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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

about GP surgery phone queues?!

32 replies

CoffeeMilkNoSugar · 06/12/2016 09:54

Here I am, starting a new very angry thread because I'm honestly quite frustrated.

I called my GP today. Got yet another tonsillitis, and this time it's a bad one, I kid you not.
Initially there were 8 calls ahead of me. So I waited patiently. Then finally, there was only ONE call ahead of me! For 20 minutes.

Yep, looks like they were talking to one person for 20 minutes. I finally hung up because I got so pissed off.

Honestly, AIBU?

ARGHHHHHHHHHH!!!!

explodes in rage

OP posts:
NotStoppedAllDay · 06/12/2016 10:15

Well it's not done on purpose is it? Someone clearly needed to sort their problem out!

GreatFuckability · 06/12/2016 10:18

yabu, these things happen and it won't be done deliberately to annoy you. I know that i'm not at my most rational when i'm in pain though so I do get why.

harderandharder2breathe · 06/12/2016 10:23

Yabu you don't know what that call was about and if you'd hung on you'd have got through eventually

Never understand why people who are so ill they must see a doctor are too impatient to wait on hold (not repeatedly having to call like many surgeries who don't have a queuing system)

Serin · 06/12/2016 10:23

I work in a hospital and have to ring GP's on an almost daily basis, it is a bloody nightmare trying to get through and wastes so much of my time/ the NHS's money.

I blame all the people ringing up for tiny issues instead of self medicating. Yes I'm looking at you next door neighbour who went with a split cuticle....and no she isn't diabetic.

Hope you get your appointment soon OP. Flowers

Groovee · 06/12/2016 10:25

I'm often over 100 redial so before I get through. I can usually get an appointment though.

BreatheDeep · 06/12/2016 10:28

Our surgery doesn't tell you how long the queue is. YABU to have hung up when you knew you were next.

AwaywiththePixies27 · 06/12/2016 10:36

Serin a split cuticle Shock

I got sent home mid asthma attack recently because they needed the bedwere that bloody snowed under. Ended up being rushed back in even poorlier. Sad

Sadly not surprised though. Two women in my GPs waiting room were once there because they had hangovers. Confused

Specialapplek · 06/12/2016 10:42

YABU but I totally understand your anger.

At my new GP surgery I always have to wait for a minimum of 20 mins for my turn. It is less frustrating for me to walk down to the GP and speak to the receptionist in person!

At my old GP they had a telephone appointment booking system and it was brilliant! I could make new bookings, amend and cancel, request for a specific doctor even. Wish they had it everywhere.

Original poster
CoffeeMilkNoSugar · 06/12/2016 11:48

I just got so angry after 35 minutes on the phone :( It took 15 minutes for them to answer the 7 calls ahead of me, then 20 minutes to sort out ONE call.

Oh well :(

OP posts:
Imaginosity · 06/12/2016 12:04

I'm in Ireland - there is no delay getting through on the phone to the GP and I can get an appointment the same day or at least the next day. The downside though is I pay €50 per visit. Some people on low incomes etc qualify for a medical card and can visit the GP for free.

JellyBelli · 06/12/2016 12:17

I cant afford to use my phone credit waiting like that. I have no choice but to hang up.

Beth2511 · 06/12/2016 12:22

I was pleasantly surprised yesterday.

my 9 week old was diagnosed with a chest infection Friday, got steadily worse over the weekend and had a horrendous night Sunday night. at 6am we debated calling an ambulance because he just couldn't breath butaking finally calmed down. rang doctor at 8am, got through at 8.05 had an appointment at 8.45 and was in hospital by 10am.

Stormtreader · 06/12/2016 12:25

Never understand why people who are so ill they must see a doctor are too impatient to wait on hold

Because people can be really ill and also have a job to get to?

icanteven · 06/12/2016 12:27

I love the phone service. DD2 has an infected finger and I called at 8.15am, doctor called me back at 9am, I emailed him a photograph of the offending digit and emailed straight back with an appointment to see the nurse at 11am.

A couple of days later it had flared up again. Rang at 8.15am, doctor called back about 15 mins later, emailed him photo to have a look at, and he prescribed antibiotics and sent the script directly to local pharmacy.

I really couldn't have asked for a more efficient service.

At my surgery (a very big town centre practice) you ring reception and they put you on a list for the doctor to call back. You don't sit around on hold because that would be daft.

icanteven · 06/12/2016 12:29

Never understand why people who are so ill they must see a doctor are too impatient to wait on hold

Because if I'm calling about my sick child at 8.15am, I probably have other things to be doing as well, such as getting dressed, getting my other child out to school, feeding the sick child...Surely you understand what happens in an average household with small children in the morning, right?

Soubriquet · 06/12/2016 12:38

The only issue I have with my doctors surgery, is if you want to cancel.

It's the same line as appoitment booking so you potentially end up waiting ages.

I had an appoitment at 9.15 one morning and I couldn't make it. Started ringing at 8.30. Still didn't get through in time. Meant I had a missed appointment which could have easily been avoided if there was a seperate line

Adala · 06/12/2016 12:55

Our one always says "there is one call ahead of you" before putting you through, always - sometimes they pick up right away, sometimes several minutes later. So I don't think those systems are always reliable!

DesignedForLife · 06/12/2016 13:43

At least your surgery has a queue system. Mine doesn't so have to frantically redaill to attempt to get an appointment. Last time I retailed 100 times. Not too bad from a mobile, but I really feel for elderly patients who don't have that feature

crrrzy · 06/12/2016 13:53

This reply has been withdrawn

This has been withdrawn by MNHQ for privacy reasons.

wishparry · 06/12/2016 14:00

I never even bother with my gp anymore.I could never get through to them on the phone,and the rare occasion I was able to get through they'd tell me they didn't have any appointments!once I said it was an emergency as i had a bad uti for about a week that wasn't going away and it was agony,so they told me to come in and they would try to see me.I waited in the waiting room for over 3 hours,when I finally got to see the gp she refused to give me antibiotics and told me to drink water!!

Cerseilannisterinthesnow · 06/12/2016 14:01

I love my surgery they have clinics every morning from 8-10 and on 3 nights a week too from 4-6 so can just go and sit and wait If you're ill. Also i just phone up for my repeats and pick up from the pharmacy in the surgery, we are very lucky

Hopelass · 06/12/2016 14:10

I was very lucky this morning called at 8.07 and got through straight away. Appointment at 10.10 and seen on time too! (Bronchitis if anyone's interested)
It was the busiest I've every seen it in the surgery though.

DeliciouslyHella · 06/12/2016 14:21

I called mine this morning at 08:06 and after a minute or so on hold, spoke to a lovely receptionist who was able to book me a double emergency appointment so that my DD and I could be seen together for our unrelated, but appallingly timed illnesses. It was painless.

HoopsandEverything · 06/12/2016 14:26

Sorry no appointments,
Sorry no appointments,
Sorry no appointments,
Sorry no appointments,
Sorry no appointments,
Sorry no appointments,

"Oh, this sounds serious, let me see if I can try and find you a cancelled spot. Actually let me just check with the GP on call this morning, it will be a couple of minutes until they finish with the patient they are seeing. Can you stay on hold? five minutes later Oh hello, I am the GP, can you explain the symptoms to me, oh yes, this needs to be seen urgently, I suggest you come in or go here. Have you done X, Y and Z. Ok right then we will see you in however long.

minisoksmakehardwork · 06/12/2016 14:37

YABU.

I had to ring my surgery yesterday and rather than waste an appointment, they put me on hold until they could catch the duty dr as they felt it was a simple enough request. While I might have been on the phone 10 minutes, I saved an inperson appointment being used just to be prescribed worm medicine. However, I did expect them to put me on the call back list.