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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To be surprised by how difficult it is to get (non-urgent) medical attention?

298 replies

VelvetSpoon · 28/05/2014 18:43

I phoned my GP surgery today to make an appointment.

I am not ill, it is not life threatening. However, it is something that ideally I would prefer to arrange sooner rather than later.

The next available appointment is on 10 June.

The surgery used to operate open appointments on certain mornings (between 8.30-9.30 I think) where you could turn up and wait to be seen. This has now been replaced by an arrangement where you call in on the morning, and there are 10 appointments available (so if you're caller 11, hard luck). However, the next one of those is not til next Tues Hmm and of course absolutely no guarantee I'll even get seen then.

I asked if there were any other options - yes, apparently I can attend a local clinic. Great, I thought. Except it then transpires the local clinics only see the under 25s Hmm Angry

I was left feeling distinctly unimpressed, and still no closer to actually seeing a Dr! Oh, and to add insult to injury, the only appt they had on the 10th is at 1pm, too early to get to if I take an afternoon off, and too late to get to work in time if I have the morning off. Surely I should not have to take an entire day off for a (pretty routine) Dr's appointment, and have to wait 2 bloody weeks for it?!!

OP posts:
Ruebarb · 28/05/2014 19:41

My surgery sounds marvellous now! You decide which day you want to be seen, phone on that day and the receptionist will arrange for the doctor of your choice (if in surgery) to phone you back - normally within 1 hour unless emergency in which case you will be put through to a doctor straight away. You and he/she discuss problem on phone and if he/she feels you need to be seen will book you into the surgery to see him/her or another clinician if that is more appropriate, for that day. If your doctor of choice is not available you can choose whether to speak to another doctor or will be told when your doctor is next in surgery and to telephone on that day.

I was very sceptical when the new system came in last year because you cannot book a doctor's appointment ahead (only a doctor can book a follow up appointment) but the few times we have used the new system it has worked very well and have always seen the doctor the same day or arranged for prescription etc if face to face consultation not needed.

Ifpigscouldfly · 28/05/2014 19:43

Some saw a GP because they broke up with their dp ? They should be fined for things like that.

mousmous · 28/05/2014 19:46

Some saw a GP because they broke up with their dp ? They should be fined for things like that.

if it aggravates a mental/psycosomatic condition. absolutely valid.

curlyHedgehog · 28/05/2014 19:51

I do know some people who waste gp time, such as turning up because they have a cold,!or have been feeling a bit tired lately ( when they have a toddler Hmm)

I suspect these time wasting appts contribute to the problem. I saw a programme on channel 5 last last week and didn't know whether to laugh or cry about the trivial time wasters who take up gp time...

HappyAsASandboy · 28/05/2014 19:52

Our GP surgery is brilliant. There are 5 GPs and a nurse or so, and the system is that you ring at 8am for an appointment the sane day. There are a very small number of appointments that can be booked in advance (maybe 2 per day?), so phoning on the day is the best way.

In 5 years, including two pregnancies and babies/toddlers and all the ensuing appointments, I have always got a same day appointment. Very rarely I have to accept one of the two GPs I really don't like, but normally I can choose who I see.

I think our GP surgery is great!

calmet · 28/05/2014 19:53

Yes I assumed MH problems or depression, in terms of the split with a boyfriend.

We are lucky, We can usually get an appointment the same day, or the next day.

Kittymautz · 28/05/2014 19:54

Bloody hell, that's bad. I usually get an appointment with my GP (North London) for the same day, or next day, no bother.

mrstigs · 28/05/2014 19:57

Just to say I went in as 'I was feeling tired' when I had a 5 month old baby, turns out my thyroid had totally packed up. So that's not always ridiculous. Smile

Zephyroux · 28/05/2014 19:58

I've been to the Dr once in 8 years. I phoned for advice recently as I thought I could be miscarrying (sadly was) and the Dr was so kind and arranged a same day appointment and an appointment at the EPU. I was utterly staggered at the professional kindness and compassion I received from a stranger doing a job. People moan at the NHS but at the bleakest time of my life it was there for me in spades. To me this is priceless.

Original poster
VelvetSpoon · 28/05/2014 19:59

I feel really frustrated by the whole thing - am actually thinking I'd almost be prepared to pay to be seen quicker (which goes against all my principles!)

Just speaking to a friend in a neighbouring borough who never has a problem getting a GP appointment, and if she does there are all kinds of clinics and Well woman services (or whatever they're called now) etc. Meh!

OP posts:
SpottyTeacakes · 28/05/2014 20:01

I'm a gps receptionist and if the pt wants an on the day appt, which is usually triaged by the duty dr, if I don't ask them what's wrong with them 1, the dr refuses to deal with it and 2, I get in trouble. I hate doing it and the pt hates it too Blush

I also hate having to tell people that there's no appt with their dr until July especially as it's me who they take their anger out on...

mrstigs · 28/05/2014 20:04

Aww spotty that's just not kind! I never take it out on the receptionist, they can't create what's not there!

ISingSoprano · 28/05/2014 20:05

Sorry, I disappeared to eat.

I will out myself - I work in general practice although I am not a GP. We are trying to educate our patients that if they need a routine, non-urgent appointment the days of phoning on the day and seeing their doctor of choice are over. Forward planning is required and by booking a couple of weeks in advance (phone or online) we can give them a choice of days/times/doctors. We also run a telephone triage system for anyone acutely unwell who needs to be seen on the same day.

SpottyTeacakes · 28/05/2014 20:07

ISing do you work with me? Wink

MaidOfStars · 28/05/2014 20:08

You could do what my husband did. Turn up, ask to register, demand to see a GP 'right now' because you 'haven't been to a doctors in twelve years' and you are 'a public health risk', therefore, 'it should be considered likely a genuine need to see one' and that you are 'a PhD virologist who can recognise f*cking shingles when I see it'.

Saw a doctor. Wasn't shingles. Has to be told by nice pharmacist that buying hydrocortisone OTC was going to be cheaper than the prescription had told him to start at the pharmacist

Charlieboo30 · 28/05/2014 20:12

Reading this has made me feel very lucky! I can usually get an appointment in a couple of days and they have sit and wait everyday between 10 and 11.

They have just introduced online booking at our doctors. You get your pin from reception and then you can book online and see all the doctors available for two weeks and the times they have. You can also request repeat prescriptions. It's absolutely brilliant!

SpottyTeacakes · 28/05/2014 20:15

Charlie we have that online booking system where I work. We've had pt's ringing up saying something's wrong as there's nothing to book for three weeks, now they know how we feel!

At my actual drs surgery I've always got a same day appt even if phoning in the afternoon.

Charlieboo30 · 28/05/2014 20:17

Maid - back when I was a teenager I was suffering with bad kidney pains and was waiting for scans at the hospital. My DF came home from work and I was in agony, rolling around on the floor. My DF is the most laid back person I know but my GP didn't get that side of him. He rung and explained and they said they didn't have any appointments. He told them that he would have to take me to hospital and would be telling them that my GP refused to see me! Miraculously they managed to find an appointment and I had a raging infection.

That's what's great about this new electronic system as you can actually see what they have.

ILoveCoreyHaim · 28/05/2014 20:18

I have been wondering about this. We used to have a walk in centre in another town where you could go in and be seen within a few hrs or quicker, If they thought you needed the hospital they would send you to a&e, If not they would issue the prescription or advice. This walk in centre has now been relocated to outside of a&e. Instead of going to walk in you now go to a&e who will access you then send you to walk in centre. I'm puzzled, Is this not putting more pressure on a&e. I noticed people were standing outside and inside a&e waiting room waitig to be assessed and a&e was the busiest i have ever seen it. I watched quite a few people from a&e cubical being assessed and told to then go over to the walk in centre.

Charlieboo30 · 28/05/2014 20:18

Spotty - never have that problem. Just been on and looked and there is one appointment left tomorrow at 4.30 and quite a few for Friday. I'd be none too happy if there was nothing for 3 weeks but then I'd just go to sit and wait!

WinterHasRuinedMyFace · 28/05/2014 20:19

You need to go to a less good dr... I can always get an appointment, for what it's worth! (So glad I'm rarely ill).

MaidOfStars · 28/05/2014 20:20

I don't see a GP unless I have an acute medical need that isn't an accident or an emergency. If I have a rash, I go to the pharmacist unlike my husband , if I have a cough, I go to the pharmacist, if I have tummy ache, I go to Gaviscon. Jeez, I'm a tonsillitis freak who just waits it out. I'm not suggesting people put off acute problems in favour of temporary solutions, but we've forgotten what primary frontline care is.

SpottyTeacakes · 28/05/2014 20:20

Our surgery is just so busy. We have a separate call centre constantly taking calls and people still can't get through on the phone! Ah I'm glad I'm off this week Smile

grumblepuss · 28/05/2014 20:21

I'm going to take a punt and suggest this is contraceptive related?
My local hospital runs both under 25s and over clinics.
I NEEDED my implant removed (I'd been bleeding for weeks) gave them a ring and they got me an appointment two weeks rather than the three and a half weeks my GP was offering.
Worth a go? They might only offer appointments once a week. But you can give it a go.

Original poster
VelvetSpoon · 28/05/2014 20:21

I haven't been to a GP in about 4 years.

In fact, I have probably been less than 10 times in my adult life (even while pregnant, I barely went to any appointments as I wasn't able to take time off work).

OP posts: