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AIBU?

To think having to get to the doctors at 6:45am...

46 replies

ThisTimeItsPersonal · 10/09/2013 07:17

Just to get an appointment is unreal!

I got here at 6:45 and there was a queue!! And the people who got here at 7 when they actually open probably wont be able to get an appointment until this afternoon sometime.

I dont blame the actual doctors, they do a really fab job and them and the receptionists are really brilliant at dealing with people - as you get some right nasty people when they can't get an appointment.

But honestly - im tired and yesterday when i rang they didnt have anything available for over two weeks!!!

OP posts:

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ouryve · 10/09/2013 10:53

6:45am? That's ridiculous.

Our surgery has joined the 21st century and we can now book appointments online. Rarely the same day, though, since the village has grown so much in the past few years.

HeffalumpTheFlump · 10/09/2013 10:54

You have nice receptionists?! I will take getting there for 6.45 to not have the rude cow at mine look down her nose at me and use her extensive medical training to determine whether my thrush does actually deserve an appointment that day or whether I can wait two weeks.

ThisTimeItsPersonal · 10/09/2013 11:15

heffalump offer to show her your foof - bet you'd get an appt straight away

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HeffalumpTheFlump · 10/09/2013 11:19

She's a rude cow, but no one deserves that haha.

treaclesoda · 10/09/2013 16:16

our village surgery is fairly similar, you need to know six weeks in advance that you're going to be sick I once needed an appointment with the female dr (male Dr refused to examine female patients for gynae things, as there was no nurse to chaperone) and the next available one was 12 weeks away. Thank goodness I can drive and was able to change surgeries to somewhere that I can actually see a doctor.

SueDoku · 10/09/2013 18:23

That's awful...! Our surgery has an on-line booking system, so you can see what appointments are available and book the one that suits you (they offer telephone consultations as well as face-to-face appointments).

I've never had to wait for more than a day for an appointment, and they will usually see you the same day if it's an emergency.

Another good reason for not living in the south-east

kali110 · 10/09/2013 18:35

I wish i could have your docs! I would glady get up for that. Mine open 9-5 so your screwed if you work full time :-(
People who say complain till they change it, becareful what you wish for. Mine are appointment only. 3 weeks is the shortest wait iv ever had!i had migraine for a week and ended up having to go a&e instead.

kali110 · 10/09/2013 18:36

I dont live in or near london eithet

RevoltingPeasant · 10/09/2013 18:40

Wow, I am so grateful for our GPs! They have a phone booking system, online booking, and you can often get seen the same day if you don't mind who you see, or within a week or so for a specific dr.

The receptionists are nice and when they screw up, like last week where they made me an appt with the phlebotomist instead of the nurse, they say sorry and fix it.

Mind you, the fact that judging by MN this seems to be unusual is really sad.

chrome100 · 10/09/2013 18:45

That's insane! I live in a big city and just ring up and ask for an appointment on a certain day and get it. How can you do first come first served when you work etc. It's just not possible.

buttermellow · 10/09/2013 18:48

Good grief.. My GP surgery always have spare appointments, no problem getting one or a phone consultantation. They can usually offer an appointment either on the day or within 48 hours or so. Quite often phoned and they say 'em can you come up now?' .. They employ 9 GPs though and I think 12 nurses so maybe thats the difference. Receptionists are lovely too, really nice ladies.

jacks365 · 10/09/2013 19:12

I'm rural and there is only one surgery. They do a combined appointment at 8 weeks for mum and baby check and first injections or at least in theory they do our appointment came through for when dd was 15 weeks old. Only time I've managed to get a same day appointment was when the midwife wanted dd checking. Oddly enough the midwife managed to get the appointment for me and my health visitor managed to get our check up brought forward.

Our area is that bad for appointments that the miu has put up a notice specifying that they only treat injuries and anything else will be turned away.

LaGuardia · 10/09/2013 20:58

In London you have walk-in centres and out-of-hours GP surgeries in hospitals. You are much better off than us bumpkins.

IfAtFirstUDontSucceed · 10/09/2013 22:01

Blimey! I never have any difficulty getting an appointment within a couple of days with my doctors surgery. If its something that's a bit more urgent they will try to book me in with their sister surgery 5 miles away.

The receptionists are lovely, chirpy ladies who will go out of their way to help. I've heard some horror stories on here.

We're due to move out the area in a few weeks and am not looking forward to registering with another practice :(

MollyBerry · 10/09/2013 22:09

I live in London and don't have any of these problems with the GP, just ring up in the morining at 8 and you get an appointment that day! They even do evening surgeries once a week

HHH3 · 10/09/2013 22:58

I'm really lucky with my drs. It's open 8am-8pm 365 days a year. I can ring and usually get an appointment within 24-48 hours. Or I can go in and wait to be seen if it's urgent. The receptionists (bar one) are lovely.

Far, far better than the surgery I was registered with before but that's a whole other story!

Darkesteyes · 10/09/2013 23:01

Nancy does yr surgery know that you are a journalist It may have something to do with the fact that you get your appts so easily.

grumpyoldbat · 11/09/2013 08:28

That's an awful system . People who are sick enough to need an urgent doctors appointment shouldn't be queuing from that early. In fact a system like that could ensure the sickest don't get seen at all. It's like the ones with the most stamina get the reward of the appointment, here was me thinking GP appointments were for when you're not well.

You said they open at 7, so before that people are queuing outside in all weathers? When do they start queuing?

ThisTimeItsPersonal · 11/09/2013 12:23

No idea what time they start queuing, one of the people in front of me had already been there 10 minutes when i got there at 6:45, its an awful system but as pp said we do have walk in centres, but I've never had a nice doctor at mine, in fact the last one told me to feed dd x amount and if shes still hungry 'just ignore her, she'll learn' he was nasty I'd rather get up and queue. But I feel for the people who are really seriously too ill to queue.

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Nancy66 · 11/09/2013 12:32

Darkestyes - no, definitely not. It just seems to be that rarity. An efficiently run surgery.

SusanneLinder · 11/09/2013 12:57

Shit! 6:45 in the morning!! My surgery has recently introduced online appointment systems. Hallelujah!! I can't tell you of the relief. Calling at 8:15 AM on the dot, hanging on the phone, redialling a hundred times... things of the past now.

Why is this not being rolled out across the country?

I dunno-but I sooo want that system. DD was ill, and I had to ring 32 times before I got through!

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