Getting 'emergency' GP appts

[FiloPony]

I'm starting to seriously wonder what my GP practice thinks they are for as they are so hard to get, this time:

Can I have an appt today pls?
What's the EMERGENCY?
Well it's urgent, dd baby has obvious tonsillitis and fever, I can't wait 1-2 weeks
How do you know?
White throat, fever....
White mouth, that's thrush
No.... it's not her tongue. It's her tonsils
Well... humph... come 5min before closing

Then stroppy GP starts, what's the EMERGENCY??? And patronises will a check and slightly snide comments until realising she needs Antibiotics. It was seriously painful to sit through and if she was my first I wouldn't have the balls to persist.

Last time other dd was very unwell and had to go on to hospital and time before that was related to multiple febrile seizures..: I've never time wasted there!

So what on earth are these appts for? When does the receptionist not try and back you down? Surely for an emergency you'd go to A&E?

I've ending up in out of hours twice for children after refusal to see (one resulting in a preventable hospital admission).

It's one thing to ask about symptoms but she has no right to make a diagnosis. What if you'd listened and your baby became seriously ill? I'd make a complaint.

my gp are bloody brilliant for kids.. adults not so but when 8 week old ds had bronchi i had no problems getting any appointments and when 2 year old dd has chesty flare ups i also hVe no problems...

Casper that makes sense about the moles, thanks

Our GP surgery has "quick access" appointments every day, all morning. You book either by phoning or turning up. You can also get phone back from a Dr at a certain time and I've had Dr visit me at home recently. Routine appointments tend to be two weeks ahead but sometimes sooner. I think it works quite well

Our gp is the same. It serves 3 villages! So they are busy and some GPS away for various reasons. But if it's a child or you are pregnant they put you on a call back Nd the gp will decide if they can help on the phone and if not give you a slot. Bit if you aren't a child pregnant or elderly then yeah you have to wait...

My surgery (big city centre one) calls them same day appointments, and the way to get them is to call at 8.30am with a sensible ailment. You go on the call-back list and the GP calls you within an hour or so and does her or his best to treat you over the phone, emailing a prescription to your local pharmacy if need be, or calls you in. On one occasion I was able to email a photo of DD's infected hand while I was talking to him so he could see what I was talking about.

I've never had anything other than brilliant and efficient service, apart from the glorious occasion that a new receptionist (unfamiliar with some terminology) spent quite some time on the phone to me trying to convince me to accept a phone appointment to have my Mirena IUD fitted. I had visions of "Now, put your right foot up on the table, adjust your mirror and flashlight, breath out - how far up can you reach now...?" etc. etc.

Sorry, Icant but that made me laugh!

Report the doctor or the practice to the General Medical Council if he or she is not prepared to change the process for the practice. Receptionists are not medically qualified and make it clear that you regard the doctor(s) as responsible for them.

Reporting a doctor to the GMC for working in a surgery with a widely accepted booking practice?
There's no 'perfect' system or everyone would be doing it. Supply is completely overwhelmed by demand. Rather than wasting time on spurious GMC referrals, write to your MP to request they push for appropriate funding for the NHS.

Really good idea to take a GP to GMC when there is already a shortage, when they work such long hours and patients are increasingly demanding.

Our practice works well but huge amount of time spent sorting social care problems because there is so little social care.

I really don't understand begrudging a lunch once every other week. He sounds like a good friend. They don't grow on trees so you should take care of the ones you've got.

The GMC would just laugh at you and send out a standard PFO letter. Totally not in the GMCs remit at all.