Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Protection built in.

Meet the Other Phone.
Protection built in.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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:
whatevva · 15/02/2016 11:46

Take the appointment with the nurse - as others say, she can sort out your prescription, even if she can't do it herself. They will do their best to get you what you need as quickly as possible.

It is probably worse because it is half term week. Even in the large surgery I was with (before they dumped me Hmm - another problem with doctors being thin on the ground) closed the online system for half term week.

Original poster
MintyChapstick · 15/02/2016 11:47

I've just been to another surgery to get some registration forms. They were very nice, told me I neded my NHS number though. I don't even know what it is as Ive been with the same surgey since I was a baby!

OP posts:
AnyFucker · 15/02/2016 11:47

Ring the 1st surgery and ask them.

AnyFucker · 15/02/2016 11:48

if you have ever had any hospital and/or medical letters your NHS number will be on there

AnyFucker · 15/02/2016 11:50

Or you can contact the Primary Care Trust by googling your local one, go to the NHS Choices website or call 0845 46 47

Hiphopopotamus · 15/02/2016 11:52

Nothing practical to add I'm afraid but just to say I completely understand waiting to make the appointment. I have pretty severe depression and when I'm in a spiral actually phoning and making a doctors appointment can feel massively overwhelming. It's not as simple as saying 'you should have made one earlier '. Well done for doing it and making the first step towards getting well again - I'm sorry that it's become complicated.

toastandbutterandjam · 15/02/2016 11:52

MintyChapstick sounds exactly like my surgery - maybe it's the same one!Grin

I have MH issues and have recently been discharged from hospital. I'm supposed to see my GP once a month (not for meds though) but they could never find an appointment for me, so I gave up in the end. It was agreed (at the hospital) that the GP contact me if I don't attend because I require close monitoring and supervision due to my illness. I spend weeks calling for appointments, but they didn't have any. The nurses and receptionists know me and they know I need to see someone regularly but they kept saying there was no appointments. I haven't seen a doctor in months now and they haven't said anything (I think they've forgotten about meHmm). I understand it's my responsibility to make appointments but if they don't give me one, there isn't a great deal I can do.

I hope you manage to sort everything real soonFlowers

didyouwritethe · 15/02/2016 11:52

Shouldn't we ask for a Mumsnet campaign about this? We are all saying we can't get GP appointments.

OP, mental health issues ought to be taken seriously. I hope you get seen.

didyouwritethe · 15/02/2016 11:54

And I agree with pps that it's too much to expect patients with MH issues to work the labyrinthine system. I've learnt from neighbours that there are ways to cheat and get seen. Seeing a nurse is a way in.

TooAswellAlso · 15/02/2016 11:54

My surgery you quite often struggle to get a physical appointment, even ringing at 800 on the dot.

However, they do offer phone consultations. Which 9 times out of 10 leads to a script written then, or an appointment given for the afternoon.

Only prebookable are nurse appointments I think, like jabs and contraception.

eatsleephockeyrepeat · 15/02/2016 12:08

Minty you've really torn me.

You have my sympathies for the way you've been feeling; I know how hard it can be to even open your eyes in the morning to face the day, let alone muster the strength to ask for help, I really do.

But you've been medicated before so you know the drill, and you must know you have basic responsibilities with regards to maintaining your own mental health as best you can. So next time please learn from this, look for the signs early and don't make it someone else's problem or their failing if the help's not there when you need it. We all mess up but we have to try the best we can.

And the old folk in the surgery? They really are a priority - more than you'll know - probably more than you'll understand until you're there and you'll wish someone was kinder to you than you just were about them. Come on now, be nice.

And good luck today, you can do it!

SoupDragon · 15/02/2016 12:13

Shouldn't we ask for a Mumsnet campaign about this? We are all saying we can't get GP appointments.

How will a MN campaign recruit more GPs?

OP, take the appointment with the nurse for now. I bet they can get you an appointment with the doctor if they are unable to help.

DragonsCanHop · 15/02/2016 12:21

I've recently been through this myself.

Call the surgery, ask for a nurse to call you back, tell the nurse it's happened before and you know the signs, she may prepare a prescription for the doctor to sign and you to collect the following day.

Whilst on the phone ask her to book you the next available appointment on her screen.

I know you are struggling Flowers

writingonthewall · 15/02/2016 12:24

It's going to get worse. Mass exodus of junior Drs including GP trainees is likely if the contract dispute doesn't get sor ted not and GP training schemes are already half empty. Over 10% drop in applications to med school in the last two years. No one wants to be a GP.

HackerFucker22 · 15/02/2016 12:24

Minty How do the afternoon appointments work at the surgery? I note you only mentioned all the morning appointments being gone.

You can ring your current surgery and get your NHS number.... Once you get through its a 90 second job for them to give it to you.

AnyFucker · 15/02/2016 12:27

Who would want to be a GP ?

Who would want to be a GP receptionist ?

Soon, who would want to be a NHS patient ?

FanFuckingTastic · 15/02/2016 12:29

Hey. I have had some pretty poor moments with my mental health. I've found that the medical receptionists respond pretty well to me going in and talking to them there, and waiting in the surgery until there's a free doctor. I've always been seen within an hour or two.

Or you could call the on duty CMHT person and talk to the about how you are and how you can't get the appointment to seek appropriate help. They can organise these things and give you support.

AnyFucker · 15/02/2016 12:29

Unfortunately part of the problem is the abuse that medical professionals face about stuff that is not their fault

They are doing their best in a bad situation

Doing stuff like turning up and camping out at the surgery until you get seen is really out of order. For those suggesting it, please think twice. It is intimidating and it is queue jumping. Don't be that dick.

AnyFucker · 15/02/2016 12:30

Well that was an unfortunate cross post Smile

FanFuckingTastic · 15/02/2016 12:36

I didn't realise that going in was intimidating to the staff, they've always responded pretty sympathetically when they've realised I'm having a mental health breakdown. I was always pretty polite, if a bit tearful and panicky, about being happy to wait for a missed appointment and go prepared for hours and hours of waiting if needs be. I don't believe in demanding anything, or blaming anyone, just in trying to see a doctor if it's possible on the day.

The next step is A+E and that's scary, I don't want to end up admitted to hospital, I want to stay at home and manage the best I can for the kids. Sometimes medication and a fast track pysch appointment on the same day is enough to calm me down enough for long enough to get seen by CMHT.

Getting through to CMHT duty worker is preferable, but I have little faith these days in them as they signed me off after decades of long term psychiatric support during an actively suicidal period of mental ill health, and my GP has had to do all the support that they were doing for years.

RB68 · 15/02/2016 12:39

there are generally three levels of appt - emergency, urgent and routine - you must say the right words to get an appt. You need an emergency appt for mental health reasons not an urgent one. Its hard work breaking thorugh but they are scripted same as anyone else on the phone and they use any excuse to hang up on you as well - I wish they would bring back the old fashioned come and wait till you are seen - it makes sure someone really is in need as they are prepared to drop everything and go and wait

AnyFucker · 15/02/2016 12:40

There are some people who just turn up and demand to be seen and say they are not leaving until it happens.

Original poster
MintyChapstick · 15/02/2016 12:41

I won't go down there and camp outside, although it does piss me right off when I hear of patients who book appointments and don't turn up! They should be struck off the practice list for that!

I don't cone abusing staff, but sometimes GP receptionists can be so bloody rude and obnoxious that people will automatically take frustration out on them.

I'm going to try the surgery again after lunch, hopefully I will get an appointment then.

OP posts:
AnyFucker · 15/02/2016 12:43

Yeah, the wasted appts are shite. It just illustrates the way that patients take the NHS for granted though and have such huge expectations of it.

Good luck, Minty x

TooAswellAlso · 15/02/2016 12:47

Minty I think the GP receptionists just develop a hard skin from days on end of being shouted at that theirs no appointments etc, when that's not their fault. I'd hate to be a receptionist there.

Hope you get some luck after lunch. Can you ask for a phone call if not?