GP appointment

[Libbylongtree]

Maybe this sort of thing is already well known but I’ve just phoned our GP surgery to make an appointment to see a doctor to be told they have none available at all. Can’t even book for June or July. I have to ring back next week when ‘extra clinics will be added’.

I’ve never experienced this before, is it commonplace?

Its common. Mine works like this....
You can phone at 8am for an emergency appointment.
You can phone at 10am to try and make an appointment for in two days time or one weeks time (thats it, you cant ring on a monday for an appointment on tuesday etc.) and they have hardly, i have been ringing them repeatedly and they have been engaged from 10 till half past and then when you get through there is no appointments left! Its annoying but i think its pretty standard across all GPs

After 20+ years of being able to see doctor of choice in about a week, more recently 2 weeks, for the last two months have been unable to get appointment with doctor of choice, I managed an appointment with 5 week delay, two other family members are still trying.

Our GP practice is becoming in practice emergency only.

If at all possible, try your pharmacy. I noticed our local Lloyds is offering free appts with internet doctor, and the pharmacist is able to give advice and offer more medications than you can buy yourself.

It’s terrible and common but not standard.

My doctor uses a triage system for emergent problems (triaged by a doctor) and you’ll get an appointment either that day or the next if applicable.

Can get routine appointments within 2 weeks with no issue.

I think that many surgeries are severely under resourced, many aren’t using technology very well so they aren’t as efficient as they could be, and many are in areas where a poor population sufferers more ill health that a more affluent one and therefore they’re just exceptionally busy.

There can be variations quite locally between practices so could you try registering with a different local one?

My surgery is utterly excellent with about 5/6 doctors offering appointments from 7.30am some days to 8pm some evenings. I don’t live in an especially affluent area for London but it’s a mix, good commuter location and therefore probably doesn’t have a problem attracting staff which is also a big factor.

It seems to be common in some areas, but not others.

I can always get a same-day appointment at my surgery - it won't necessarily be with my preferred GP, but I will get seen by someone, even if it's just a nurse who will then refer you to the on-call doctor if necessary.

I can also book routine appointments online in advance - if I went on this morning, I'd be able to book to see my GP next week, or I could book to see any doctor in the surgery tomorrow (obviously limited times, but I'd still get seen).

I think it's awful that some surgeries are so underfunded and under-staffed.

Its common at ours but I've found that if I explain to the receptionist WHY I need a same day appointment she will give me a same day one on a "wait in line" basis.
Last time I was offered one past my due date for something pregnancy related that the MW had asked me to get checked out ASAP. Receptionist had no problem giving me same day.

My surgery is pretty good.

Book online with any GP appointments are released at 10am for 2 weeks time.

Ring up between 8.30am and 9am for same day. Can usually get in to see a doctor or ANP.

Under 5s and over 65s can get in for same day whenever you ring up.

I’ve had this too. A little after we first moved to where we now lived, I phoned for a gp appointment and was told I couldn’t make one unless I phoned for an emergency appointment the following day. They used to “release” appointments at 8 and then when they’d all gone you couldn’t make another appointment till 12.30 when they’d release more. Then a doctor phoned you rather than seeing you in person, then decided if they needed to see you and told you to come it. It was a total pita, unless it was easily solved over the phone, when it was quite good actually.

They’ve changed it now actually to make it more user friendly after they got a lot of complaints.

Oh typos sorry^^

This thread reminded me my DH needs a non-urgent appointment. I just called and he’s booked in for next Thursday. They had several available throughout the week.

DHs GP is like this, ring, get told no appointments for 3 weeks, call back in a week when they'll have released the appointments for 3 weeks after that, appointments all gone, try another week in the hope of 3 weeks after that etc etc, takes about 8 weeks to get an appointment!

Mine does a 'duty clinic' where you sit and wait for 3 hours to see a duty doc/nurse, it was supposed to be to just for minor issues - UTI, ear infection etc but now you can only see the duty team or if you're lucky a telephone appointment with a gp in 3 weeks where they'll decide if you can then have a face to face appointment!

My gp surgery you can still easily get routine same week appointments. Just booked a routine appointment for tomorrow. Emergency appointments you can phone at 8.30, 12 and 3pm and easily get same day

I got a same day appointment last week - the telephone booking system had told me next appt was in 10 days time. I phoned up, told the lady who answered the phone that I had spoken to a pharmacist and she told me to see the GP - got an appt for 3pm same day. Actually went into appt at 2.55pm - would have been 2.50pm but I was registering for online prescription/appt booking so delayed going through and was back out again before my original appointment time!!

I've been very lucky with appointments at my GP, but as I dont go very often, have definitely noticed a decline in availability of more convenient times over the past 10 years

I recently made a non-urgent appointment and was given one four weeks ahead. I'm OK with that but was surprised it was first thing on a Monday which presumably is very busy with emergency calls.

I've recently found the same, can't book an appointment for any time in the future as there are none available. I suspect I've got tennis elbow so hardly an emergency but would have liked it checked out at least.

We’re not frequent visitors to the surgery but have never come across this before.

Unfortunately, whilst I don’t think it qualifies for an urgent appointment, it’s not something I would discuss with a pharmacist.

I may pop over to the health board (after a name change!)