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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

Doctors running late...

98 replies

Leehanne · 28/12/2018 11:53

Now I know doctors get a lot of stuck. My dad is a GP and he's explained the reasons why they run behind. I don't mind them running late at all. For all I know someone had a heart attack in their office or they were attending to a baby which of course takes longer.

I'm sat in my docs surgery however and they're so far running an hour and 40 minutes late. The appointment is for my 9 week old DS who isn't well and also for me to ask a question about my own health. I've booked a double appointment.

Nobody can tell me how long they're going to be and I feel like I can't leave because it would be unfair on DS.

AIBU to think nearly 2 hours is a bit of a piss take with no apology or explanation?

Sorry, just here to rant. I'm so bloody tired and just want to be seen within the hour preferably...

OP posts:

AngelOfDeathNix · 28/12/2018 11:55

You need to go to reception and remind them that you are still waiting, it's entirely possible that you have been overlooked

ThePinkOcelot · 28/12/2018 11:55

That’s ridiculous. An hour and 40 mins?! I think I’d just go home and ring your dad!

echt · 28/12/2018 11:55

This is a pisser and only topped my booking the first appointment in the day and still 20 minutes late!!

GreyBlueCar · 28/12/2018 11:57

I never get why when the doctors opens at 8.30 and you have an 8.30 appointment, they are running at least 45 minutes late. Why?

MrsBosh · 28/12/2018 12:00

That's a really long time. Have you definitely been arrived?
Please go to reception and enquire again. Make sure you mention your 'newborn' several times. I'm worried they don't have a record of you being there and morning surgery will finish soon.

Original poster

Leehanne · 28/12/2018 12:02

They 100% know I'm here as I've asked them twice. I've left and am going to the walk in who prioritise and see babies first. What a waste of time.

OP posts:

SpuriouserAndSpuriouser · 28/12/2018 12:02

If they are that badly delayed I would imagine it’s because there’s been some big emergency, and because of the time of year a lot of the GPs are on holiday, so there is no one to pick up the slack while the emergency is dealt with. It’s totally shit for you and your DS, and I would definitely ask at reception if they know how long it will be if you haven’t recently, but it’s probably unavoidable. Maybe ask if they can rebook you for this afternoon so you can go home for now?

SpuriouserAndSpuriouser · 28/12/2018 12:03

Crossposted with you there. Hope you have more success at the walk in centre!

ChristmasTwatteryDoesMyHeadIn · 28/12/2018 12:04

I rather suspect patients like my arse of a SIL are why they run late. Wittering on and on with a series of fabricated ailments, constant appointments, and not shutting up.

Hope your wee one gets seen quickly OP.

DRE56322 · 28/12/2018 12:09

I got the first appt of the day once at 08.30.
Watched out the window as the doctor walked in at 09.20. First patient called at 09.40.
Being charitable, that doctor may have been unavoidably late/stopped to help an emergency on way in. But that straight away puts surgery back over an hour. If they then have an emergency, that could well be another hour.
But the reception could tell you that when you book in- not details, obviously, but a "we're running an hour behind this morning" would be nice, so that at least you know.

MatildaTheCat · 28/12/2018 12:12

The problem here is, largely, the lack of information. Perhaps one or more GP is off sick. The surgery should announce a reason for the delay in a non specific way and advise where else medical help could be sought.

PoliticalBiscuit · 28/12/2018 12:13

I hope your baby is ok, do write and complain to practice manager.

CeeCeeEnnEss · 28/12/2018 12:14

I made surgery run late yesterday because I collapsed in reception. Only one doctor one so dealt with me, and by the time they sorted me out I’m sure they were running nearly an hour late.

Sorry!

Sirzy · 28/12/2018 12:17

Running late happens but the receptionist should be able to apologise and say their has been an emergency and then offer to rebook appointments

Celebelly · 28/12/2018 12:20

Blimey, there's late and then there's late. Definitely think if they're running that far behind, they should have made an announcement and maybe offered to rebook for people who didn't have anything urgent/routine appointments.

megletthesecond · 28/12/2018 12:21

Are some of the GP's running late in the morning those that have just come off a night shift and call outs?

planespotting · 28/12/2018 12:22

We sometimes have 1 hour wait and I wouldn't mind just for me, but my toddler...

PinkSparklyPussyCat · 28/12/2018 12:24

Are some of the GP's running late in the morning those that have just come off a night shift and call outs?

Not if it's like in this area, all out of hours is outsourced.

My previous dentist was like this, always running late. I appreciate things happen, but when there's no communication it's really frustrating. Especially when the receptionist gets snotty when you refuse to wait more than an hour!

I hope your little one is seen soon.

ShannonRockallMalin · 28/12/2018 12:24

There may be a good reason for the delay but there is no reason for not keeping you informed. My DH is a health professional and he says he would never leave people waiting without apologising and letting them know what’s going on (despite the fact that he always has patients rock up late and then get annoyed that they can’t be seen immediately).

Hope you get better service at the walk in and your baby is better soon.

stayathomer · 28/12/2018 12:24

That is very late!!! ChristmasTwattery I possible hold people up in the way your sil does, I don't go to the doctor very often so when I do I check on everything that's been worrying me.

Original poster

Leehanne · 28/12/2018 12:24

@CeeCeeEnnEss I'm sorry you collapsed in reception and hope you're feeling better now. That's not a nice thing to experience.

That said, I'm sure the reception staff were still working on reception and could have told people they were dealing with an emergency therefore were running late. Maybe given a rough estimate of timings?

As I said if it were me I would go home but my 10 week old has a high temp and isn't feeding. Who knows, this could be an emergency too...

OP posts:

Joboy · 28/12/2018 12:24

If your child needs to see a dr you wait .

nutellalove · 28/12/2018 12:26

This happened to me once and turns out the receptionist didn't sign me in correctly so I was missed off the list, maybe double check with them

dancingthroughthedark · 28/12/2018 12:26

I used to get fed up with long waits. Last year I went with my son who had been feeling unwell which was very unusual for him. He was the last patient on Friday afternoon. it took the GP only a few minutes to realise things were rather more serious then we had realised and we were there for well over an hour while further tests were carried out and calls made to the Hospital for advice and he was eventually admitted to hospital as an emergency. I am eternally grateful for the care he received and to the staff both medical and in the office who stayed late to assist Had it not been for them he might not be here to tell the tale. I imagine had his appointment been earlier in the day he would have been the cause of some substantial delays . Doctors do not deliberately keep you waiting. One arriving late for surgery has probably had to attend a home visit on his way in. I have on occasion heard receptionists trying to tell a waiting room of people the reasons for delays. Most are too busy complaining loudly to actually hear what they have to say.

Original poster

Leehanne · 28/12/2018 12:27

@stayathomer as he daughter of a GP who regularly has a bit of a moan to me, this drives doctors nuts. They don't want to tell you no because they don't want to be held liable for not addressing a serious issue, but NHS guidelines clearly say '1 appointment, 1 problem' - if you have more than one problem you need to book a double appointment.

OP posts:

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