To think that 3 weeks wait for a GP appointment is too long

[theresnowheretohidewithachip]

Just been told that the next non-urgent appointment with any doctor in our practice (there are 5 GPs) is on 20th May. I feel exhausted, hungover and a bit dizzy and unwell and don't think it's unreasonable to wish to see a GP before then. How long do you generally have to wait for a non-urgent appointment where you go?

[macdoodle]

Well round here OOH is struggling too but am sure there are some that are coping, just as some GP surgeries are. They will be the very large ones with hordes of young low paid inexperienced GP's with no continuity or longevity. That is the future. The old fashioned GP is dying a painful death. I quite like the idea of working for virgin because quite frankly the stress of keeping our practice going with ever dwindling funds is killing me and any love or care of my job.

[FrancesHB]

macdoodle is completely correct. Morale is rock bottom , compassion fatigue and burnout set in a long time ago. We have one full time doctor off with stress and another has resigned and we can't recruit a replacement because there are no effing GPs. Patients complain, rightly, because care is suffering, but they're complaining to the wrong people. I used to love my job, but I can't do it any more. The minute I can leave, I will.

[LumionaMoonsplash]

I've changed practices for this reason. I rarely visit the doctor unless I really need to, my old surgery grew too big amd now do the phone first thing to get an appt or discuss your issue with the receptionist. I didn't like it so moved to a small village practice with not many patients. I now can get emergency appts on the day or next day if not urgent without playing the phone game at 8am. The receptionists are nicer and my new GP is more sincere. Are there opportunities to switch practices?

[macdoodle]

Those lovely old fashioned practices will be the first to go sadly. My own GP is one and the 2 GPs are retiring, no one will take over so they are amalagamating with the next surgery to make one huge surgery.

[DrWrongbottom]

The general public don't seem to get it. GPs have been made slaves to the public for peanuts. The government is to be blamed for the failure in NHS. They want GPs to absorb all the workload but forget to increase to budget and workforce for that.
The general public is to be blamed too! Patients come to see GPs for absolutely EVERYTHING! Let it be medical (quite rightly so), social, benefits, their pets at home, and anything you can think of .. they go to the GPs and expect their own problems to be sorted with a magic wand. As a result we do not have enough time to deal with what is really important. Also patients turn up with a list of problems for a 10 minute appointment, so other patients end up having to wait for ages.
Basically, it is a system failure due to a number of reasons, if the public don't value the NHS and their doctors, then it will only fail, NHS will disappear, and everyone will have to pay for private health.

[HolidayCriminal]

this is actually quite relevant to work right now! Thx :).