AIBU Fuming with gp surgery

[CookieKatie]

I'm 5 weeks pregnant and had a gp appintment for next Wednesday all lined up. Was happy as it coincided with annual leave I'd for travel for a friend's wedding.

I booked it last Friday and was really excited!
They've just rung up to tell me it shouldn't have been booked in the first place the midwife isn't in AND the only time she sees new appointments is 12.20 pm & 12.40pm on Tuesdays and 2pm &2.20 pm Wednesdays.

Aibu to think they should try to fit me in later on the Tuesday - it's not my fault they cancelled :( not ready to tell work (plus my manager is on annual leave for two weeks so can't tell her even if I wanted too) so would have to take annual leave for any appointments made!

Look, YABU. However, it's very exciting finding out you are pregnant - especially a long planned and long awaited conception. Iys easy in that reprect to get excited and want it 'official' ASAP.

But as others said until 8-10 weeks there is nothing they can do or say and they won't scan until 12-14 weeks.

You have to learn to be patient - easier said than done when it's your baby - because pregnancy is a long, uncomfortable 9 month wait - despite being being amazing at the same time!

Congratulations

knotty you just tell them you have a medical appointment.

Just pray they remember to book you in for scans and the birth at the hospital - mine didn't, and it wasn't sorted until I was 28 weeks. I ended up paying for my own private scans, ridiculous as it sounds. All for the sake of an unsent fax apparently...

YABU to be fuming. Why do people on MN never get narked or annoyed, they always fume?

Unless you have an existing medical problem, you don't need to see the GP at 5 weeks. They will congratulate you, give you a blank stare and then ask what they can help with like they did with me on my first pg

You're overreacting to be 'fuming' - it was a simple mistake and they've corrected it by letting you know the midwife isn't in at that time.

You'd be more unreasonable to try and insist that they fit you in - if the MW had a free appointment on the same day then they'd have told you.

Thing is Namechange accommodating such an exact demand (time and date) may be an absolute impossibility, whether it's availability of the midwife or a clinical room to see the OP in. They're attempting to rectify the situation and have told her exactly what they can offer. It's not a medical emergency that requires others to be cancelled or a clinician to re-organise their entire schedule.

Yes it's a pain the incorrect appointment was booked, but it's been picked up in good time and the OP contacted to reschedule. Fuming and kicking off would achieve precisely nothing.

If here line manager is away though StepAway, shouldn't requests go up to the next manager? Her boss's boss? I'd thought that a workplace had to give time off for medical appointments, though they can ask that employees try to book them outside of working hours.

yes true it should go on up the line.

Your employer may allow you time off work to visit the doctor or dentist but they are not legally required to do so unless your contract of employment says they are.
Your employer can, for example, insist that you make these visits outside work hours, that you take holiday leave or that you make the time up later on. You should check your contract of employment to see what rights you have to take time off for doctors or dental appointments.
Pregnant women, however, are allowed reasonable paid time off work for ante-natal care. This time does not need to be made up later on. If you are disabled and your employer will not let you take time off for a medical appointment connected with your disability, they could be breaking the law.

anyway I get that Op is excited by being pregnant so shame it did not all go to plan. never mind asmany have pointed out it is not a big issue so as PP say's save your fumingfor something more annoying.

But if they hadn't made a mistake and booked you in for the wrong time, you would still only be able to see the midwife at the times available anyway - three days of thinking that you had an appointment at a convenient time isn't really worth getting this worked up about.
I agree with others that there's not much point seeing a midwife this early - all that happens is filling in some forms, so you could easily put it off until after your boss is back.

However: I didn't realise anyone would even think to go to their gp just because they are pg. what do you expect the gp to do? You are not Ill, you are pg!
Just phone up your midwives and get them to give you an appt.

This is certainly not the case everywhere - here you have to see a GP to be referred to the midwife, so booking an appt is necessary for everyone, which I assume is the case in the OP's area as well seeing as they knew what the appt was for and still booked her in.

i did not see my gp until i was 10 weeks. that was just hi im pregnant ok bye... then i had my booking in appointment just before i was 12 weeks. but then to be honest i did not make that much effort to book it up early.

It's certainly not worth fuming over.

I'd wait a few more weeks anyway.

I think that Katie is overexcited at the idea of being pg and want to be sure that she has done all the right thing re appointment etc.
I know I've done the same too, rnag the GP for an appointment. And they didn't tell me that I wasn't supposed to see the GP but the midwife either! That was 15yo, and it seems thgat things haven't changed.

Katie I agree with pp, you are doing well and are well within the times to make yoour first appointment with the midwife. Please do specify it's for a first appointment as there are different, often done at home, then the following ones.
Your employer has to give you time for those but I can see you might not want to tell them yet. However, you can still you have GO asppointment wo saying what it's for.
Unlike other posters, I would say not to wait too long because they might not want to see too soon but too late might be an issue for the date of your first scan too.

I phoned my gp practice asking if I could self refer to midwife and they said no to come in. Was in GP room for about 2 mins a quick "congrats" and "what hospital?" then she made my referral.

First seen a midwife at 10 weeks.

I agree with not bothering with the appointment. I don't think the midwife can tell very much if anything at this early stage. Just go for an appointment in a few weeks time.

I really wish they would make it all the same system across all midwives/hospitals. It seems to vary massively across the UK how you arrange your referral and at what stage you will be seen and where.

It's over the top to be fuming with them. Just tell work you have a doctors appointment and it will be fine.

IME every single NHS antenatal clinic, appointment and course is scheduled on the assumption that pregnant women having nothing at all to do with their time except visit the NHS.
My work took a huge hit as my appointments were all in my home town and I worked an hour commute away - so usually missed at least half a day in the office.

YABU. My midwife is only available between 10 and 12 on Thursdays.
I couldn't see her until I was 9 weeks, either.
You really don't need to take up a GP appointment at this stage if everything is ok.

I'm a GP. Assuming this is a planned/ wanted pregnancy there's no need to see a Dr unless you are on medication that would need reviewing eg, epilepsy meds / antidepressants etc. Home tests are more sensitive these days so we don't confirm in surgery, it's a waste of our resources.

I give out the following leaflet and advise making a booking visit at 8 weeks.

patient.info/health/diet-and-lifestyle-during-pregnancy

And I say congratulations.

I love these appointments actually, takes 3 mins and gives me time to make a coffee afterwards and catch up on all my other stuff!

Thanks for the info StayAway. I must have been very fortunate with my previous employers (or just brass necked enough that nobody challenged me!)

Feel like I'm pissing on your parade a bit but that is really early in a pregnancy to see a midwife. Like really really early. In our area you get a scan at 14 weeks then see a midwife at 15-18 weeks. A little late but after 10-12 weeks is normal I think.

Just reschedule for later and tell your work you have a doctors appt for a women's problem. They will assume period/gyn related.

Oh come on folks, can't you remember the excitement of your first pregnancy?

Congratulations OP, enjoy your pregnancy.

ElderlyKoreanLady yeah tbh not many employers do enforce it... but they could .

Some areas don't allow you to self-refer to midwife. I called up and asked what the process was and they told me to make a GP appt as soon as possible to get the ball rolling (was 6 weeks when I found out). Went to the GP appointment and she looked me up and down and said "So you'll be wanting an abortion then?", but that's a whole 'nother thread!

I am 16 weeks pregnant and didn't see a GP at all, I had a booking appointment with midwife at 9 weeks which was a form filling in excersise to get the 12 week scan date.

My midwife won't see anyone until 8 weeks as its so early and doctors don't confirm pregnancy so it would be wasting time.

Also, appointments change all the time so I wouldnt get stressed if you can help it!

Congrats!