To think GP system is broken?

[moutonfou]

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?

I agree that the receptionist need to ask and
Must be able to ask

They can filter people

Our GP practice works very well. On-line booking shows you which doctors have appointments free and you can choose which one to see, usually within three days.
If it's really urgent, the receptionist can usually fit you in the same day but you have to be prepared to explain why.

I was on the phone for 30 minutes one day this week. I can see why a & e is over worked if people can't get gp apts

I can not remember the the last time I needed an appointment or went to the doctor. But I do remember when I was in my last job you would ring for an appointment and It would be more than three weeks for non emergency or ring at 8.30 in the morning and the next morning then the next...... This s not a recent phenomenon

Many on this thread mention that GPs are leaving in droves. To do what? It's not like they can go and do some sort of office Operations job for the same money. Are they going elsewhere in the NHS? They can't all be moving to Australia or wherever.
I know a good dozen GPs- they all work part time and do locum work/ private medicals. Is this the norm now?

Quite usual Beep, many of them have portfolio careers.

They can work in Public Health, for CCGs, as GP specialists.

I know lots of GPs who work FT but not many that do all of the hours as a jobbing GP.

The only day I've had a problem getting a GP appointment is Mondays. I don't bother trying and just go on a Tuesday or a Wednesday. The receptionist rarely asks why I want to see the doctor. My previous surgery was the same. I've never had to wait weeks.

My old practice used to be like this - booking online made life a little eajser when they introduced that.

I really struggle with this as I have a couple of chronic illnesses and it's so difficult to see the same doctor so time is wasted rehashing things, they don't have time to read your notes so make assumptions. Case in point: k went to the doctor and explained I've been in a lot of pain all over for a while. He said that's because I have fibromyalgia which surprised me as I've never been diagnosed with fibromyalgia which I pointed out. I asked to be referred to a rheumatologist as it's been going on so long with no answers - the consultant refused to see me because I've already been diagnosed with fibromyalgia (nope, I haven't).

If it's an acute problem that can be treated with a prescription, great. Anything more than that and the care is shocking.

Exactly thinking - this is exactly why there's so much pressure on A&E.