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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

To ask how long you have to wait for a GP appointment at your surgery?

101 replies

Ocsic · 13/02/2019 20:54

Currently 6 weeks to wait for an appointment at my GP surgery - offering appointments for 27 March today.

I can’t imagine many people are able to wait that long to see their doctor.

(I work for the NHS btw, & am aware how hard the majority my colleagues work - not trying to apportion blame, but sadly I think this service is broken, & no longer fit for purpose.)

OP posts:

Sophisticatedsarcasm · 13/02/2019 22:33

Don’t know, most of mine are telephone consultations to ch3ck on my thyroid, else I don’t go for any other reason other than an emergency.

Amanduh · 13/02/2019 22:34

Emergency same day, every practice I’ve ever known myself/used does, routine about 5 days

Rufusthebewilderedreindeer · 13/02/2019 22:36

I wanted some drugs on a repeat which the surgery wouldn't automatically give me as i needed a blood pressure test

Fair enough

They did give a telephone appointment...the dr asked was my blood pressure ok....i said yes...and they said ok and gave me the drugs

What was the point of that?

CloserIAm2Fine · 13/02/2019 22:36

You can book same day if you call or go online first thing in the morning

Or two weeks in advance.

I’ve also sometimes got advance appointments closer than two weeks online when there’s obviously been a cancellation (as there’s just one random appointment available). The online system makes it easy to cancel appointments which I think helps. It asks for a reason but I’m not sure if the reasons are looked at or analyses at all. (I’ve only cancelled once! A family emergency took me out of the country the day before my appointment)

RogersVideo · 13/02/2019 22:39

2-3 days, though last time I got in an hour after phoning!

MiniMum97 · 13/02/2019 22:39

Same day emergency appts. A few days to a week for other appts usually. If you want a specific doctor you might wait longer.

Vicky1990 · 13/02/2019 22:45

If I go to the surgery when it opens at 0800 I can usually be seen by the Doctor before 0900.
If I phone to make an appointment I could normally get one later the same day.

glueandstick · 14/02/2019 00:18

I rang mine and was told to ring back beginning of March for an April appointment.

If it’s an emergency you’re sent to a GP in the area but mostly only get to see a nurse who then can get a doctor/send you to the walk in.

It’s pretty bad. To the point it’s made the national press.

glueandstick · 14/02/2019 00:19

Oh it also takes upwards of an hour to get through. You can’t cancel appointments as you have to sit through the hour wait and then again to get another one. The online system doesn’t work.

Meralia · 14/02/2019 00:40

Same day here, mine is a little village practice, everyone is really nice, I’ve phoned lunchtime before a few times and they’ve managed to see me/DC that afternoon.

radishingravish · 14/02/2019 00:46

About 6 weeks. Even with an emergency I have only managed to get a telephone call appointment. This is in the centre of London. In my hometown in was always on the day.

Hotterthanahotthing · 14/02/2019 00:46

Emergency or for something that will become urgent if left then normally the same day though firmness is required with some receptionists.Withinthe week if you don't mind who you see and up to six weeks to see your own Go though currently I have been To to ask for booked appointments if I need to see her.
They are excellent with children and DD,who has mental health issues we can get in immediately if she has a crisis.

Magissa · 14/02/2019 00:50

Usually same day or failing that next day. This is in London. I used to live in a suburb the wait was often two weeks.

Redglitter · 14/02/2019 00:55

Just had a look at the app. Currently appointments available every day from Fri for 2 weeks.

The surgery started having the reception staff ask for brief details of your appt (you can decline) in Nov last year and its been a lot easier to get an appt since then. Presumably a lot of people who would have made Doctors appts are being directed to more appropriate services.

alwayscrashinginthesamecar1 · 14/02/2019 00:56

I saw the doc last week. I booked an appointment online at 10.30 for 11AM. I was seen by the doc and out by 11.15. I am in Australia, my doctor and her mum and dad who run the surgery are Brummies. Its a bulk billing surgery, so no charge. I do not miss the NHS.

Fuppy · 14/02/2019 01:05

Emergency same day, or 3 weeks if you're lucky, the computer system used is limited to the next 3 weeks, so you have to be quick to get the newly released appointments on the day they become available.

OR wait until the next batch and hope you're successful then.

OR wait until bits start falling off and have an emergency appointment.

gkite2020 · 14/02/2019 01:12

I've been trying to get a Drs app since the 15th of Jan.
They've booked an app for the 4th of April.
I need contraception.
Sexual health clinic is fully booked until the 16th of April

JasperKarat · 14/02/2019 01:18

Really good always within three days, for ds same day or next day if I say it's not urgent, last time I called to book a vaccination they said you can come in in an hour! I was at work so couldn't

JasperKarat · 14/02/2019 01:20

My local surgery is open 8-6 three days a week 8-8 two days and 9-2 Saturday, 9-1 Sunday. Can't comment them enough and the receptionists are so friendly and helpful. Yes I'm in the UK

Justagirlwholovesaboy · 14/02/2019 01:22

No pre booked appointments at my gp surgery, you can only call on the day. At 8am when they open you get “all receptionists are currently busy with more than 20 people in the queue, please try again later”. Then you get through eventually to be told they are fully booked for the day

JasperKarat · 14/02/2019 01:23

*compliment

SubparOwl · 14/02/2019 06:42

Ours books up to six weeks ahead for a non urgent appointment with a chosen GP. It's around 2 weeks for any doctor, longer for the partners as more people have a long standing relationship with them.

There are a limited number of routine on the day appointments too.

If it is urgent from your own perspective you will always be given an appointment that day with a duty doctor.

Given the stretched system I am more than happy with that and, in fact, it's about the same as when I used to see doctors abroad in a fully privatised system.

Claredogmum · 14/02/2019 07:47

I'd be happy to wait a few weeks if I could get a appointment at a time that suits me. My surgery has no bookable appointments at all or a drop in option! I need to phone or turn up at the practice at 8am for a sniff at an appointment.
My parents who are in their 70's and at a different practice have to do the same. My dad was up early the other day after clearing the car of snow and driving in bad conditions to make sure he was at the practice for 8am to get my mum a same day appointment. We have never missed a GP appointment ever.

LucyInTheSkyy · 14/02/2019 08:00

Same day if you ring (albeit sit in a queue for up to 30 mins at really busy times) or you can go and sit for 2 hours at the 5pm emergency clinic if you really can't wait until the next day.

MarthasGinYard · 14/02/2019 08:09

Same day

You ring up after 8.30 and get appointment

It's an amazing place

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