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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Is this my GP surgery being ridiculous or are all of them operating this way?

121 replies

bookstearocknroll · 27/10/2020 14:08

I got a text to say I should go for my flu appointment at 10.15am last Saturday.

I drove to the doctors and found a queue snaking around the carpark with at least 40-50 people in it who, judging from the conversations around me, had all been given the same appointment time.

It was freezing, raining and there's no shelter or seating in the car park.

I'm disabled so can't stand for long and I imagine the entire queue was full of similarly vulnerable people, given it was for the flu jab. In the end, I had to give up and go home before I got anywhere near the front of the queue because I was so exhausted.

I'm incredibly frustrated as a result and wondering if this is standard protocol now or whether this is just my doctors' surgery making odd decisions. Due to a few issues recently, I'm already considering changing surgeries but wanted to see if I was being unreasonable to feel even more like I should, or whether this is another example of the new normal I should suck up and try to understand.

For further background on how they've been operating since covid broke out, they've had the waiting rooms closed since March and for ordinary appointments, you have to report to reception, which is now an office window facing the car park manned by just one person. Every time I've been since March (I'm disabled and have prem babies so have been a few times), I've turned up on time and been made to wait in the car park to be called in, no matter what the weather is. There are no seats or shelter and frequently a little crowd of patients, many probably quite vulnerable. Doctors frequently run late - I've been left to shiver outside the back door waiting to be let in for up to half an hour after my appointment time, even with baby in tow.

OP posts:
PlanDeRaccordement · 27/10/2020 17:09

I was only person there for my flu shot. But this was in France. I walked up, got a shot in the arm at an outside tent thing attached to their back door, and walked away all in less than two minutes.

notonmytime · 27/10/2020 17:11

@SomeSmotheringDreams

It's ridiculous to expect people to stand outside at this time of year. And as for not staggering appointments, that's even more stupid. I used to organise flu vaccination programmes. Everyone was given a 3 minute slot, and it always ran like clockwork. As an NHS person myself, it's so frustrating when organisations don't take the simplest steps to minimise inconvenience to the public.
Agreed. A local surgery here had very elderly people waiting outside in the cold in a cramped queue where presumably they are at risk of catching any circulating bugs, as well as falls.

A couple of other surgeries organised drive-through vaccinations where you didn't even need to get out of your car. Seemed to be at local schools on weekends, plus other public places. Maybe there should be a requirement for this kind of offering.

One good aspect of the restrictions that you can now ask to talk to a GP on the phone. Before the pandemic, even for a chat, you had to make an appointment and turn up in person - daft to sit in a germy waiting room for something that does not require face-to-face time. But the drive-through vaccinations need to become more normal as well.

SMaCM · 27/10/2020 17:11

DD had hers at the weekend. 3 minute appointments for everyone. Constantly moving short queue. They didn't even sit down for the jab, just got asked questions on the way to the needle and then jabbed more or less as they walked past and out the back door.

LIZS · 27/10/2020 17:11

@TabbyM

No surgeries doing flu jabs in our area, people normally on the list still waiting for letters and no private ones available from Tesco/Boots/Superdrug local pharmacies. Finally got through to a human on the flu hotline and have one in a sports centre the other side of town which was the only one available.
Likewise. I'm hoping surgery might be able to offer one of the few remaining u65 doses. No letters/text invitation here. Do you have details of the hotline please? @TabbyM
user1497207191 · 27/10/2020 17:13

Our GP practice were only offering personal appointments. But none are ever available and I was told to keep ringing every few days to see when more appointments were put on the system. Sod that, so I just went to my nearest pharmacy who did it there and then, no appointment needed.

Jaxhog · 27/10/2020 17:16

That's what we had last year. This year, it was a drive-through at the local cricket club. So much better.

pigsDOfly · 27/10/2020 17:18

Mine was surprising well done.

Walked in, door was open, gave name to receptionist immediately, no one had a chance to sit down, you just went straight to the nurse you were directed to, jab given and out you went.

No one queued or had to wait.

Notnownotneverever · 27/10/2020 17:19

Our surgery was similar to this but worked ok. There was no appointment times given just a two hour slot. It looked awful from the queue outside but they moved fast, had all the rooms open for the jabs and people were in and out in a minute.

FrankskinnerscRoc · 27/10/2020 17:21

I had no probs with the flu jab. However, when I had to take a piss sample it was a totally different matter. I had to go to another surgery which took an extra 10 mins to get there. When I arrived I had to phone them to let them know that I’d arrived, they were engaged for ages, finally they come to the door, I attempt to rush in out of the pouring rain but I wasn’t allowed, they give me my sample bottle, I have to go all the way back home as they said I couldn’t use the bog, then they make me another appointment for the next day. This happened thrice, as they lost my first sample, & after that they wanted yet another sample. I was effin’ 😤

hammeringinmyhead · 27/10/2020 17:22

It's really pot luck here. I went to the chemist at our GP on Friday and there was a massive car park queue for the surgery, in the rain. However, I called 111 on Saturday at 5.30 for my toddler, was in a GP surgery with him by 7pm and had a follow-up call on Monday to check on him.

MordredsOrrery · 27/10/2020 17:24

@10questions

When I went for my flu jab yesterday there were people turning up at the surgery literally every 3 minutes. One man said his appointment was at 3.27pm. Everyone was in and out within a couple of minutes. I thought it worked quite efficiently. So no, not like your surgery and everyone was allowed in one at a time after a temperature check.
Ours was like this. Appointment at 1057 - there were 5 other people there, two for 1057 and three for 1100. We were told to remove coats/sleeves on the way in and I was given my injection standing up, just inside the doorway to the consulting room. I was still putting my cardigan and coat back on as I reached my car.

Far from ideal but better than your description, OP.

RevolutionRadio · 27/10/2020 17:24

For flu jabs here several gp surgeries got together and had open sessions in church halls, you were allocated a date and venue by postcode and could go any time between the times you were given. It was set up for queuing inside and chair's were available. We got there early so we were straight in and out.

For normal appointments you let them know on the door that you are there and then they let you in or you have to wait for the Dr to be ready. Most things are still being done by phone or online.

hammeringinmyhead · 27/10/2020 17:25

I did have a tooth out in lockdown and I was in there about 12 minutes which was interesting. Jab, yank, gauze shoved in, goodbye.

Legoandloldolls · 27/10/2020 17:27

I'm in a semi rural village and normally flu shots are as you say but it moves very fast.

This year they did them in the school hall and people was given half hour slots to turn up.

In normal times, if I was down the dr for another reason you would be offered the shot at the same time. But due to covid hardly anyone is being seen in person hence larger numbers for the flu clinic.

But it should be fast, you walk in, confirm your I'd, get the shot and walk straight out in under one minute.

Loveatortie · 27/10/2020 17:30

My 87 year old Mum had to go to a hospital clinic for her flu jab,long queue. 2 days later told to self isolate as the nurse has tested postive Sad

CanIHibernate · 27/10/2020 17:50

You are all lucky you can get one. My 12 year old has been hospitalised 4 times with pneumonia (once swine flu pneumonia) and he is not entitled to a flu vaccination and all the chemists just don't have availability. My husband meanwhile easily managed to get one via his work.....

IrkedEssex · 27/10/2020 17:56

Ours is doing sod all apart from administering flu jabs, so that procedure went like a dream, for once.

IncandescentSilver · 27/10/2020 18:05

I used to live in The Netherlands, and am still on my GP's list there. When I have the choice, I used to find it easier just to see my Dutch GP, even though I had to pay a small amount for the appointment (minimal, can't even remember how much) because I didn't have Dutch insurance.

They also seemed to Lyme Disease from a tick it was in The Netherlands and my GP recognised it immediately and prescribed a tetracycline.

Looks like I'd be quicker to fly over there and self isolate for 14 days when I return, if I want the flu vaccine from a GP this year...

GreeboIsMySpiritAnimal · 27/10/2020 18:27

@DaenarysStormborn

My Go is also being ridiculous. No 'procedures' are being performed for sexual health/contraception at all - I want my implant to be taken out. I've been forwarded to a GP which is not my local who filled in a form with my details and then said someone would give me a ring 'sometime this week' to arrange an appointment. Crazy.

My Mirena coil is out of date. My GP has told me it must be replaced and to make an appointment ASAP for that.

The practice manager is refusing to do so, insisting they're only doing telephone consultations and to ring back at the end of November to see if they can fit me in then.

It doesn't seem to occur to them that if I get pregnant I'm going to need a lot more face-to-face treatment than the one appointment changing my coil will take.

fishonabicycle · 27/10/2020 18:30

Nope. I work at a GP - we have been giving times slots, there has been no queues or waiting at all. And we have been doing face to face appointments for about 3 months (if face to face is more appropriate). And we allow people to wait in the surgery - we are telling everyone to turn up at the correct time though - not early to reduce footfall.

Purpledaisychain · 27/10/2020 18:34

Yes they are being ridiculous. There is no need to make everyone stand outside. My GP surgery gives everyone appointment times, ask that they don't show up until five minutes before and they have hand sanitizing stations/ socially distanced chairs in the waiting room. The Drs all work to be on time so they can get people in and out quickly and efficiently.

The surgery should have told you what to expect and should have had adjustments ready for people who cannot stand for long periods of time, such as chairs etc.

ZoeTurtle · 27/10/2020 18:37

Ours is similar. I could go any time from 9-4. It was a marquee in the car park and nobody else was queuing; I was in and out in literally one minute.

PanamaPattie · 27/10/2020 18:41

My surgery hasn't even got around to organising them. I went to Boots instead.

stackemhigh · 27/10/2020 18:42

No, we are in not very nice Londin 'burb with an oversubscribed base and my mum's flu jab was very efficient. No waiting, patients required to wear gloves, masks.

Vicliz24 · 27/10/2020 18:47

Ours is just ridiculous. I am due an annual review for medication and they've sent me a questionnaire to fill out which includes taking my BP every day for a week but they apparently expect me to buy the bloody BP monitor! They can jog on . I went to the local chemist for my flu jab . It was full of people complaining to the poor staff about the Doctors refusing to see anyone. To me their behaviour is akin to the army refusing to take part in a war .