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?

I think you are at my surgery, OP. YANBU.

My friend who used to work there is very rude about all the admin people. She left because she couldn’t stand the way they treated the patients.

The whole thing is symptomatic of the under capacity and underfunding of the NHS. As far as I can see, there are not enough medical people and the admin people are very low paid, so are overwhelmed by the volume and complexity of the work.

Can usually get an apt at my surgey but urgent on the day ones tend to be with the drs people avoid. The partners can have 3 week wait lists.

The admin staff are either vile or lovely, half and half. Overall the organisation and systems are dire and if I ran my department department along similar lines I would be dismissed.

The real issues are blood tests and nurse appointments. Ear syringing is inly available between 1pm and 2pm. Therefore not available if one works an hour away.

The last time I needed a bloid test for an underlying chronic condition I made an apt with a locum in mid June to get a repeat and the form. I needed the blood test in late August. The earliest early apt at 7.55am was in September!

Two things really stood out. The telling off from the locum who huffed and told me there was no need to request so early. Her info was wrong and why the need to talk down to a patient. Secondly when I went for the test I said "look, nice short sleeves, so i can be as quick as possible" the response was "oh you're alright, I've got half an hoyr for admin now". A three month wait for an early apt so after half an hour the HCA can do her admin during prime appointment time? It's a level of disorganisation that both beggars belief nd makes me question just how scarce resources are

headingforsunshine when do you want the HCA to do their admin?

That was a serious question by the way, I’m really not being facetious. Our HCAs work from 8-2 so in theory that is all ‘prime appointments time’.

I came out of a doctors appointment and went to collect a repeat prescription (unrelated matter) from the reception desk. I noticed a sign for online appointments so I asked to be registered. I was refused as I didn't have any id with me.
The doc was happy to treat me and the receptionist was happy to hand over the prescription yet I still had to prove it was me
I had to make another journey with id to get registered.

Ocies not between 8am and 8.30am. Surely the admin should be done mid morning rather than during what shoukd be prime commuter slots. I need to get to work as early as possible. Usually I am on my way by 7.15am. I waited 3 months or that slot. If the admin were done at 10am that would surely be more practical and would mean fewer people were late for work.

That’s the system, so you need to get your appt via that system regardless of whether or not it suits you. It’s your health, your responsible for it. That’s one thing about other counties without the NHS - people take. Ore responsibly for their health, appts etc. In my experience, they don’t sit around moaning that the free service they have isn’t convenient for them

But then there will be those who do school drop off or elderly patients so bang in the middle of the morning is also prime appointment time.

The NHS isn't free stateschool. I do take responsibility for my health and am scrupulous about making apts to ensure it is maintained. I expect therefore the system to be easily navigable and transparent.

I haven't read the full thread but surely an appointment for anaemia is a waste of a GP appointment? Book to see a practice nurse, discuss your concerns, have some blood taken and then the results will determine whether you need to see a GP (although I suspect this is also something the nurse could deal with)

heading - ear syringing! I cannot get my ears syringed AT ALL which really needs doing as I have constant ear infections and ear pain (yes I have tried OTEX and the rest but there is years of wax there)

I cannot afford to pay £100 for private BUT I would happily pay £20 for a nurse (not an overworked GP) to spend 5 minutes sorting my ears out. It is the small things that can affect your life so much.

£100 may not be much to some people but I have to budget very carefully as I have a more or less fixed income of £12k per year.

But ocies there was a twelve week wait for a pre 8.30 appointment. There would have been a 2/3 week wait for a 10am apt. Doesn't that tell you something about when it would be more helpful to have more appointments available?

Mollie. I was deaf in my left ear. I paid £65 for a nurse to syringe privately. I am sorry to hear your plight.

Had my surgery publicised the fact they only offered inaccessible appointments, I wouldn't have wasted a Dr's apt asking for it.

AnotherOriginal I'm not so sure. When dd had low vitD GP said to take an over the counter dose. The endo to whom she was later referred upped that dose x about 100 and she only had to take it weekly. He said the otc dose was meaningless to effect recovery so I'm not sure yoyr advice is necessatily correct.

I'm registered for online booking but there are never any slots available. I'm not sure when they first get released.

At the moment i'm supposed to have a medication review before picking up my next prescription. No way of booking this medication review without trying to find an online appointment or messing about trying to ring for 8am along with everyone else. I don't even want the appointment, the doctor says they're a waste of time (I have hypothyrodism and levels are checked once a year separate to this) but it's some NHS tick box exercise.

@HeadingForSunshine but to be diagnosed with anaemia the OP would need a blood test first. Results and medication can be discussed via telephone with a GP if necessary, then possibly another repeat blood test with the nurse

I was curious to compare, so I've just logged into my own GP's online system. It looks as though more people are now using it - I used to be able to get an appointment 1 or 2 days away, now the earliest is Friday (so 5 days away). But there is still only one appointment available per GP per day, even three weeks away. I'm sure my surgery is only paying lip service to the idea of having an online facility ...

State I was trying to take responsibility for my health. An issue has been flagged, I was told to see a GP - I've been trying to get appointment!
In fact I'm so good at not abusing the 'free' service I haven't said it's urgent - which would get me a sit and wait appointment on the day.

My issue was that after asking how I was ever meant to get an appointment I was told one (one!) existed for Tuesday. But it was an online one. And to get online I had to go to surgery with ID and register. I couldn't work out why they didn't give me an appointment that was available. I've had it explained - still don't think it's the most effective service or gives access to anymore chance of an appointment.

But I was completely unreasonable according to MN to expect to be able to get an appointment!

I'm not surprised things are more difficult - there's less GPs now and more housing.

Ugh this thread reminds me of the massive problem I had last time trying to get an appoitnment :/ I utterly hate going

OP I don't think you're being unreasonble, I hope you managed to get it all sorted.

I didnt, it totally freaked me out, they keep phoning my mobile and have sent letters but im scared to open them so i havent :/

Sorry forgot to add. The receptionist was SO rude to me it was unreal. She made me feel like a piece of dirt. I'd been told to make an urgent appointment. She was horrible.

PS have you tried warmed coconut oil in your ear... really helps.

Another I'd be happy for a phone consult! I have my iron count as it was trying to donate blood that flagged this up! I'd have been happy to buy iron but was told need to see GP as they may want to investigate /great cause.

I'm fairly sure if someone phoned and explained that they cannot read, are elderly and struggle with internet, or have any other reason why they would not be able to make an online booking, the reception staff would have enough common sense to make alternative arrangements. If you are able to use the internet however then I believe you should use it!

@stateschool

I do take full responsibility for my health. I have a chronic health condition which has now caused inflammatory arthritis in multiple joints. The original condition needs frequent treatment and monitoring and the arthritis needs treatment and monitoring every couple of weeks. I pay weekly for physio privately and do 5 pilates or yoga classes a week because that strengthens the muscles and helps with the pain.

I am also trying to hang onto my job by the skin of my teeth. I have, on average, 5 hospital appointments a month. I have little choice as to the times of these appointments so when I need to see my GP (sadly frequently as my medication has annihilated my immune system and caused anaemia) I just can't take more time off work in order to spend an hour trying to make an appointment.

My life would be so much easier if I didn't work. I wouldn't have to juggle appointments and could make appointments at my leisure. But how do I afford to live without working?

I don't expect the NHS to be run at my convenience and the treatment that I receive is excellent but my health is only one aspect of my life and sadly my mortgage and other bills still need paying, regardless of whether I am trying to prioritise my health.

If GP appointments are at such a premium now maybe it is time laws were changed to allow pharmacists to prescribe more medications or for some POM to be sold OTC? Not ideal but something has to change.

That’s one thing about other counties without the NHS - people take. Ore responsibly for their health, appts etc. In my experience, they don’t sit around moaning that the free service they have isn’t convenient for them

In countries without an NHS, the service isn't inconvenient.

Four other countries where I've visited a GP:-

USA: turned up without an appointment, at opening time, was out the door about 15 minutes later. In that time: Receptionist walked me to examining room, second receptionist stepping up to deal with next patient, Dr examined me, did a test, wrote a prescription, told me how much it would cost to buy medicine from them and how much same medicine would cost at pharmacy across the road. Receptionist took card payment for consultation and medicine.

South Africa: Phoned a GP a 1.30pm to get an appointment at 3pm.

Austria: walk in off the street without an appointment, was seen ten minutes later.

France: walked in off the street without an appointment, seen within about ten minutes.

(Austria and France were ski resorts, not sure if they don't count for some reason.)

MIL in an Asian country saw her GP, was referred to hospital, had a scan and a biopsy, biopsy results back from lab, all in less time than it would have taken to get the initial GP appointment in the UK.