to wonder why i can't make an appointment with my GP for a Monday in the next couple of weeks?

[ElectricalBanana]

I have had some blood tests (last monday) for a long standing problem (these are yearly checks)....i have some menopausal symptoms....so i want to see my GP instead of getting the results over the phone. I call today to make an appointment for a couple of weeks ahead on a Monday. I dont work Mondays (i am a childminder) and i dont want to either

A, Take littleones into the GP when i am going to be talking about personal stuff (and possibly have to be examined)

B, take time off and upset the parents

so i want a Monday....any Monday

apparently i cant have an appointment....i have to ring on Monday.....but i dont want this monday...i dont want an emergency appointment...i just want a non urgent appointment for a couple of weeks - on a Monday.

It is nigh on impossible to get through to the surgery on Mondays...especially at the time she recommended i rang (just after 8am)

sorry for the rant but can anyone please explain why? (i am an ex nurse and ran clinics in a hospital - but this system seems to be beyond me)

I have to wait 4 weeks to get an appointment with my doctor. If he wasn't so good I would change surgeries as I have never known a doctors surgery so bad for getting to see the doctor.

When I worked as a receptionist there no pre-bookable appts on a monday as it was usually the busiest day of the week and all appts were kept for those ringing on the day.

4 weeks would be fine for a non urgent.....that would suit me, but they wont give me an appointment!

OP as long as you are prepared to wait a few weeks (equivalent of waiting a few days as there is only one day/ week you can do) I don't think it's U.

If you want this or next Monday, it is U, but not otherwise.

But, much as I love many aspects of the NHS, it is fundamentally not set up for working people.

However in your shoes I'd just take a released-on-the-day appt. If that is what they are telling you to do, then do it. If they want those appts for 'real' emergencies, they should have a more flexible system.

Gosh op I am also an ex nurse and ex cm.

If I were you I would explain to the parents and take the time off. It's impossible ax a cm to take the children to something like this though I did take 4 under 4 to see me have my ears syringed..

Bet you don't take time off anyway, most cms don't.

Health comes first.

Sounds like your surgery has a daft system.
Ours have 50% pre bookable, 50% available on the day. Unfortunately my fav, brilliant GP has just retired and I'm yet to work out which one of the rest are as sensible as she was.

the last time i put off symptoms i ended up on CCU with a BP of 230/130!

i give up!

Our surgery lets you pre book appointments if the doctor says it's ok. Have the phonecall and then if the doctor thinks you need to bee seen, then you might be able to book.

Couldn't you just phone up on the Monday morning and make an on the day appointment?

if you ring on the day you get the "is this an emergency" chat....its not an emergency...its a routine appointment....i just want it in a couple of weeks and on a monday.

I have to give 4 weeks notice of time off so even if i wanted an appointment on any other day i think i would be stuffed....they dont give appointments more than 2 weeks away!

My surgery has an equally patient unfriendly system. It's tough luck on working people.

Sounds exactly like my gps

Can't precook have to ring at 8am on the day.....by the time you get through at 830 appointments are gone.

I've started queuing outside at 745 if I need an appointment

This is infuriating. At our surgery you can request a GP to phone you rather than take an appointment. Would this work for you or would you or do you definitely want to do it face to face?

I saw my GP on Monday for an emergency appointment, she wants to see me again in 2 weeks so I tried to make an appointment on my way out.
Oh no, the 2 week appointments are all gone, I'll have to phone on the day.