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.

Our practice doesn't have a female doctor so I just see whoever is available or nobody, tbo when I was taken to a&e I couldn't have cared less if the dr was from mars as I was just grateful that they were helping me and saved my life

YABU and you sound very entitled

I can think of a couple of occasions when I really felt I needed to speak to a female Gp. Both occasions I strongly suspected I would cry during the appointment (and yes I did), and for some reason I couldn’t bear the idea of crying in front of a male GP, no idea why!

Just curious Idontdowindows, what do you have against being seen by a male doctor?

I have no desire whatsoever to discuss my medical issues with a man, or to have a man touch me. I have nothing against male doctors, I just don't want one.

Half of my life there weren't enough female doctors and I've had to have male doctors put their hands up me, in me, over me and I've had enough.

So as soon as it was possible, it was female doctors only and I have been very pleased with the care given by all the female doctors I have had.

I cried in front of mine, missy, I was in a lot of pain and terrified I'll die and leave my kids behind. They've seen it all before.

The waiting times are outrageous in a 1st world country. People are suffering unnecessarily or paying (as I do). It also just puts additional pressure on A&E departments.

We need copayments urgently (means tested) and we need to dramatically cut down on the amount of admin gps do. Who cares how ‘joined up’ the NHS is. Cut down spend on management and IT consultants and plough the money back into primary care.

It's not unreasonable to want to exclusively see a female doctor. It is, however, unreasonable to expect you're the only person who feels this way, so you'll just need to wait your turn.

If the female GP only works two half days a week then you are actually only looking at 3 working days for that particular GP, which isn't bad at all.

I called my gp surgery at 4pm today and was offered an appointment for 4.25pm, same happened a couple weeks ago. Sadly my gp surgery is closing at the end of the year and I will have to go to a bigger surgery that has long waiting lists for appointments.

YANBU

I just don't want one.

So you have to accept that, as you have specific rather than generic requirements, you'll have to wait a bit longer for them to be met.

Our practice allows you to pre-book future appointments,so I can book a routine appointment up to a month in advance. I'm very happy with this

Why can't you be seen by a male GP....if you were referred on to see a consultant at my nearest hospital all the breast surgeons are Male anyway
At my surgery all the female GPs are now part time , but much of the GP work is now done by advanced nurse practitioners in any case cheaper and able to do more hands on stuff anyway
You either turn up at 8.30in the morning and wait to be seen if it's an emergency appointment or face the fact if you want a specific GP you will probably have to wait 3-4 weeks
Successive governments have been aware of this impending crisis in the NHS for years ,( combined with the increasing numbers of nurses and Drs who are due to retire in next few years )and have done nothing to address the situation

I take the first GP available (male or female), I know that 'my' (nominated) GP works part-time....google tells me he also works in Madrid!!

Op have you asked if there are hub appointments in your area... They don't seem to like ti promote it.. I was amazed when I asked I got one same week otherwise it was two weeks away

I think you’re being unreasonable.

A male GP will have seen breasts before,
And will be perfectly capable of doing a professional job.

You’re essentially sabotaging your needs and then blaming a part time female GP for not having more appointments.

If you feel that your needs can only possible be met by a doctor that shares your anatomy, then you’ll just have to wait.

It is all very well saying vote Labour.
What happens when you book with a female hcp for your smear test, only to be met with an intact male who happens to be identifying as a woman?
Personally I think that would be worse.
However.
I think if you want an urgent appointment you have to accept whatever is available.
The NHS is on its last legs.

If you need a doctor, go to the doctor. I can't fathom the entitlement. They are all professionals, they don't care about your body. Just get it seen to.

if youve ben abused i do understand but you cant complain tha a part time gp can only see yo9u in three weeks when shes hardly there

If it was important enough, the sex of the doctor wouldn't stop me. They are trained professionals. We don't have a female doctor anyway.

One of the reasons there is a shortage of GPs is because there are more female GPs overall, most of whom work part time because of family commitments. This is not a bad thing but the profession is struggling to catch up with changing workforce / changing expectations. Forty years ago most GPs were male and worked full time.

OP it is unacceptable that you have to wait so long to see a female GP. There are plenty of medical students but most chose to progress their career as hospital consultants because being a GP is seen as a lot of hassle for not much money comparatively speaking. The government needs to make it more attractive choice I'm afraid.

Try and find a surgery with nurse practiciners OP . We have this and it’s a wee bit easier to see someone and for referrals and non urgent stuff . I am pretty pleased with mine and they have a few on the day emergency appt too . I really think ita time to ask locally and change surgery

If anyone knows where the magic tree is that grows GPs, lots of practices want to know ! I know of 3 practices that are 10-12 sessions a week short - that is 6 full days of gp cover per week per practice so about 180 appointments ( plus visits/admin all being covered by the remaining GPs who pretty much all want to leave) - these posts have been widely advertised - There are NO applicants.

I'm shocked the receptionist asked you what your appt was for when it was a routine appt. At my practice they only ask that for the emergency surgery so the GP's can decide who to see first as sometimes there can be 20 people waiting. You said the receptionist was short with you. Were you rude to her? It's not her or the surgery's fault you want a specific dr & have to wait 2 weeks. There's a massive shortage of GPs. The Dr only works 2 half days. I don't think that's an unrealistic timescale at all.

I had childhood asthma which was brought on by cold weather, never had it for years and years since living in a warmer country. Moved back to the UK and was fine all winter until I got a cold and suddenly heyyyy cold induced asthma is back with a vengeance and I struggle to breath whenever I go outside. Explained this to receptionist and said I needed an appointment asap as pharmacist couldn't prescribe me an inhaler without a GP appointment first as I haven't had one in years and years. She said there's nothing available and it's not urgent (oh sure not like i need to breath right? ) but I can get an appointment at the end of March if I want. Insisted I need an appointment because I can't fucking breath every time I go outside and I quite like to breath as I find it keeps me alive. She said I can turn up at 5pm and see if a doctor might have time to see me. I do so, get seen within 5 minutes by a lovely doctor who takes the time to check me over thoroughly, prescribes me an inhaler and books me a referral to an asthma nurse next month. Not impressed with the receptionist but hey ho least I got seen i guess.

A couple about baby boomer age kept glaring at me in the GP reception too, not sure why? Perhaps my wheezing was annoying them? lol