GP appointments

[sodthediettischristmas]

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.

With our doctor you ring at 8am for urgent/same day appointments. I have never had trouble getting one - and you can also see a nurse who is able to prescribe medication.

I think you can also make appointments in advance, but have never done this

@AnotherOriginalUsername that's very interesting! I'd be amazed if a practice which has as good access as you describe has been allowed to do that. They have to prove it's unsafe for them to take on any more patients basically. I wonder if they're being a bit naughty!

I hate my job at the moment if I'm honest, I feel like it's breaking me. It's so horrible, especially as patients used to having good access are finding it harder so come in grumpy from the off. We have no space in our building to take on any more clinicians; we room hop sometimes twice daily, have to do our admin in the back of reception and still have 6 hours a week where we have doctors employed who cannot see patients as there's no space. That's 60 appts wasted... I would love to be able to have a smaller list even if it meant earning less.

www.bma.org.uk/advice/employment/gp-practices/quality-first/manage-inappropriate-workload/list-management

We can book online for book ahead appointments, although often they've all gone as they only open them up for 6 weeks I think and we are not allowed to see anyone other than our own doctor even if available (they don't employ locums as too expensive) so if they are on holiday for 2 weeks your only option is a telephone appointment with another GP and presumably they will then get you in if they need to see you (DH has used this once and got a prescription over the phone).

Aside from a declining number of GPs and an expanding population, one of the huge issues is that people make appointments and then don't turn up for them - in massive numbers. We get a newsletter from our surgery each month and around 100 appointments a month are missed. It's incredible. And they do text you with reminders etc. I think the only thing that would concentrate peoples' minds would be to charge for appointments.

It’s really not like that everywhere. I have never had to wait more than a day to see a Dr at our practice. They’ve offered appointments into the evening and at weekends for a few years now.

@FrowningFlamingo I think they also use their staff incredibly well. Nurses aren't booked for bloods, the phlebotomist is. HCAs are well used, nurses will see appropriate patients rather than taking up GP appointments unnecessarily and they have paramedic practitioners who will see urgent cases. They also seem to have a GP doing telephone consults/triage etc who will see these patients/write prescriptions etc. for the paramedic where necessary, therefore not interrupting and delaying the GPs taking appointments.

I've just phoned to book appointment, requested Wednesday with the doctor seen on Friday, appointment booked no issues.

This is because there aren't enough doctors and at the moment some areas of the country are much worse than others.
Where I work you can book in advance on line or by phone and will get an appointment within 3 weeks for your choice of doctor and any follow up will be facilitated.There are on the day or next day appointments every day and if those are filled then triage will apply by a doctor. There are also out of hours appointments ( early evening and Saturday) with paramedics and nurses.we can offer this because we are very privileged to have adequate GPs at the moment. 20 miles away it is a very different story .

but 9th january is only next week. i would take that appointment
my surgery is the same, it is difficult when they seem so inflexible.

We have the dane system. If at the end of the telephone conversation with GP you need to be seen you are seen that day. Works a treat. It is likely GP will not need to see your child and will prescribe what he needs

And PS I agree what is the problem with 9th January for a non urgent problem?

It is mandated that GP’s must offer extended hours
Ask your surgery if they are running this. It will be a ‘hub’ appointment evening or weekend

www.england.nhs.uk/gp/gpfv/redesign/improving-access/

NHS are about to launch an app where you can book gp appointments and order repeat prescriptions. It is about to go live with a soft launch.

You can instal it if you have a code form your gp surgery or you can upload a pic of your passport or driving license.

Not all gps have signed up yet but they will eventually.

I think you may be able to find it on the App Store already and if your gp has signed up (up to their system supplier) you’re good to go.

YorkshirePudding - wouldn’t the checkup after surgery better be done in clinic rather than at the GP, and if the consultant wants you to start a new medication she can do so herself, no need to wait to see the GP for that. Obviously it may differ with circumstances but pointing out some of the workload passed on to GPs when it mightn’t be necessary.

The consultant has written to the GP (with a copy to me) explaining she was discharging me back to the GP and wants them to prescribe the medication and monitor me going forwards.

I've had ovaries removed. I'm aware there are lots of types of HRT and it might take a few goes before we find the one that is right for me. I've just gone bang into menopause and struggling with the hot flushes, night sweats and insomnia caused by it so was hoping to start on something sooner rather than later.

YorkshirePudding - sorry you’re feeling crap. The hospital consultant can not only advise on medication but actually prescribe it too, the way they send you home with painkillers. You wouldn’t then need to wait for a GP appointment. I hope you find something suitable soon.

I have not had to book an urgent appt, but if I call up I can generally get an advance appointment, although they are clearly scarce. But you can tell they are struggling. Last time I called I waited half an hour for someone to pick up. When I went to the appt there was a permanent queue of about six at reception, it was clear why the phone wasn't being answered and I saw people who'd come in trying to get urgent appts being turned away. They were promised a call back. It's not okay, but it's also not okay for me to blame it on the staff when the problem is a government caused one. So I just feel crappy and frustrated.

I'd highly recommend the online doctor app Babylon Health. If you download the app and register you can get a video appointment with a doctor ASAP. £25 for a one-off appointment or £10 a month for unlimited appointments. They send your prescription to your local pharmacy for you so all you have to do is go pick it up. So easy.

Can nobody see? We are sleep walking into private medicine. Just like we did with dentristry. So if you want to keep our NHS, and have real investment in it - you know how to vote next time!

Can you not go down to the surgery at 8:30 when it opens? I have done that before when I had a UTI.

So many replies (thank you)! I went to bed after posting last night and straight to work this morning.

The difficulty with the time to ring is that DC leave the house to catch the school bus at 7.45am and most days I then go to work. It would be more manageable if they operated a queue system for calls. At least then I could leave the phone on speaker while driving to work instead of having to keep redialling.

When we called in last week I asked if we could go in at 8.30, but no, it has to be done over the phone.

The nurse's appointment is the following week sorry, not the 9th.

The most annoying thing is, once a month I go in mid afternoon to collect DH's repeat prescription (he needs an appointment too but same situation) and the waiting room is empty. This is at a time when the GPs are supposed to be seeing patients. Makes me wonder if they do actually have a GP there in person?!

What?! That's ridiculous!

My surgery allows appointments to be made online now, it's a great system and thought they were all like this now.

There is lack of funding but there is also poor organisation of services

There’s an app you can get that you can book nhs gp appointments through- you can register your kids on your app and book their appointments too. It’s called my gp in the App Store

Lived In north east, exactly the same. Now in West mids, exactly the same. And if you do get an appointment for something perhaps quite distressing but not emergency then a month wait is usual. Frankly we've walked into emperor's New clothes territory, in some cases the system is in meltdown.

I wanted an urgent appointment for pain due to a broken foot, I phoned and was given an appointment for 15 minutes later. I also needed a routine appointment which I was given for the 4th January with an apology for such a long delay. This was Friday. I am so grateful for how well our surgery runs.