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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

‘Call at 8am for a GP appointment’

516 replies

purplepufferfish · 17/03/2021 08:38

I work for the NHS and personally understand the stress that the service is under. I get it. But does this frustrate anyone else?

Call for a GP appointment. Get told that the nearest one is two weeks away and to call back the next day at 8am for a same day appointment.

Call back at 8am the next day, as is everyone else of course.

Finally get through at 10am to be told that the next appointment is two weeks away and to call back at 8am for a same day appointment!

Again I know that this is no one’s fault and I genuinely blame no one for this.

Am I being unreasonable for being frustrated?

OP posts:
Ginandplatonic · 17/03/2021 08:42

Not unreasonable at all - that sounds very frustrating from the perspective of someone outside the UK. I think I’d be blaming someone tbh - that’s a ridiculous, inefficient and potentially dangerous appointment lottery. Surely they can improve on that??

peak2021 · 17/03/2021 08:44

8am is probably the second worst time to pick after 830am. Even if you do not have children you will be preparing to start work or travel to work. 730am or 930am would be less inconvenient.

Appointments made by the internet should be easier to do, with some penalty for no-shows. Not being able to make an appointment may be understandable, but then failing to cancel is not.

Original poster
purplepufferfish · 17/03/2021 08:45

Even something like a queue system on the phone to get through to the surgery would make more sense, surely? Than constantly calling and having the call rejected over and over.

It is very annoying!

OP posts:
Botherfreedays · 17/03/2021 08:46

I complain about this all the time at my GO surgery. It does not ensure equal access.

IHaveBrilloHair · 17/03/2021 08:47

We have to call at 8am too but always get a same day appointment.
Two weeks away is awful.

Mumblechum0 · 17/03/2021 08:48

Ours is the same. I gave up on them years ago. On the v v rare occasion I have something that doesn’t get better by itself I go to a private gp. The local system is ridiculous

RandomMess · 17/03/2021 08:48

Our GP have a queue system, can be it for up to an hour though!

Ilovemaisie · 17/03/2021 08:48

Are you saying to the receptionist it's a routine appointment or a emergency appointment you need? At my GPs you have to do the ring at 8 thing but if you say you need to see a doctor asap they have a certain amount of slots they leave open for this. If it's a routine follow up appointment - just book in advance.
This is how most GPs that I know of do it.

HugeAckmansWife · 17/03/2021 08:49

My GP surgery does this - it took me a week to get to a point where it wasn't engaged every time I rang and it was only because I was wfh at that point that I could ring at 8 anyway. Now I'm back at school I couldn't. And they wonder why people turn up at A&E with minor issues. I tend to use a pharmacy these days - if the kids have a rash or something they are often just as good.

JustDanceAddict · 17/03/2021 08:49

Change surgery! We have to call at 8.30 or 2.30 for same-day appts.
I called last Monday for an appt for my son & myself. Got phone appt for son that morning (as he was going back to school on the Tues). Got one for me on the Friday. I live in a highly populated area too. I find it much easier to get appts in lockdown as majority are on phone. In normal times it’s two weeks for an appt. I also had to arrange a blood test at local hospital- I called at 7 (had to hang on), had test by 9.20 same day.

Brandaris · 17/03/2021 08:49

Yanbu. I’ve had similar issues getting appointments at a previous surgery. The only thing that helped was moving house to a different area with a better organised surgery! Are you in an area with a university? I think some surgeries in university towns don’t take into account the increased population of students through the academic year.

Wearywithteens · 17/03/2021 08:49

This reply has been withdrawn

This has been withdrawn at the poster's request.

AChickenCalledDaal · 17/03/2021 08:49

Our GP has operated that system for years, and it's completely rubbish for people that are wrestling children/commuting at 8am but do need an appointment.

It's got worse now, they have moved on to "don't call us at all, use the website".

I work in the public sector and understand the resourcing issues.

But I do feel like we are being trained to stop expecting to see a GP at all. And I'm quite scared for the vulnerable people who don't understand what's going on and can't handle a website. I'd like to think they are being looked out for, but that's not been my experience over the last few months of trying to help my elderly father navigate this strange new world.

Original poster
purplepufferfish · 17/03/2021 08:50

The issue that I have is something which I guess I can wait for two weeks for, at a push. But I really worry for the patients that need to be seen urgently that have to wait so long. Such a flawed system.

OP posts:
Weepingwillow22 · 17/03/2021 08:50

Our surgery has a policy of no non urgent calls before 10am. Appointments can be made online and there are normally slots in the same week if you don't mind who you see. I have been quite impressed with them so far. I don't know if being in a rural area makes a difference as they never seem busy.

Namechangeforthewin · 17/03/2021 08:51

Same here if its a need to be seen today then they will get you seen. If it's something that can't wait. Once I called 10 mins to closing and they seen me even though it kept them late. Ended up in hospital so prop really needed to be seen.

Reallybadidea · 17/03/2021 08:52

Pre-pandemic we could call our GP any time during the working day and be seen the same day if it was urgent (triage via phone call first). It was brilliant.

No we are encouraged to email and usually get a reply within a few hours when they will either ask for more information or you're given an appointment to go in. Works really well.

I don't understand why some GPs are so rubbish and others have systems that really work for their patients.

Hollywhiskey · 17/03/2021 08:52

That's really poor. My GP receptionist takes calls at any time of day and pre covid would see you same day if it was an emergency, and within a few days if it was routine. During covid the GP rings you back no matter what it is (I suppose unless it's vaccinations or a smear test or something the receptionist can just book) and they decide if they need to see you, but the have you in if they need to see you in person, and that would be same day or within a couple of days depending on how urgent the GP felt it was.
I suppose we are very lucky, but it should be normal.

MrsTulipTattsyrup · 17/03/2021 08:52

@purplepufferfish

Even something like a queue system on the phone to get through to the surgery would make more sense, surely? Than constantly calling and having the call rejected over and over.

It is very annoying!

My gp surgery is tiny, and we have to call at 8.30 to be triaged for a same day, 48 hour, or 2 week appointment, and even there they have a queuing system which tells you what number you are in the queue. I can’t see any reason not to invest in a system like that if you’re asking everyone to call at the same time. My surgery invites patient suggestions to improve their service - if yours does the same (they should) then maybe you could suggest it?
zzzebra · 17/03/2021 08:52

We have the same, lines open at 8.30, managed to get through at 09.03, all appointments gone.

But the wait for a non urgent appointment is 5-6 weeks.

Authenticchicken · 17/03/2021 08:53

Yes I agree. My Dad died after trying to get a GP appointment and giving up. Also 8am is the worst time for anyone with schoolkids.

stevalnamechanger · 17/03/2021 08:54

I wouldn't tolerate that . Use GP at hand or a private GP

Cannot stand to have to faff around making repeated calls

Original poster
purplepufferfish · 17/03/2021 08:54

Thank you all for the replies. I felt as if I was being ungrateful for the service. I know we are so lucky to have free GP care but the wait times are worrying.

OP posts:
DGRossetti · 17/03/2021 08:54

Why don't they offer online bookings ?

notacooldad · 17/03/2021 08:55

We have the same system.
However they say if it is an emergency they will find you an appointment.
They ask what the issue is. If it is something relatively minor they will find you an appointment with the nurse or other relevant HCP and you can usually get appointment pretty quick. If it is non urgent but you still need to see a GP I take next available one which can be within the following 2 weeks.