want to take responsibility. Your choice, but don't complain about things that are easily solved and lay the blame on someone else.

Have you tried to make an appointment through NHS App? Just download it, register, put your personal info and you would be able to make appointents yourself without calling to the GP. It will not be on the day (most probably), but the first available appointment you will see there.

Learned helplessness and blaming other people for not being able to make an appointment isn't going to help. 8am is standard and not particularly early especially with children in the home. How do they get to school if you aren't awake at 8am? Lots of loud alarms across the room that you need to get up for.

you can put your energy into making a complaint or into working within the system. Both will be difficult given your situation, but the later will get you treated much faster.