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.

YABU this is silly OP just set an alarm, the solution is incredibly easy

My FIL has a similar issue, his solution is to stay up all night, phone at 8 then go to bed after. Although if you have a young child, that won’t work.

YANBU OP and I'm sorry you're having a rough time on this thread from ablist people who don't understand what it's like to have depression so bad that it leaves you unable to wake up in time (lucky them). Just because GP surgeries do this across the country doesn't mean it's a fair or right system.
I found out recently that you can call 111 and get an appointment with your own GP for physical health. For mental health, you could do 111 option 2 and tell them you're having a crisis where you literally cannot function to do normal things like wake up and you need help with it.
Good luck OP.

It's not ablest to think that a massively overstretched NHS can't bend to suit someone who won't find a solution to making one ten minute phone call at 8am. Someone could do it for her if necessary. If you keep doing the same thing then things don't change.

Give them a ring at 8am and let them help you then.

If you can't wake up at 8am who is getting your 6 year old ready for school and taking them to school/ letting your dog out or walking it? Perhaps they could ring for you?

Yes you should complain. I also have a sleep phase disorder and I think up to 15 per cent of people do. It's like asking us to phone at 3 am. They need to be challenged to become more inclusive

How is your child getting up and out for school? Just get up and call them.

Oh come on Op, this is very wrong and an awful attitude.

YOU are responsible for your health and well being firstly. I sympathise and really hope you get the help you need but you have to take some responsibility for yourself. It is not unreasonable to be awake by 8am for just one day.

Yeah sorry op I'm a staunch campaigner for easier gp appointments but honestly if the only reason you're not trying is because you've 'previously slept through alarms' then you do need to at least try that first. They are SO overstretched and chronically underfunded you need to be proactive if you want help.
Have you checked the website to see if you can book online ?

You should be able to access help for the problem but equally you need to help yourself. If it’s effecting you so much then you need to get up for 8am to ring them

edited to add can you not book one of the appointments that are months away so that if you don’t manage to get up on just 1 day to make an 8am phone call at least you have an appointment in place. Otherwise your just going to keep going round in a circle

Give them a ring at 8am and let them help you then.

I hate but absolutely hâte people answering like this who have no fucking idea that sometimes IT IS NOT POSSIBLE FOR YOU TO RING AT 8,00AM.
Imean seriously, don’t you all think the OP would have done that a long time ago if she could?

Answers as condescending as that only shows the stupidity of people who answer like this. And clearly have no idea what it means to be ill.
And no many people have no one who can ring for then either,,,,,

@Lovelybitofsquirrel3 my surgery is the same and yes I’ve had the same issue,
Theyve been asking a couple know, in their 80s, to play that game too, to get appointments for one of them due to their cancer treatment. They’ve ended up queuing at 7.30am nearl’y every week to get the appointments they needed. Never mind their age or their frailty.
My issue was resolved when someone on the phone finally realised it was a serious issue (it was - the answer was always ‘oh you really need to see a GP to be reviewed!) and gave me an out of hours appointment.
So I’d ask for that, very strongly.

Id also check if you can’t change surgery.
The first comment from the out of hours doctor I saw was ‘oh youre at xyz practice. We see A LOT of people from there…. Can’t you get any appointment?’
Some surgeries are much better run than others,

OP you are the only one in charge of you. You are the only one who can help yourself. Make that call, see your GP and get on the pathway for treatment. It’s never going to happen if you don’t do anything.

I hate but absolutely hâte people answering like this who have no fucking idea that sometimes IT IS NOT POSSIBLE FOR YOU TO RING AT 8,00AM.
Imean seriously, don’t you all think the OP would have done that a long time ago if she could?

There is no reason for OP not to be able to. I hate this 'can't do a fucking thing for myself' attitude. It is entirely possible for OP to contact the doctor at 8am, she chooses not to.

It's a bit concerning tbh.

If the OP is a single mum of a 6yo, then she would need to be awake at the time to take her child to school, and yet the OP says she's asleep to the extent that even an alarm won't wake her.
Aside from the going to school logistics, I'm concerned about safety.

What if her child needs her in the night.
What if there is a fire or emergency.

The idea of the only adult in the house being so unconscious she can't be woken, in a house with a young child and dog sounds v hazardous to me.

I hate but absolutely hâte people answering like this who have no fucking idea that sometimes IT IS NOT POSSIBLE FOR YOU TO RING AT 8,00AM.
Imean seriously, don’t you all think the OP would have done that a long time ago if she could?

Of course IT IS POSSIBLE.

Who gets up with your 6 year old and helps them get breakfast/get ready for school/takes them to school? Could that person maybe wake you up at 8am one morning? Then you can go back to bed as soon as you’ve phoned.

Don't be so wet.

I hate but absolutely hâte people answering like this who have no fucking idea that sometimes IT IS NOT POSSIBLE FOR YOU TO RING AT 8,00AM.
Imean seriously, don’t you all think the OP would have done that a long time ago if she could?

The only thing stopping her is her sleep pattern and lack of ability to set an alarm

I thought I had missed something but I have checked back and I don't see OP mention a child.

If there is a child involved it's a serious concern.

It's in some of her other threads, notably one about a food budget for February for her household which is her, a 6yo and a dog.

Apologies, she mentioned her 6 year old in another thread (I recognised the user name as I love Friday Night Dinner!)

I feel like this has become an interrogation and I’m starting to feel defensive but I understand why. So I have a social worker and support who are aware of my full situation. Doesn’t mean they can or will do everything though because services are very stretched or cut. There’s a lot of help I need and don’t get because it isn’t available and I just have to get by. I don’t want to give too many details away but they’re not in school they are home schooled.
A relative comes and takes them to theirs if I need it they are the opposite of me and awake early.

Ask that relative to phone and book you an appointment then.

In that case I would get your relative to ring up for you? If they're willing to help out with dc, they'd probably be happy to help you access the gp? maybe see if they are up for doing it?