Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

No Doctor's Appointment

92 replies

MickeyLuv · 30/10/2017 11:19

AIBU to be fuming at my Dr's?

Have just tried to book an appointment (not particularly urgent but would like to see one) to be told that there are no appointments available! I asked what I am supposed to do, she replied to phone back at 8:00am every morning to try and get one the same day. I can't phone at 8:00am as I am traveling to work at that time, well can I call in to the surgery at 8:00 instead? No I'M TRAVELLING TO WORK!!!

I expected a wait (last time I waited 3 weeks) but to be told I can't book an appointment at all!!! No wonder A&E is so bloody busy everywhere Angry

OP posts:
MrsHathaway · 30/10/2017 13:11

It's not just pausing one journey for 5 mins though is it? It's finding a safe, legal place to stop/get off train and then call constantly over the next 20 or 30 minutes to get through. And then do it all again tomorrow.

Exactly this. Because EVERYONE is ringing at 8am, so you end up in an odd queue or constant redial. By 8.12 you finally get through and there's nothing left. For days or weeks in a row.

I made a formal complaint about the system when I went through that for SIXTEEN DAYS IN A ROW by which time the toddler's eczema needed steroids and antibiotics. At the time they couldn't even make an exception for a raw 18mo. Shortly thereafter they introduced a batch of "sit and wait" appointments, so if all the real appointments had gone you could turn up at 11am ish and wait with your fingers crossed. It must have been a hellish shift for whichever couple of doctors had to run it, but there were always some seriously poorly people waiting so it was worthwhile.

flimflaminurjams · 30/10/2017 13:12

Get someone else to phone in for you, who is not on the train etc.

Walk in centres?

Also varies by geography but some have an evenings appointment system, but you have to ring a different number to your doctors (I know its bonkers).

Alternatively just call in after work on a day of late opening and stand at reception until they get you an appt.

KitKat1985 · 30/10/2017 13:28

It's not just pausing one journey for 5 mins though is it? It's finding a safe, legal place to stop/get off train and then call constantly over the next 20 or 30 minutes to get through. And then do it all again tomorrow.

^ This. Last time I phoned for a GP appointment for DD2 I had to ring continuously nearly 50 times in 20 minutes before I got through. There's no 'queuing' system in place for calls so you just have to ring pretty much continuously until you are lucky enough (if at all) to ring at the exact nanosecond another call ends. And if you don't manage to get through by about 8.30 then you may as well not bother as all the appointments for the day would be gone.

Also it's all very well ring at work / on the way to work, but if by the time you get through you only have a very limited choice of appointments for the day, then it's fuck all use if the only appointment left is for like 9am and you're already an hours drive from the surgery and will never make the appointment in time (my DH has this issue). Nor is it any use if you are like me and you work in an environment where there HAS to be a certain number of staff in at any time, and you've only got an hour or two pre-appointment to clear the time off with your boss and to arrange cover at work to allow you to go.

Shit system.

KitKat1985 · 30/10/2017 13:30

^ That first sentence should say 'it's all very well SAYING ring at work / on the way to work'.

Original poster
MickeyLuv · 30/10/2017 13:32

Why on earth can't you just ring them at 8am like everyone else has to. If you're on public transport you can ring no problem. If you are driving you can Bluetooth, or pull over or you can arrive at work before 8 and then phone.

Because I will be well on my way to work, not in the same area. If I do get an appointment for that day, I would have to turn around and come back home. That's assuming I don't spend an hour at the side of the road trying to get through in the first place. Why can't I just make a flipping appointment for a week or so time, its not difficult.

OP posts:
ilovegin112 · 30/10/2017 13:35

My local surgery if you ring and tell them it’s quite necessary they will try and get you in especially if it’s for a child’s appointment, other than that online booking is the easiest way to make appointments

Original poster
MickeyLuv · 30/10/2017 13:35

It is a shit system. I will probably end up going to the walk in centre in the evening or at the weekend and sitting for 3 hours waiting for a 2min consultation. At least we have a walk in centre fairly close by, I know some don't have this option.

OP posts:
bettycooper · 30/10/2017 13:39

Isn't the other issue that it's not just calling at 8. It's calling at 8 to ONLY be given a same day appt.

My GP surgery would only ever have same day appt or ones in 3 weeks. So you call at 8.30 having bust a gut to get to work early to do So (and now being 1.5 hours away from home and gp surgery) and ask for an appt and get offered 9.30.

Conversely you book a day off. Call at 8.30. Either the only appt available is 6pm. Or they haven't got anything by time you get through. Who can afford to keep taking days off for gp appts?

LemonShark · 30/10/2017 13:40

It's a hugely shit system. I assume aimed at people who don't work. Some people aren't able to sit and press redial for 40 minutes at 8am in the hope they'll be given a slot they then have to miss work for at short notice. In a lot of my previous jobs they wouldn't let you off work to go without advanced notice for staffing levels, and even if they did you wouldn't get paid or would have to use a sick absence period. It's beyond a joke.

I assume it's to prevent the massive numbers of DNAs however, if they make you work hard for a slot you'll almost definitely attend, whereas a large number of people who make one a few weeks in advance will forget or just not show. It sucks for those of us who wouldn't dream of missing an appointment as we're suffering because of the feckless ones who don't care that they're wasting NHS time and money.

If they had a system where you can book an appointment online for the future but then had to log on to confirm your attendance a day or two beforehand or lose the slot I'd be fine with that.

Firesuit · 30/10/2017 13:42

Register for online service, isn't this situation exactly what it is for!

To do that, you would have to take a day off work to get to the surgery to register. Unlike every other organisation in the universe that provides on-line access, GPs require you to visit their office as part of setting up an on-line account.

It's almost as if they wanted to discourage people from booking appointments online...

mayhew · 30/10/2017 13:42

In a lot of areas (including mine) there is an out of hours service which is more accessible than the practice. It's set up to relieve pressure on A&E.
If you search " Your area+ out of ours GP" you might find what you need

Firesuit · 30/10/2017 13:43

... while pretending that they are actually available.

SheffieldStealer · 30/10/2017 13:43

Why wouldn't you take half an hour and go in to the surgery and get the documents to register? Confused It's exactly what it's been set up for - to deal with non-urgent issues. You could have done it in the time it's taken you to whinge about this ridiculous system where you can't get an appointment unless you get off your arse and register your details.

LemonShark · 30/10/2017 13:43

Basically just go to the out of hours doctors, or A&E if you absolutely have to. I know out of hours won't often help with chronic issues though.

I also hate being asked what I'm booking an appointment for by receptionists with zero medical training. It's not enjoyable having to tell them you have thrush or are having a serious depression relapse. Even worse is when they book you with a nurse without even asking what it's for! They got me with that recently, if they'd have asked I'd have said I need a doctor as the nurses I have seen are never able to give me the antibiotic I need and aren't tolerant to, but they just sneakily did it anyway then she hadn't a clue what to do with me and I had to wait to see an actual doctor. The whole primary care NHS thing is a complete shambles, no wonder people attend A&E wrongly or call for ambulances they don't need or just end up seriously unwell cos they couldn't see anyone in time.

OhYouBadBadKitten · 30/10/2017 13:44

It’s really bad at the moment, as someone else said there is a critical shortage of gps. It took me almost two months to see a gp this summer and I had some pretty major health stuff going on.

LemonShark · 30/10/2017 13:45

Ps I have an online account and it's great for repeats (our surgery will only do repeats online or in person, never over the phone) but even then I regularly find I'm logging in for an appt and there aren't any. Literally zero. For the foreseeable future.

I needed to see a GP for medication for depression when I was suicidal and self harming and the next one was five weeks.

HeadlessHorsemad · 30/10/2017 13:46

I feel your pain OP.

Last week I had an operation (tumour removed) and was told to get the wound checked by the Practice Nurse in 7-10 days.
Rang for an appt and they can't fit me in until Day 12. Explained I've had an op and hospital want it checking sooner but No, Day 12 is the first appointment. Hmm

Hillarious · 30/10/2017 13:47

Throw the problem back at the surgery and use the broken record - I can't ring at 8.00 am, I don't need an appointment today, but I need one soon. - how do I do that? - I can't ring at 8.00 am, I don't need an appointment today, but I need one soon - how can I do that? - I can't ring at 8.00 am, I don't need an appointment today, but I need one soon - how can I do that?

RavingRoo · 30/10/2017 13:48

How long is your commute and why can’t you take 10mins to fill out an online registration form? I commute to London, but will prioritize my health if needed and take a morning off or work from home. Or stump up for a private GP. No point moaning about the system - you’ve been given the rules so follow them.

OhYouBadBadKitten · 30/10/2017 13:51

our online service has exactly the same issue of no appointments. The only thing is that you can sometimes find a chance cancellation on there.
It’s all very well saying take the morning off, but if you take it off and still don’t get an appointment then you’re a bit stuffed and have a day less leave available.

Firesuit · 30/10/2017 13:52

Here are the NHS instructions for someone who wants to see a GP, and thinks, I know, I can't get through on the phone, I will book on-line,

How can I start using GP online services?

Follow these steps to access GP online services:
1. Take photo ID (passport or driving licence) and proof of address (such as a utility bill) to your GP practice and tell them you want to start using their online services.
If you do not have any ID then either a member of staff will have to confirm your identity or you may have to answer questions about personal information in your GP record.
2. Fill in the short registration form that you are given by your practice.
3. Once you have signed up, you will receive a letter with your unique username, password and instructions on how to log in.

Assuming work is an hour or so away, all you have to do is take a day off work to register, then wait a week or two for a letter, and then you'll be able to able to make an appointment, probably for three weeks later. So four or five weeks elapsed waiting time and two days off work in order to see a GP for ten minutes. It's first-class first-world medical care like that that makes the NHS the envy of the world.

Firesuit · 30/10/2017 13:54

Why wouldn't you take half an hour and go in to the surgery and get the documents to register?

Because the surgery isn't open before 7am or after 7pm, which are the times when someone is not at work or commuting to work.

Medeci · 30/10/2017 13:54

you would have to take a day off work to get to the surgery to register. Unlike every other organisation in the universe that provides on-line access, GPs require you to visit their office as part of setting up an on-line account.
I was annoyed about this as well. When I eventually managed to get to the surgery I asked why I had to come in person. Was told it's to prevent someone else registering for online access as you and seeing your health record.
Seems a far fetched scenario but perhaps it could happen.

bettycooper · 30/10/2017 13:55

Not everyone can work from home.

Taking a morning off at short notice also might be impossible due go staffing levels.

Popping into your GP for a form. Because as a p.o. said you can't just register online for online appts you have to go IN to the surgery first! Our surgery is open 8.30-6. I have worked 1.5 hours away. I couldn't have gotten there before or after work to register for their system. Not everyone can come in late, or leave early either.

bingbongnoise · 30/10/2017 13:55

Yeah it's shit isn't it? I know some people who are unfortunate enough to be registered with medical practices who have this wanky system. One friend of mine was so upset and angry at NEVER being able to get an appointment, that she actually moved house to the next borough.

Her doctors surgery told you to ring to make an appointment, or book online. They would not let you book it at reception. When you rang, no-one answered and it cut off at 4 minutes and 59 seconds, every time. So you went online and there were no appointments; all the fields were 'greyed' out. No chance of booking it over reception either of course.

She was in tears and gave up, and had to go into a walk in centre (which should NOT be necessary when you are registered with a bloody medical practice!) As I said, she has moved now, (she was in private let so it was easy to move.) and she is with a different practice.

My medical practice is fab (thank God,) the receptionists are lovely (except one battleaxe,) you rarely have to wait more than a week for a routine appointment, and they will see you on the day if it's a bit of an emergency.

Actually, in 50-ish years of life, I have never ever ever had an issue like this, and up to about 3 years ago, I didn't know anyone else who had either.