No Doctor's Appointment

[MickeyLuv]

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

What would a 'family planning' clinic be used for when you can get contraception and STI screens done at the GP surgery? Curious as I've never heard of one before.

Few GPs have specialist knowledge in family planning, anything past a prescription for the pill and they're stumped. Family planning doctors (and nurses) have far greater knowledge, so anyone with gynae or hormonal issues would be best placed attending a FPC.

My GP surgery does not offer STI screening, you'd be (self) referred to GU Medicine for that (separate from family planning).

They're also useful for young people that might not want to approach their family GP for advice. There are usually clinics especially for younger people.

To be fair I had no problem booking a smear test recently either. I phoned up, thinking it's going to be a nightmare to try to get the right time in my cycle, but they just said can you come next week, what day would suit etc and it was fine.

It's very different for an appointment with a GP though. I think that employers who offer private healthcare should seriously consider offering a private GP service too. It's no good having private health insurance if you can't access it because you can never get to see your GP.

And what medical records, other than details of appointments? I assume nothing else is available to the patient login.
I can see a lot more than details of appointments when I log on.
There's medications current and past.
Illnesses/conditions/problems.
Consultation dates. Test results.
Letters from outpatient clinics, A&E etc and lots more.

TartanCurtains it doesn't matter where you are in your cycle, you can book a smear any time as long as you're not bleeding heavily.

As long as we can see your cervix we can take the sample!

(I'm a practice nurse.)

I have same problem last time I went to see a nurse practitioner for my repeat prescription to be told next time (I have 28 days supply) ide have to see a Dr. Went to book in to be told we can't do appointments that far in advance for medication!?
Wtf?? I need to go next week but am putting off phoning them coz that in itself is just a nightmare

I am surprised people are saying 'just go to the walk in or to A&E' though.

Usually people are flamed and flamed good for going to A&E for 'non emergencies' on MN. Clogging up the system. Being stupid and selfish. I've read all of that on here. Also, in my very rural area,our walk-in clinic closed, because they said that the Gps were just re-directing people to them and they couldn't cope. It's true.... I've been re-directed to the walk in myself for relatively simple things. (We have a similar 8 am booking ''system''.)

I recently had a severe fungal infection. I was in a lot of pain but well enough to go to work. I called the gp but next routine appointment was for 5 weeks. I called for an urgent appointment the next day. I had to be late for work as I'm underground on the tube at 8am. I asked the receptionist if I should go to work or if I'd likely be seen in the morning (I work an hour a way). She said if I needed to be seen, the doctor could put me down for an afternoon appointment. The doctor called me just after I got to work, said I did need to be seen by a gp. The only appointment he had was an hour from then. So I had to just turn around and leave work straight away. 2 hours travelling to and from work for nothing when I was feeling unwell was very annoying.

Sidge, thank you. Looks like I should have had more faith in the information I was given 😳

I thought the phone on the day thing was because they had targets for how quickly people were seen that in one of those 'targets measuring the wrong thing because it's easier' ways has ended up meaning people wait just as long if not longer but that's ok because they're not 'officially' waiting.

And I've just realised what an awkwardly worded sentence that is

Ask for a call back. Phone

It's a very poor situation but I understand it is due to lack of doctors.

We have online booking. There are never any appointments.
If you are asked to make a repeat appointment you can't there are never any available and they can't tell you when they will be released.
You can't see the same doctor for continuity of care.
However we do have a walk in sit and wait clinic every morning, it's still not ideal, people start to queue at 7:30 or earlier, then you get let in and given numbers, then the receptionist books you in. You now get an approximate time so you don't have to sit in the waiting room for hours. Still means you have to take the morning/day off work. And if you have to do the school run first the you are at the back of the queue

The government insist that each surgery hold back so many appointments for book on the day hence why it has now become the norm

We have an online system, I registered myself and DH for it when we signed up with the surgery after moving. I think DH might have gone once in the last four years? But at least he can, because we took the time to sign up just in case. Our online system only tends to have one appointment per GP per day available but when I asked why there weren't more appointments to book, I was told that it was because nobody (except me!) used the online system!

I was shocked pleasantly surprised to be offered a Saturday appointment with a nurse this year for ear syringing. Turns out my surgery is one of those in the city now offering evening and weekend appointments (but not online, obviously).

The 8am time is what is unreasonable- point out it is unfair to anyone taking a child to school. Making a call in public could be giving details out such as address or name that could be used by someone wishing to cause harm or steal your identity.

Complain in writing.

I wonder how happy these surgeries would be if their receptionists were having to behave in the way they expect everyone else to.......calling their own doctors in work time and leaving their work at short notice to go to their own appointments.