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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

To be fuming that I can't get a GP's appointment this morning?

312 replies

MintyChapstick · 15/02/2016 10:26

I'm so angry and upset.

Since before Christmas I have felt that my mental health has been declining. Feeling panicky, wired, on edge and its now got to the point where I am no longer sleeping properly. Keeping waking up very early even on the weekend, with this overwhelming feeling of doom and terrior. I have been medicated before, I know this will make me feel better but I cant get a fucking GP'sappointment, they only have one doctor in the surgery you see despite covering a massive area and you can longer book an appointment in advance.

There is no drop in service like there is in other surgeries, you have to ring on the morning and get an appointment like that. I rang at 8.30 on the dot the surgery was still closed, a minute later I tried again engaged, I finally managed to get through at 8.36 and all the appointments had gone. How is it possible for every single appointment between 9am and 1pm when they close for lunch to have gone in six minutes?

I had psyched myself up to see a doctor this morning, I could have started my medication today and it would have been in my system by next week when I go back to work. I know from the last time that it makes you worse before it makes you better. I've been in tears all morning, I need my medication! The receptionist was nice, but sort of non plussed, I guess it's not hear fault but I don't believe there are no appointments. In fact I can just picture the fucking waiting room now, elderly people who are there several times a week with bunions and in growing toe nails (we all know the sort) clogging it up whilst people who are really unwel can't get seen.

How they fuck is this right?

OP posts:

AnyFucker · 15/02/2016 11:04

if GP surgeries wanted people to turn up and wait for cancellations they would encourage it

otherwise, if everybody did it you would end up with a waiting room full of very angry people who have waited until the end of the session and still not got seen

it's a recipe for disaster

the surgery either has an open surgery or it does not

Bubblesinthesummer · 15/02/2016 11:10

You should have told them you had cancer...that would likely have gotten you seen

That is a really shitty thing to say. Oh and before you jump on me I have had MH problems and I have cancer.

DontCareHowIWantItNow · 15/02/2016 11:11

Yes you could go to the surgery and say you're going to wait and see if there's a no show or cancellation.

Please don't do this ^

Moopsboopsmum · 15/02/2016 11:12

If it is free, they will come, if they need to or not.

Original poster

MintyChapstick · 15/02/2016 11:12

Some surgeries around here do have an open surgey where you can sit and wait until you are seen. We don't have that in ours, unfortunately the staff don't know who is in from one day to the next so you simply can't book an appointment in advance anymore.

The reason I've left it til now for an appoinment is because it's half term and I work in a school. I can't take time off work in term time and we altered have lots of people off long term sick.

OP posts:

Muskateersmummy · 15/02/2016 11:15

Ain't that the truth moops

Fairenuff · 15/02/2016 11:16

OP I work in a school too and you can take time off for medical reasons if you can't be seen any other time.

AnyFucker · 15/02/2016 11:18

You can take time off anywhere for medical appts.

ChazsBrilliantAttitude · 15/02/2016 11:21

Ring them back and take the nurse's appointment.

OddBoots · 15/02/2016 11:22

It is no secret that the NHS is hugely underfunded and stretched, it is wrong but it is reality.

we need to take some responsibility ourselves, if it is genuinely an emergency then you would take time off work.

I hope you agreed to the nurse appointment, if they couldn't help you and felt it urgent they would get you seen by the doctor there and then. If you declined that appointment then the surgery would feel justified in not treating your request with any urgency.

leavemealone2015 · 15/02/2016 11:22

Call back to accept the nurses appt tomorrow and say you will be at home contactable by phone today, so if they call you if there is a cancellation you can come in straight away.

Mistigri · 15/02/2016 11:23

You can take time off for medical appointments, but I imagine most employers would be less than thrilled at their employees taking time off just to (try to) book an appointment, as the OP would need to do!

I think people aren't reading her posts - there are no advance appointments at her surgery because of understaffing, so you have to ring in the morning and hope you can get an appointment that day - which is a bit difficult if you are in a classroom in charge of 30 kids!

Mistigri · 15/02/2016 11:26

And if GP surgeries want to deter people from just turning up in the hope they will be seen, they need to make it possible for people to actually, um, book a fucking appointment!

NerrSnerr · 15/02/2016 11:27

I agree with the others, go and see the nurse. They can get you in to see a doctor or get you a prescription if needed.

OddBoots · 15/02/2016 11:27

"The only alternative is to go and register with another surgery who have been recomdend to me in the past, but then I'd have to wait for my details to be transferred Etc" - I would do that, if you start to go on meds for mental health problems then you are likely to need to go back a few times for adjustments and repeats so getting to a surgery where you can book in advance seems sensible.

mpje · 15/02/2016 11:29

This is exactly why I sometimes see a private doctor, yes it costs 100 but its well worth it to see someone the same day and not be rushed.

OP I would turn up yourself but be very polite and say "no worries if you haven't any appointments, I'm happy to wait if one comes in last minute" they could get someone cancelling less than half an hour before and no one else can attend it. The practice manager would probably quietly thank you as you'd be taking an otherwise unused appointment. This has worked for me before. Persistence gets you places, don't be worried about getting in the way the quiet ones get walked all over in life.

Aposey · 15/02/2016 11:32

I know it doesnt help today, but you may have better luck tomorrow. I think Mondays are the busiest as anyone who has become ill over the weekend is looking for an appointment, it may be slightly quieter tomorrow. Also, does your phone have a call back option? My surgery used to be similar before they introduced call queuing and the only way I could get an appointment some days was to continuously click call back until I got through.

However it does sound like you need to move soon to another, quieter, practice. It isnt always possible, but some practices allow you to register and then book an appointment straight away. I have also had an emergency appointment at another surgery when I was out of county where I just temporarily registered. Might be worth investigating?

There might also be a local mental health team who might be able to help.

It sounds like you are not well at the moment which might be colouring your thoughts, and I dont want to sound hars but it isnt very nice to suggest that those who get the appointments dont need them- you really don't know anything about their situation at all.

Its not great that the surgery is so short-staffed, but I hope you get the support you need very soon.

HermioneJeanGranger · 15/02/2016 11:33

Can you wait until after hours and ring the OOH service? Ours runs from the local hospital and you can ring after hours for an appointment and see the on-call GP there.

stopfuckingshoutingatme · 15/02/2016 11:34

OP, try NHS direct? the reason being is they can help you get fast tracked for an urgent apt, even for the afternoon session,. they have helped me before, try them XXXX

grumpysquash · 15/02/2016 11:38

Minty
Go and see the nurse. It's entirely possible that she will either get the GP to pop in and see you between appointments or that she will prepare a prescription and get the GP to sign it off.

grumpysquash · 15/02/2016 11:39

Massive assumption there that the nurse is female :(

Nottodaythankyouorever · 15/02/2016 11:39

Persistence gets you places, don't be worried about getting in the way the quiet ones get walked all over in life.

Causing a scene and 'getting in the way' in a doctors surgery really isn't on.

Bubblesinthesummer · 15/02/2016 11:40

Go and see the nurse. It's entirely possible that she will either get the GP to pop in and see you between appointments or that she will prepare a prescription and get the GP to sign it off.

^ this

Amiweird · 15/02/2016 11:41

OP I can completely understand why you have waited to make the appointment. My mental health is not totally ok at the moment and I am nervous of needing to make an appointment while I am working as my anxiety makes me feel that I would get into trouble at work for doing so, although this is unlikely to be the case. I really hope you can get an appointment and be able to start taking medication soon.

Babyroobs · 15/02/2016 11:45

My dh is badly asthmatic and if I ring up out Gp's and they say all appointments are gone, i threaten to go to A & E. That usually does the trick and they find an appointment slot. Otherwise do you have a local centre where you can drop in without an appointment. I hope you start to feel better soon.

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