That GP waiting times are unacceptable?

[frustrationfrustration]

I very rarely visit the doctor, I have only needed to visit once in the past year. I have rang up for an appointment today and apparently every single pre bookable appointment to see the one female GP at the practice has already gone, she apparently only sits on a Thursday morning and a Friday afternoon. The earliest I can ring up in the morning for an on the day appointment to see her is the 16th of March. I was interrogated by the receptionist who demanded that I tell her what my concern is as apparently this dictates who she should book me in to see, she was sharp with me and asked why I couldn't just see a male gp with a chaperone provided. Has anybody else had similar experiences with GP practices recently? I can't help but feel that this is the reason that a+e's are being overused. This is a busy practice that serves a large council estate so I can't help but feel that the female GP provision is inadequate.

So I came off the phone with no appointment and I might still not get an appointment when I ring on the 16th of March

There is a massive shortage of gps, and it is only going to get worse.

What do you suggest then? Unfortunately this government is hell bent on making medicine and working in the NHS as unattractive proposition as possible. Yeah it’s not good but we can’t magic GP’s up.

I'm afraid your experience is not unusual by any means. GP surgeries seem to be universally overbooked and understaffed. Ultimately, you just have to wait it out, or if it's something urgent, swallow your embarrassment and see a male GP. It's not ideal, but it's the same everywhere these days

Do all females live on council estates ? Are they more unwell than non female council estate dwellers ? Perhaps you should pay for a private appointment .

Yes they clearly don't have enough female GP's. But at my GP's they have plenty. If I ring up at 8am I can always see a female doctor the same day. They ask why you want to see someone so you can see the appropriate person. Last time I went I saw a nurse practitioner and she was brilliant.

What do you want them to do? The appointments are in high demand. They don’t have an infinite amount of appointments.

GPs are leaving in droves. Partly due to retirement but also just work pressure. Be prepared for things to worsen.

I think it is inadequate for the amount of people that it serves. I pay my tax and national insurance so why shouldn't I be entitled to see a female GP within a reasonable timescale? Should we all just accept this and pay privately whilst the NHS sinks around us? I think attitudes like yours are the problem.

Im currently a week overdue on my regular blood condition injections and feeling like crap because there are no appointments.

My child waited eight blooming days for a gp appointment last year.

That is an adequate wait for a non urgent appointment though?

I was quite shocked in the deterioration - last time I saw a GP, about 12 months ago, I had a 2 wk wait for the GP of my choice (up from the 1wk that it was in previous years). But when I tried again recently, they weren't able to offer a single appt in the 6 weeks they were booking for, and 2 appts with other doctors, both with a month's wait. So my experience is that the shortage of GPs is really hitting now.

I'm at a loss as to where to go from here with no appointment and no definite appointment on the horizon? I am effectively being pushed into paying privately, I need a referral so paying for a private gp seems like only bloody option available to me.

It’s frustrating but you haven’t actually said that this is an urgent need. Not having attended for a year doesn’t give you priority status.

You could switch to a practice with more female GPS or enquire if your problem could be dealt with by a nurse practitioner.

Have to say I’m not keen on receptionist interrogation but it seems common practice at some surgeries.

Well if you don't want the NHS destroyed by the Tory's,
you know who not to vote for.....

London, almost 3 weeks for an appointment that I might not even get? If I don't manage to get one in time on that day, it will be another week until she sits again which would mean I have waited a month for a gp appointment?

Most of my female GP needs are now seen to by a nurse practitioner. I find it pretty easy to get an appointment woth her within a week.
Emergency appointments are always same day and for the children I can get a same day appointment even if I call an hour or so before closing.

The reason the receptionist asks if it has to be the female GP is to ensure her limited appointments are only used by those who need them. So we have a catch 22 where on the one hand you're annoyed at being 'interrogated' by her, but on the other hand if you want her appointments used appropriately, she has to ask. I don't see her doing anything wrong and I am often flabbergasted at the hate GP receptionists get.

There's a huge GP shortage atm, I definitely would not do it. Its so stressful with limited time for problems, limited appointments, extra work, patients expecting too much etc. Until we figure out a way to change that, no one wants to do it.

The receptionist shouldn't have been sharp with you (but I think they are under an awful lot of pressure too) but it's not inappropriate to ask what your consultation was about. Of course you are within your rights not to say, but she was probably genuinely checking that you were booking in with the right person /for the right length slot. They don't care what it is - they've heard it all before.

GPs are in such short supply, waits are getting longer. I hope you get sorted soon OP, sorry you're having to wait but staff are doing their best.

My advice would be if you think it might need a gynae examination, please book a double slot otherwise you may end up having to go back again, which would be a further delay.

Could the issue be dealt with in a phone consultation? Or, as I suggested a nurse? Otherwise you just have to get on that phone or their doorstep at 8am on 16th March and ensure you see the female doctor then.

I needed to go a couple of weeks ago and got an appointment for that day as a non emergency. So it's not the entire nhs. At my last practice my gp told me one of the reasons it was so bad because people make appointments for fuck all and if they change their mind, don't cancel.

I don't think it's wrong to discuss my breasts with a male GP!

I don't think it's wrong to not want to discuss my breasts with a male gp!

Lots of us pay taxes and national insurance contributions but it won’t change the fact that the GP’s are pushed to the limits and doctors and nurses are leaving the NHS more than those who are joining due to poor conditions.
If you are not happy at your current practice, is there another one nearby you could join that have more female GP’s available?
Alternatively, does it have to be a doctor? Many practice nurses can prescribe and may be able to refer on?