To think as GP surgery HAS an appointment - they should have given it to me?

[youarenotkiddingme]

So I need to see a Dr.

I know the issue to anaemia as it was flagged a few weeks ago when I went to give blood.

Can't ring bang on 8am when they open as I'm commuting.

It's not an 'urgent' appointment for on the day - which are mornings anyway - and I'm at work and obviously not ill enough to keep taking days off until I'm lucky enough to get an urgent.

So I ring again this morning. No appointments - ring 8am Monday (I'm told) when they release more. except that means usually 20-40 minutes on phone to be told "ring at 8!"

Asked me if I'm online. I'm not registered for this. Ask why.

Because we have online appointments available Tuesday. "I'll have one of them then" say I.

"no, you can only book them online. Come down with photo id, get a form, register for online and then if they are still available you can book it that way"

WTF?

This must make to sooooo difficult for people who don't have the internet or the vulnerable and elderly who can't use the internet.

If they have an appointment I cannot see why they can't allocate it to me?

AIBU?

You haven't bothered to utilise the system if signing up for online appointments.

As much as you haven't utilised your ability to read the thread

I DIDN'T KNOW about the online system.
I have rang over the weeks at 8.15/8.30/ lunchtime/ evenings etc. Always told to ring at 8am. Apart from the fact that's impossible (illegal! As I'm driving) when I have got through at 8.25am I'm told the appointments have gone and I should've rung at 8! Even at 8.15 it's engaged
It's not an 'urgent' on the day appointment to sit and wait. They won't give an urgent appointment for something which is considered a chronic condition.

Ive rang everyday this week at 8 and when I've got through only urgent are left - which I can't have.

Today was the FIRST time they've ever mentioned online. And that was in the context of "are you registered for online? Well if you come to us with photo ID we can give him a form to set this up and we have an appointment available to join online on Tuesday that may still be available after you've done this".

The only times I've ever visited the surgery in the past few years has been under urgent system. Eg tonsillitis or ear infection that I've had for 3 days and is getting worse.

Ironically I played a game of chance 10 minutes after this phone call. I rang up and said "I just spoke to someone who said Dr X has appointments next W first thing. Can I book 1 please?"

And guess what? I was told "yes at x y and Z time".

They didn't get offered when I asked for a ore booked one. I agree with above poster who said they are probably trying to wheedle out those who don't really** need to see a GP.

No I couldn't have 'just walked to the surgery.

Ds has a disability and having had a bad night was still asleep. I will go and get form as I need to get his repeat.

I've NEVER said I won't.

What Ive said is AIBU to think telling me suddenly when I've been trying to book an appointment they

A) have an online system
B) have an appointment
C) can register for this but still may not be able to get this appointment

Is a bit of a crap system.

Yes, I can work around it. Many others won't have the luxury or ease I can find to do it (despite my own limitations with ds).

Don't worry about old people who can't use the internet. Practices have a list of them and will always find an appointment for them. Elderly people quite often have pushy daughters who won't take any shit as well.

I was one of them.

You contradict yourself by saying to do the online registration you'd need to do a two hour round trip on a bus but then go on to say you are 'lucky as the surgery is 500m away'
Which is it?

I think the level of helpfulness of the various receptionists/telephonists is woefully variable. It is at our practice anyway. The GPs deny it's a problem but my consultant neurologist's secretary phoned me for help in getting a copy of a referral from them because she had given up dealing with the rudest and .ost unhelpful practice staff she had come across and I guess she had a better idea than me.

Glad you got an apt op.

Unfortunately there is a % of appointments that have to be done online. Some new initiative or other. Rearranging the deck chairs on the Titanic. The problem is not enough staff and demand/need too high.

Apologies, see you were saying 'others' might live an hours bus commute from a surgery.

You contradict yourself by saying to do the online registration you'd need to do a two hour round trip on a bus but then go on to say you are 'lucky as the surgery is 500m away'

The OP didn't say that she needed to do a 2 hour round trip, she said that SOME people live a hour bus journey away from their Dr and would therefore need to do this just to get the form.

RTFT!

Crosspost!!

No I said "what about the people who would have to get the bus in to get the form to register".

I didn't aim my thread at just my situation. If you read my OP I said it must be difficult for people who can't access appointments this way. I can sort it. With difficulty but I can.

I didn't know I could register for this service as no one told me. And funnily enough its only now I need to see a GP, and weeks into trying to see a GP they've decided to tell me.

I can see how the system can work for some. But not how the system benefits those who didn't know, cannot access internet or aren't urgent but also can't wait a few weeks for an appointment.

It really does help if people read what's written and not what they want to in order to stock the Oar in 🤦🏼‍♀️

X posts. I see you've read it now

You're just complaining for the sake of it. The online booking system is great, and opens up the phone lines so that minority who can't use the internet can call in. they also put test results up on there for things like blood and urine tests.

When your son is awake just go and get the form, it's just a web address and sign up code, set up a password then you're in.

Also, surely if you live one hour from the doctors then you won't be eligible to register at that Doctors? When I moved out of my parents I was about 15 mins bus away from my family surgery and they told me I lived too far, so kept the postings address as my parents house.

Write to your GP, explain that you've been turned away from blood donors. They can then arrange a blood test and a follow up appointment

OP, I absolutely understand what you are saying. It's the total "computer says no" attitude that frustrates those of us who are under pressure from all sides.

1 tiny example from my recent experience.

My GP is unable to prescribe pain relief for me because my medical condition means that certain types are not suitable. Referred me to pain clinic (days A/L from work at short notice). Consultant suggests a medication but I need close monitoring because similar drug has caused me liver problems in the past. Writes to GP to tell him what to do and arranges to see me in a month's time to follow up. All good.

GP writes to me, asks I book an appointment to see him to start treatment. Phone up - no appointments for 4 weeks. Need to phone back in 3 weeks when new appointments will be released. I explain that I am due to be reviewed by hospital in 4 weeks but won't have even started tablets by then and ask if GP can't just write prescription and blood test forms and leave at reception? Can't do this but I'm offered a telephone appointment after 12 noon the next day. I explain that I work until 2pm and can't have my phone on me but if they can give me a definite time I will take my 15 minute break then. Finally they agree GP will phone at 12.30. Next day at work I arrange to take my break at 12.25 to give me time to collect phone. By 1pm GP still hasn't phoned. I'm now 20 minutes late back from my break. Phoned surgery and explained to be told that GP is making his calls and I just need to wait. Explained situation and eventually they sent note to GP asking him to phone me. He rang at 1.10pm. Told me he would leave script and blood test request at reception!!! 1 minute phone call.

Got back from my break 45 minutes late to a very frosty reception and then had to work late to make time up.

I get that GP is busy, under pressure etc but what a waste of his time and mine. My life would be easier if I gave up work but a) I can't afford it and b) for my own mental well being I need to go to work.

A little bit of common sense here would have prevented all of the above.

No one said bus was an hours journey what I said was bus only goes once an hour. I was demonstrating how difficult it could be for some to go and register and then have to find online appointment when there's appointments available but can't be booked on phone.

I'm not making it difficult. I could and actually should have been told about online when

A) they set it up and
B) the first time I rang 2 weeks ago - or even the 8 times I've rang since then.

You can easily get the very high dose iron tablets (completely legally) on Amazon. Very cheaply.

HTH

This by the way is just 1 example.

I face something like this at least once a week. Being ill is a full time job.

Went to a hospital appointment recently, at 9am. I live 2 hours away. Booked holiday from work (last year I used all 24 days annual leave for hospital appointments). Got to appointment to be told they had made it with wrong person and a new appointment would be sent out. No apology. Just very matter of fact. £10 train fare and 1 day's leave wasted plus a waste of an appointment which could have gone to another patient.

2 weeks later another £10 fare and another day's leave to see the right person.

I know rice. As I said above that was what I said to nurse who told me that no - I have to see Gp and have me some information to give to GP.

I seriously never knew just how difficult it was to get an appointment unless you are 'urgent'.

I've had such brilliant service for DS who has been under most nhs departments - I didn't think a simple GP appointment would be such hard work 🙈

I don't think yabu, you seem to be getting a hard time here. I agree with you, getting a doctors appointment is a pain in the arse. I hate having to decide how urgent i feel my need is, do i want to say it's urgent and take a place from someone who may be more in need than me, or say it's not urgent and wait weeks and weeks. I needed my results of an MRI scan recently...does that count as urgent or not?

But my question was AIBU to think as they had an appointment I should have been given it rather than being told I have to jump through hoops to register and then I may still be able to book that appointment.

Yes, OP, as so many people have said and you have ignored, YABU.

They are online appointments, to be booked via online use only.

Yes YABU, but you don't want to hear it. You are thinking in problems instead of solutions.

• If everybody who is able to use the online system will do that from the moment that they learn it exists, then that would free up the phonelines for the others. This would actually help the more vulnerable people. This is actually important, so I would advise you to register as soon as you can.
• Most people don't have a schoolrun. They don't have kids or they are older. That means that they could commute earlier to work and phone the surgery at 8 if necessary.
• Most people know someone who could ring the surgery at 8 to make an appointment for them. This means partners, sisters, brothers, children, friends, neighbours, colleagues etc.

At the GPs I work at, you can book same day appointments after 12am online or prebooked appointments whenever. So you can call at 8 but people can book online from midnight if that makes sense. We usually have same day apps available till 11ish anyway. And prebookable for 2-3 days time. Doesn't stop people moaning though.

My GP's surgery doesn't do online bookings. I've tried to phone in advance and book a non-urgent appointment and was told to phone back on the day. I phoned back at 8.30, when our lines open, to be told that despite speaking to the GP previously, I have to wait for him to call me back a 2nd time as the GPs arrange their own appointments. I'd been jumping through these hoops to get a GP appointment in the same time frame as a midwife appointment - it was regarding DS so I specifically wanted an appointment when he wasn't with me. It was an utter farce.

I remember years ago, tony Blair on question timer when he was newly PM, and a woman complaining that she couldn't get non-urgent appointments with her GP regarding her son who had a SEN, and him taking it up for her. We're what, 20 years later, and still no further on with this.

OP, sign up for online appointments, a pain in the arse to set up but at least you have the option. I just got the crap other GP at the practice phoning my DH because I'd already headed off to meet the midwife. The other GP told DH I'd spoken to her (I hadn't) and asked why DS wasn't with him.... the original GP knew that he wouldn't be attending. Absolute farce.

I haven't said I don't want to hear I'm being unreasonable.

I get it.

I am unreasonable to think when they set up a system whereby they decreased the phone appointments and made them online only u should have been told so I could book online. I am unreasonable to think that over the last 2 weeks of phoning I should have been told about online appointments rather than "ring at 8am tomorrow".
I am unreasonable for thinking that when they FINALLY decided to tell me they had appointments but they are online only that as I hadn't been given the opportunity to sign up for online at this point they should have given to it me.
I'm also unreasonable for considering not just myself but others and how difficult it could be for some to actually register and use online services.

I do not deny that I may have been asking too much to be given that appointment.

But I don't agree with all those saying is tough luck because I DIDN'T KNOW about the service that I couldn't access it.

It's moot now anyway as I went in this morning with my ID. I then said as I'm dyslexic they have to make a reasonable adjustment and help me set this up. They refused but got practice manager who was actually extremely nice and said she can't believe how hard I've had it trying to get an appointment and helped me set up the online system.
The Tuesday appointment had unsurprisingly gone - but they have appointments for 10 days after this available Now.

I think what's annoying me most is if I had been informed before I was unwell - when they set this up - I probably could have already had an appointment

Gottokondo that's all very well either getting in to work early or having someone else hang on the phone for you but doesn't bloody work when you have a commute if the receptionist says we've had a cancellation for 10am but then really gets put out when you say you can't get there for then and its a non-urgent appt that you need.

My surgery has just closed down. First we knew was a letter telling us to ring round the other surgeries to check if they really were accepting new patients then physically going into that surgery with ID and filling out a paper form. WTF? Its 2018 I should not have to fill our a bloody paper form. As it happens I didn't and they then assigned me to a surgery anyway!

OP YANBU at all. That whole situation was a farce from start to finish.