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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

How long to wait for GP appointment. Angry, probably ABU

103 replies

Gertrudetrudy · 30/06/2015 16:29

Hi,

Could I ask how long you wait to see your GP?

I am only in the UK 2 years so am fairly new to the NHS stuff. I have never had need to visit a GP or deal with the NHS until now (thankfully!)

I rang the GP today to try get an appointment and first the receptionist wouldn't let me pre-book, after some negotiation she managed to find me a pre-bookable appointment for 13th July! That's two weeks away!

I am astounded as this and quite angry tbh. It seems to me that people who work are at a massive disadvantage when trying to get an appointment (i.e. can't ring the morning of and hang around all day so have to use pre-bookable) even though it's our taxes that are funding this.

Is this a normal wait time? I'm from Ireland and it's about €65 to see a GP over there but there is never a problem with wait times or appointments.

AIBU to be this dissatisfied with the healthcare system?

OP posts:
LurkingHusband · 30/06/2015 17:05

We've booked online for ages, and usually can see slots tomorrow, or the day after. Certainly within the week.

However, they changed systems a while back, and we had to go old-school, at which point, appointments were invariably 2-3 weeks off.

Then they got online working again, and we're back to 2-3 days again.

Our old GP ran a "same day only" appointment system. Basically you could only be given an appointment on the day you called. Which was a lorry-load of horseshit, as you couldn't ring before 8:30 (when they turned off the answerphone) and yet there were people with appointments queueing at 8:25. Go figure.

Personally I love online. Not only does it put me in control (so probably less than popular with the NHS) but it bypasses the interrogation from the reception staff Smile.

Pengweng · 30/06/2015 17:05

Last GP the record time I had to wait for an appointment was 12 days, I changed GP's had my registration check with the nurse and saw a new GP in 7 days. Oh and that wasn't even for me, it was for my 18 month old (at the the time). He was a really really good doctor but the only one in the practise, the one and only nurse only worked part time and it was just impossible to see anyone about anything.

Now if i phone at 8am and ask for an urgent appointment I can get a same day one, if non urgent i've never had it be more than 2 days later, generally the next day.

They also offer early and late appointments a few days a week for workers and they are strictly reserved for people who can not go during other hours.

movelikeboov · 30/06/2015 17:06

Where I work we're 50% book up to four weeks in advance, 50% book on the day for more urgent things. It works well, and if someone needs to be seen on the day we find a way to get them seen, but it may not be with the doctor they usually see.

Original poster
Gertrudetrudy · 30/06/2015 17:09

ladywellian How do you think I should word it? I did just ring and say can I have an appointment please and I didn't think there would be an issue.

I don't want to lie and say it's urgent (when I could live with it for another couple of weeks) but I also don't want to be the mug who gets left waiting forever either. I wouldn't want to take time away from the GP for somebody who is genuinely in need of urgent care aswell.

OP posts:
MarcMaronF · 30/06/2015 17:15

My GP surgery is really good, can get same day appointments if urgent.

The telephone consults are quick to get, we ring between 8.30am & 10am to get a call around 11am, or else ring between 12 & 2pm to get a call back around 3pm.

I have never waited more than a few days for an appointment, urgent or not.

I feel so lucky reading some of these posts!

BatteryPoweredHen · 30/06/2015 18:36

YANBU OP, don't get me started on the 'closing for an hour at lunchtime'

FFS, talk about biting the hand that feds you.

mushypeasontoast · 30/06/2015 19:02

The GP I work for have seven GPs for 20, 000 patients. We have routine appointments roughly 2. 5weeks ahead, on the day for urgent and the doctors will all phone patients when all appointments are filled.

There are also 2 prescribing nurses for more common everyday stuff however we have a number of patients who couldn't possibly be seen by a nurse and who then ask for a sample bottle to fill on their way to see a GP who is having to stay late to see a potential cancer patient who couldn't get a same day appointment when they called as the GP is doing something the nurse could be doing only she has a slot.

Don't get me started on no shows...

The key is routine, if you can wait then do, they will see you. If you need to be seen urgently then ask your receptionist about your options, you may find its quicker.

CardinalRed · 30/06/2015 19:14

I'm in remission and usually get asked when suits me - and that's for things totally unconnected with my condition. Phoned up a couple of months ago and got an appointment that afternoon. Feeling a bit guilty now...

Theas18 · 30/06/2015 19:20

Pay your 65 and go privately then . Bupa have private gps

Ilovenannyplum · 30/06/2015 19:25

I'm in London, for me it's a 2 week wait but I can usually swing an emergency appt for baby DS the same day

Runningupthathill82 · 30/06/2015 19:27

At my surgery it's 8am roulette or a three-week wait.
And with the 8am queue, it's impossible to get through on the phone, so you have to go to the surgery and be outside when the doors open.
The receptionists prioritise those who are queuing up, which is all very well if you have the ability to be there queuing, but not so easy if you have to work. For a usual doctors appt I have to take a full day off - so I can queue at 8am and then go back for the actual appointment later on.

Not ideal when it's just to sort asthma medication or similar.

Once, when I became very ill during the day, I tried to call at lunchtime for an emergency appointment. Turns out they divert the phones to NHS Direct at lunchtime without making this clear.

So I had a long conversation with someone, who then told me I should call my GP. You don't say...

BreadmakerFan · 30/06/2015 19:32

BatteryPoweredHen - our surgery closes for lunch for two hours..

butterfly133 · 30/06/2015 19:35

wow, so glad I don't have to pay to see a GP, that's a lot of money. Do they charge that even if you have ongoing health issues? I would have been out about £600 last year!

anyhoo - my surgery - it depends, a routine "can wait" thing - yes, 2 or 3 weeks. If it's important, couple of days. If urgent, I have been fitted in on the same day. it's open late one night a week. There is a walk-in in this area so I have used that when I literally couldn't get a GP appointment. Have you checked if you have one?

Viviennemary · 30/06/2015 19:38

That's very bad indeed. Is there a walk-in centre near you. We're quite lucky at ours. You can usually get in that morning if you ring first thing. But it's more difficult to get one on a set day in advance.

Musicaltheatremum · 30/06/2015 19:38

If it's not that urgent wait the 2 weeks. We have on the day, 48 hour and anytime bookables. Yesterday afternoon there were still appointments for Thursday and Friday this week but we are in holiday season and although we backfill with locums you can't get them now and my appointments for the next few weeks are nearly all booked up as I am going on holiday in 4 weeks and people want to see me before I go.
As for weekend opening that's a laugh. We can't staff the week and evidence shows that the demand for weekend appointments is extremely low and is not cost effective. Also we can't get routine hospital services at the weekends so you would have to come back for bloods or go for your X-rays in the week.
Shutting at lunch time. We shut our doors and have emergency calls only and it's bliss, I can catch up on mail and referrals and do all the stupid admin we have to do and it gives me breathing space so I can charge myself up again. I was in at 7.30 this morning and got home at 7pm and will be back in at 7.30 tomorrow
England is far worse than scotland but there are practices in edinburgh which are getting no applicants for vacancies. We had 2 applicants so we're very lucky. It is only going to get worse so enjoy your 2 week waits as it will be longer soon.

Taytocrisps · 30/06/2015 19:39

butterfly if you're unemployed or on a low income you'll probably qualify for a medical card or GP visit card. Medical cards cover GP visit and prescription cost. GP visit cards cover GP visit only so you have to pay the prescription cost yourself. If you don't qualify for a medical card you have to pay €50 - €60 per visit plus prescription cost.

JacquesHammer · 30/06/2015 19:41

We have to ring between 8.00 and 9.30. Your details get taken and you then get a call back "by 10.30" by triage.

Its a system completely untenable for people who work/do a school run.

They used to have a number ot book online at midnight although that has been stopped too.

addictedtosugar · 30/06/2015 19:42

3 ish weeks if I need one before or after work.
However, if I ring up and say I don't know if its urgent, I tend to either get a phone consultation, nurses appointment or GP that day if they think it needs it.

The day I rang up to say my 18 month old had a small rash at lunch, and an hr later was covered, he had a temp they got me an appointment 30 later, and we spent 20 mins with the nurse, and a further 10 mins with the Dr. I can't fault that response

Original poster
Gertrudetrudy · 30/06/2015 19:43

Theas its actually more than £65 to go private and I shouldn't have to pay it when I'm paying national insurance anyway. Ireland has quite a different healthcare system but yes you have to pay unless you can get a medical card which means you can get free treatment and meds or even a gp cars which is free gp visits.
for example in Ireland it cost me â?¬60 every feq months to see gp for the pill and another â?¬15 per month for the pill.

A&E is â?¬150 but I have never been so can't comment on the coat of treatment, I think perhaps a cast or similar is included in that price not sure.

a relative of mine is undergoing chemotherapy at the moment and be has to pay for it - not the full amount, its subsidised by our taxes but by no means free!

OP posts:
butterfly133 · 30/06/2015 19:43

taytocrisps - thanks for that information. Still very glad I live here though, i may not qualify as low income but paying so much money on top of being very ill - I had loads of prescriptions too. Luckily for me there is a cap on prescription costs - I didn't know that before I got ill and was very relieved.

butterfly133 · 30/06/2015 19:44

OP - actually if you are happy to pay, why not see what private GPs are in your area? There's bound to be some.

MammaFett · 30/06/2015 19:45

My doctors are actually very good. They are open 8-8 7 days a week, normally up to a week wait for non urgent but you can phone up at 8am to get an emergency appointment. If you're up to 1 year postnatal and you need an appointment, they will see you the same day.

HarrietVane99 · 30/06/2015 19:45

My GP practice has a range of methods. For routine appointments, you can book two or three weeks in advance. For urgent needs, you can ring at 8.00 for a same day appointment, or just go along to the surgery and wait to be seen by the duty doctor. They do say the turn up and wait method should only be used for genuine urgent need. Or you can request a telephone consultation if you genuinely can't get to the surgery, but you have to wait for the duty doctor to call back when s/he can.

Original poster
Gertrudetrudy · 30/06/2015 19:46

sorry about the typos, on my phone!

OP posts:
butterfly133 · 30/06/2015 19:46

sorry, OP, cross posted - I see you aren't okay to pay on top of your NI.