To think GP system is broken?

moutonfou · 2017-09-22T08:07:26+00:00

My morning, or, Getting a doctor's appointment in the UK: - Wake up at 8.30 - Call doctor's 28 times and get engaged tone - Finally get a ring tone and wait 9 minutes for someone to answer - All appointments for the day are gone, try again on Monday And it's not even cold and flu season yet. As much as I love the NHS, this element just doesn't seem to be working? Or is my surgery just specifically not great and others have better experiences?

ChardonnaysPrettySister · 22/09/2017 09:08

No, it's a mess.

metalmum15 · 22/09/2017 09:10

You must be at my surgery. Don't forget rude receptionists who really shouldn't be in jobs where they have to deal with members of the public.

BelfastSmile · 22/09/2017 09:12

Our surgery just do Open Surgery every morning now, so you turn up and are seen in the order you arrive. It works well, though a bit annoying if you've a sick child and have to sit there for 3 hours. There are appointments in the afternoon, but they're booked out for about 3 weeks. They're very good at slotting you in for something urgent, though.

ASmallBlueberry · 22/09/2017 09:12

I've found that if I really need the attention of a doctor and have worrying or very unpleasant symptoms, I don't have a problem. I always get an appointment or the doctor calls me and gives me a slot to come in.

If it's something less urgent or non urgent, you can expect to wait a bit.

BelfastSmile · 22/09/2017 09:12

And the receptionists are lovely!

Liwwybettykins · 22/09/2017 09:15

Totally broken... most surgeries have loads of vacancies, no one wants to be a gp... (Im a junior doctor and trully think it's the last speciality that I would go into. - I'm A&E, also broken btw...) needs more money, more doctors, more supporting staff, and to kick Jezza Hunt to the curb just for morale purposes!

Original poster

moutonfou · 22/09/2017 09:15

TBH the receptionist was lovely but even she sounded a bit embarrassed that all she could offer was 'try again on Monday' (not even a guaranteed appointment on Monday).

I feel sorry for them; they must bear the brunt of so many people's frustration which is why some of them probably go on the defensive by default.

OP posts:

The80sweregreat · 22/09/2017 09:15

you have to speak to the doctor on the phone now before they let you go for an appointment. i waited 2 hours for a phone call back ( it wasnt urgent but even so) they did ring and tell me there would be a delay , to be fair, but if it was mega urgent then i dont know what i would have done to be honest.
my elderly dad is 95 and not getting any help with his mental health issues. its a complete mess and very sad all round.

rosie1959 · 22/09/2017 09:16

My DD rang up at 9.00am appointment for 10.30 am Usually depends here how urgent it is
Our surgery is pretty good although I only visit every 10 to 15 years so no real personal experience

fabbradoodle · 22/09/2017 09:20

At ours we have a system where if you call and need to see a gp, they will call you back (never waited more than 10mins!) and either see you, usually the same day, or if less urgent arrange an appointment for over the next few days. They can prescribe something over the phone.

I appreciate we are very lucky. This is a fairly rural practice with 3 drs in a small town with lots of surrounding tiny villages.

I also appreciate that this set up possibly wouldn't work in a larger set up.

Cameblackbenzleftwhite1 · 22/09/2017 09:20

I knew two gp s, they both quit.

The system is broken, but people are outraged if you suggest a 20 fee.

MyGuideJools · 22/09/2017 09:20

I've just phoned my GP for an appointment. It opens at 8am. I phoned at 8am, it was engaged for 3 attempts then I got an appointment for this afternoon.
I never have any problems and the receptionists are lovely.
I think I must live in a parallel universe!

Disclaimer: although my appointment is 2pm I probably won't get called until nearer 3 as the GP spends as much time as needed with a patient which I don't mind as I know we all get treated the same.

SerfTerf · 22/09/2017 09:21

YANBU.

brownmouse · 22/09/2017 09:21

All GPS are leaving. We need to get used to it. It won't improve.

metalmum15 · 22/09/2017 09:21

I think it doesn't help that people waste doctors appointments with minor ailments that could easily be fixed at the chemist. Our doctors has a huge board up slap bang in the middle of the waiting room telling you where to go for whatever your problem is, eg pharmacist, doctors, A&E, minor injuries unit etc.

metalmum15 · 22/09/2017 09:21

I think it doesn't help that people waste doctors appointments with minor ailments that could easily be fixed at the chemist. Our doctors has a huge board up slap bang in the middle of the waiting room telling you where to go for whatever your problem is, eg pharmacist, doctors, A&E, minor injuries unit etc.

ememem84 · 22/09/2017 09:25

Where I am (Channel Islands) I do feel very lucky in that I can get a same day appointment with my gp. It may not always be at a time of my choosing and I may have to wait to be seen as they're always running late (great if you're the one in with them as time doesn't matter they'd rather you discussed everything you needed to...!) and do have to pay up to £45 for the appointment (plus extra if i need anything doing) But I'm comforted in the fact I can be seen same day.

Still have rude receptionists though...

PinkDaffodil2 · 22/09/2017 09:27

System absolutely broken by lack of funding, increased demand, and the pressures adding up to make it near impossible to be a GP safely and sanely in most practices, hence more doctors leaving, fewer coming in which exacerbates the crisis.
Unfortunately the OPs experience is becoming more and more the norm even at practices which were more protected, as the current set up is unsustainable.
DOI - currently training to be a GP but no intention of doing if full time, not sure I know a single person who is planning of doing that given the rates of burn out we see in colleagues.

AtlanticWaves · 22/09/2017 09:28

Wow that sounds awful.

I'm not in the UK and i like the system here (though you pay upfront and get reimbursed - partly from the state, partly from private health insurance)

I can either phone my GP or book an appointment online.

I can almost always get a same day appointment or if I want, one in several weeks - whatever suits me (including Saturday mornings)

If I'm too poorly to go out, a different dr will come to me (although this costs more than double I'm still reimbursed)

My only complaint is that I can't self certify as ill for work - i always need a dr note.

RonSwansonsMoustache · 22/09/2017 09:29

It depends on the surgery.

Ours are great - you can book/cancel appointments online or if you ring on the day you will be seen, just not necessarily by a GP. If you're seen by the nurse and they decide you need a doctors appointment you're almost guaranteed to be seen later on.

demirose87 · 22/09/2017 09:30

My doctor's is like this. We have to ring at 8 to get an emergency appointment that day. It's constantly engaged til 8.20, I just keep pressing redial till I get through, then they have no appointments left until I mention it's for a child, then they suddenly have one. I tried to make an appointment for one of my daughters (3) for constipation, they told me there were no appointments for three weeks. I said she can't wait three weeks, shall I just take her to A and E, I had an appointment within the hour.

demirose87 · 22/09/2017 09:30

My doctor's is like this. We have to ring at 8 to get an emergency appointment that day. It's constantly engaged til 8.20, I just keep pressing redial till I get through, then they have no appointments left until I mention it's for a child, then they suddenly have one. I tried to make an appointment for one of my daughters (3) for constipation, they told me there were no appointments for three weeks. I said she can't wait three weeks, shall I just take her to A and E, I had an appointment within the hour.

AtlanticWaves · 22/09/2017 09:30

I love the online booking- I've done it at 3am for the next morning before now- brilliant

tootsieglitterballs · 22/09/2017 09:30

Totally agree to @metalmum15 .... people go to the doctor with a cold these days, and there's a lot of people who abuse the system.

Ours, up until a year ago, was relatively easy to get in - now it's 1-3 weeks wait. Last time I really needed to see a doctor, I couldn't get an appt for 2 weeks (despite being pregnant and coughing up blood...) I ended up in a&e the following weekend and admitted with suspected blood clots.

Our local minor injuries on the other side, you get seen within 5 minutes at the most, nobody seems to use the service.

Moanyoldcow · 22/09/2017 09:30

It depends on the surgery but mostly the area it's in I expect. My surgery is truly excellent as was my previous one. Both operated the same systems:

Online appointment booking for non urgent stuff - a wait of a week to 10 days so good for contraception reviews, asthma checks, medication reviews etc.

For newly presenting illness we call and are put on the doctors triage list. Doctor calls back and assesses you. On occasion you can be dealt with over the phone but if they feel you ought to be seen (majority of imstances) then they'll give you an appointment that day.

Never wait more than about 5 mins to get through, decent phone system so never engaged etc.

This happened to me just this week. I called at 8.00, doc called back at 8.10 and I was seen at 8.50.

Our surgery has a lot of doctors, several admin staff and I suspect the resources mean they can offer a better service than many.