to think that my doctors appointment system is awful?

[imoanruby]

I need to see a doctor to discuss an inssue with dd1. I know one of the doctors at my surgery has a ds exactly the same age as mine so i would really like to see her.

I called yesterday to see if i could make an appointment and i was told that all her prebookable appointments are full for at least the next four weeks. All i can do is call every morning to see if i can get one of the handful released everyday.

Surgery opens at 8.30 i tried to call the but was engaged for ages, i finally got through about 9.00 as was told "oh no darling they are all gone for today" like i was stupid to even ask the question.

I was just wondering if others have the same problem - or if as i have suspected for sometime my doctors is just rubbish and i need to change. AIBU to expect a better service than phoning up every single morning and hoping i get lucky?

*she has a dd the same age - not ds!

No same at ours if you want to see a particular doctor. Maybe consider seeing different dr at same surgery?

Same as our doctors but I always get an appointment as I dial at 8.25 then use redial at 8.30 on the dot
Lol

Our system is the same, and I don't mind it. But if you need to see a particular doctor for a good reason, then you can ask for them to phone you and they will decide themselves if they need to see you. They nearly always will if it's for an on going problem that they have previously seen you for, or it's a problem with the thing they specialise in. Maybe you could ask if she will phone you?

I'm not sure that choosing a doctor because she has a child the same age and sex as yours counts as a good enough reason to have one of the few prebookable appointments. Although you do have a right to choice, I think if you can see a different doctor without any worry about them then you should. Presumably you would if it was something urgent and your chosen doctor was away..

Our Doctors have the same system. If you can't phone in at 8.30 to 8.45, there is no chance of an on the day appointment. Complete madness.

Same system here but I harldy ever have a problem getting an appointment

Sorry foe the strange question, but you're wanting to see a particular GP because they have a DC the same age as yours? How does that make them more qualified? Can't you just see any GP that can deal with the issue?

I guess if you want to see a specific doctor then you'll have to wait for the appointment. It's a long wait for you though.

Things were VERY different when I was younger. My doctors surgery was in a terraced house. The waiting room was the dining room. You'd walk in, there'd be a hoard of people, most of them smoking (!) and you'd ask who was the last in. That's how you knew when it was your turn. The doctor used to be hunched over a bureau, puffing away and was about 104 years old :)

Thank you...at least i know it's not just mine.

The issue is with dd's anxiety and i just feel a Dr with children, especially one of the same age will be able to help/offer advice the best. Not that Drs without children are not equally as good, just sometimes imo there are worries parents have that only other parents understand. I have asked if there are any other Drs with children but there aren't. I will just have to take a leaf out of kayano's book and start calling at 8.25.

Same at ours even though it IS very annoying. I also had to wait until 12 weeks to have my 6 week postnatal check as they didn't have any appointments free until then. And DS's vaccinations were late as they didn't have anyone on duty for those two weeks to do them. Grrrrrr.

It will be engaged at 8.25 but you will have a rhythm and system for redial going by 8.30 and should hopefully get through

Shakey1500 i suppose it could be worse then!

Same system here and I like it. But then you can always get through in the morning. And if you can't then they will try and squeeze you in on a sit and wait basis and they always, always see children. A gp will wait behind after surgery hours if necessary.

As annoying as it is though in a busy surgery it's just about the only way to do it, and if you want a specific gp it makes it even harder Unfortunatly.

There is never going to be a system everyone sees as fair!

Same system here and it is sh1t. It is a battle to get an appointment.

I don't get this 'on the day' booking system. Before dc I used to start work at 6am, 45 min drive from my surgery.
I could not pre book. If I needed to see the gp for something non urgent, like pill check, I would have to take a days holiday and hope I could get an appt or hope my boss wouldn't mind me missing at least 2 hrs of the working day, on the day. That's if I wasn't told " oh can you be here in 10mins?".

After dc, I changed surgeries (I wasn't allowed to take a double buggy in and I had dts!) and it's such an easier set up.
Late night surgeries on a tues and thurs, pre bookable appts, a set no of appts reserved for emergencies on the day, a sat morning surgery and a call back service if needed. (oh, and the staff even hold doors open for me and my buggy!)

It is a painful, wasteful system.
I so wish you could email enquiries like this, out lining the problem and ask who's best to talk to. Instead you have to fight for a standard slot, which may not be appropriate.
You clearly need to talk quietly to someone you feel comfortable with, not fight receptionists and phone queues.

DD1 was forever spraining her ankle.
Why did it need a valuable appointment slot for the dr. to say yes I agree she can't keep having odd days off school (huge hopping unfriendly site) I'll give you a physio referral.
In any other business this would have all been done by email in 1 minute.