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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

GP appointments

55 replies

sodthediettischristmas · 31/12/2018 02:13

My GP surgery uses a triage system where you have to ring in from 8.30am to speak to the receptionist about why you want an appointment, the GP rings you back at some point during the day, asks you why you want to see them and then offers you an appointment.

I work! So 8.30 onwards is not convenient.

One of my DC has a non urgent need to see a GP for his acne. A pharmacist has already told us what he needs but he was powerless to prescribe anti-biotics, has to see a GP. DC is at a school a half hour drive away, which means to get him to an appointment could take up to an hour. Over the last few months, and especially when he's not been in school, I've rung the surgery from 8.30am. I get the usual recorded message then told to hold if I wish to make an appointment for that day. The phone then rings for exactly 3 minutes before cutting off. I've spent up to 2 hours redialling the surgery (no queue system) before giving up.

I took my son into the surgery last week, only to be told that I'd have to ring the following morning for an appointment. I asked if his name could be added to the call list for the following morning to be told no, I'd have to ring in. He could be treated by the practice nurse, but the nurse is only in once a week!? And the next appointment would be the 9th of January!

This is not a complaint about the receptionists, just about the whole crap system of not being able to make a non urgent appointment in advance.

OP posts:
Snooky1 · 31/12/2018 02:23

It's the same at our surgery, you could try registering at another surgery, but I think they are all the same now.

Venison · 31/12/2018 05:48

That's pathetic. It seems to be acceptable not to give basic services these days. Meanwhile in the rest of the world, we just see a doctor when we want to.
If I absolutely have to see a doctor while in the UK, I use the Polish clinics that have popped up. £35 for a walk in with no wait.

Monty27 · 31/12/2018 05:50

Yep. Tis the way it is here too. Confused

Daffodils07 · 31/12/2018 05:52

Even worse here, we have same day appointment only but 9 gp practices in one in this hub you have to phone.
Can take up to 4 hours to even get your call answered.

MereDintofPandiculation · 31/12/2018 05:53

We've still got bookable appointments, but whereas you used to get an appointment in a week with the doctor of your choice, it's now 4 weeks, and probably no choice of doctor.

On the other hand we do have on-line booking, which helps.

ItsThisOneThing · 31/12/2018 06:01

That's a terrible service!

If you have the money, you could use a private online GP. I've used one a couple of times before and you can get a web-cam appointment within minutes.

From memory it's about £25 including prescription as you get a discount for first appointment. The one I used was called Push Doctor and it was excellent.

I think GP practices are going to get harder and harder to use unfortunately.

SoyDora · 31/12/2018 06:06

We have an online booking system and pre bookable non urgent appointments as well as same day urgent appointments here, it’s fab. I’m always shocked when I hear how awful it is elsewhere in the country!

AnotherOriginalUsername · 31/12/2018 06:07

Did you book the appointment for 9th?

Fortunately they aren't all the same. My GP surgery is fantastic as they don't over stretch themselves and cap registrations, as well as using their staff wisely. I phoned at 2:50pm on Friday and was seen by a doctor at 3:30pm for a non urgent appointment. I will be phoning this morning for an appointment on Wednesday and will be able to book one with a GP of my choice assuming they're working that day.

For the record, the receptionists are great too (and the phone never rings more than 5 times before answered!)

whiteroseredrose · 31/12/2018 06:15

That sounds ridiculous. Ours is not like that at all. Ring whenever you want and they'll book you in at the next available time. How soon depends on which GP you want to see.

YorkshirePuddingsGreatestFan · 31/12/2018 07:55

Ours is rubbish. It was bad, then they built loads of new houses and have taken on loads more patients so it's even harder to get an appointment now.

I've been trying for three weeks to get a nurse appointment for routine bloods to monitor my medication for a long term health condition. Then they refused a repeat prescription request as I haven't had a recent blood test! I've only got a nurse appointment because I complained and magically they found one for Thursday.

I've also struggled to get a GP appointment for a check up following recent surgery and to discuss and prescribe a medication the consultant wants me to be on. I have to wait until the middle of January for an appointment so I'm struggling with uncontrolled side effects from the surgery at the moment.

CantChoose · 31/12/2018 08:01

@AnotherOriginalUsername are you in wales or Scotland? Im not sure if it's different where you are but I'm in England and we aren't allowed to cap our registrations. Our boundary is set (not by us) and we have to take anyone who asks within that.
Our practice is known as a 'better' practice in our area so a lot of high needs patients have transferred over to us (people who don't need much from their GP tend not to bother moving) so now we are bursting at the seams with patients needing loads of input and appointments.
We are rapidly turning into another 'crap practice' despite our best efforts.
We can only 'close our list' if we apply to do so and need to be in pretty dire cicumstances for it to be allowed.

Somewhereovertherainbow13 · 31/12/2018 08:04

Same system here but hate to say it the 9th January would be much much sooner than we’d be able to get appointments. I phoned at the start of the summer holidays once to make a non urgent appointment for my child and was told they had no available appointments for the whole of August and to phone back in September. I also recently made an appointment for a smear test, had to wait over a month for it and then they cancelled it as the nurse was sick and then the surgery closed for Christmas so now I need to re-book which will probably be for February now. I know it’s not really anybody’s fault but I do think it is beyond a joke.

AnotherOriginalUsername · 31/12/2018 08:07

@CantChoose I'm in England. They regularly have a sign out saying they aren't taking registrations but people can opt to be added to a waiting list

SnuggyBuggy · 31/12/2018 08:07

That's pretty much useless for anyone who works or goes to school.

MarinaMarinara · 31/12/2018 08:09

That’s awful. We have online or telephone booking for non urgent appointments - typically get something within 10 - 14 days with the doctor you want. Same day urgent appointments you need to call from 8, usually takes 3 or 4 goes to get through if you call before 9 after 9 you get straight through, can usually get a same day appointment with someone (either the duty doctor or the nurse practioner) as long as you ring before 10. Your surgery’s system sounds very user-unfriendly! Are there any other surgeries you could register with locally?

Sleephead1 · 31/12/2018 08:13

I work in a surgery the receptionist can't overule the appointment system but if you speak to the practice manager and explain your difficulties they can sort something out they will be able to be flexible in your situation

MynameisJune · 31/12/2018 08:14

Wow our surgery are amazing by comparison to some here!

Phone at 8am for same day appointments. If all gone by the time you get through (usually gone by 8:05) they add you to the list for a nurse to call back and see what’s wrong. Then fit you in if urgent. Can book in advance and they are even now doing late night and weekend patient access appointments for those who work.

As an aside I’m in England and the other surgery local to us hasn’t been taking new patients for the last 3 years and has no waiting list!

adaline · 31/12/2018 08:15

It's definitely not like that everywhere.

Where I am it's fab - you can book non-urgent appointments online upto a month in advance, and if you ring you'll get a same-day appointment although it might not be with your GP.

You can also cancel/change appointments online, order/cancel prescriptions and change all your contact information.

jaseyraex · 31/12/2018 08:16

I'm always amazed at how different GP services are across the country. Mine is great. You call at 8.30 if you're looking for an emergency appointment or enquiring about cancellations, any other time and they give you the next available appointment which is never usually more than a week. They always see children 1-5 within 48 hours and babies always get a same day appointment no matter how urgent. Our regular practice nurse is there three times a week, a male. A female does appointments once a fortnight. Usually fairly easy to get an appointment with either. Are there any other practices in your area that you could register with instead OP?

adaline · 31/12/2018 08:16

Oh and I've never had to wait more than 24 hours for an appointment.

Passthepigs · 31/12/2018 08:26

Mine is brilliant. Can book appointments on an App within 2/3 days for non urgent. Or ring on the day at 8am and you can have an urgent one no questions asked.

MummySharkDoDo · 31/12/2018 08:27

My GP is pretty good, online appts around 1-2 weeks in advance, some late nights. On the day appointments you can call either 8:30 for am or noon for pm (noon is easier to get through). Nurse practitioner who’s great who’s very easy to see and can do antibiotics, repeats and I trust as much as the doctors for the run of the mill needs like chest infections

InAPreviousLife · 31/12/2018 08:27

It seems like we have GP utopia. Morning session is sit and wait, afternoon session is appointment only and you can only make appointments 2 weeks in advance.

Basically you're guaranteed to see a doctor at a time that can be planned in.

Reading these threads makes me realise how lucky we are!

MummySharkDoDo · 31/12/2018 08:28

(And mine is a London practice with only ever 1-2 doctors in at once, two pt GPS and trainees that come and go, so if they manage I don’t see why others can’t)

WoodlandOaks · 31/12/2018 08:30

Mine is exactly the same. If you can afford I would recommend push doctor as well. The prescription is also private, but you can be seen and done today. They will see children as well.