AIBU - I have called the GP over 200 times this morning

[IAmADancer]

Just that. I need to get a blood test referral for menopause symptoms but I can’t get through. I started calling at 8am and have called over 200 times. It’s still engaged.

I know that if I call back at 10am when it’s quieter they will tell me there are no appointments and to call back tomorrow. Then you go through the same routine all over again. I just want to access basic care. Feeling very frustrated

@caringcarer

Can you do an online booking?

Read the sodding thread - it's been covered time and time again!

@Viciouslybashed

Why would writing a letter be a magical solution. The system in these places is you can't book an appointment in any way other than ringing between certain hours. Don't get so angry when you have been told this repeatedly.

I wrote to my GP and quickly received a telephone call in response.

@IAmADancer

Just that. I need to get a blood test referral for menopause symptoms but I can’t get through. I started calling at 8am and have called over 200 times. It’s still engaged.

I know that if I call back at 10am when it’s quieter they will tell me there are no appointments and to call back tomorrow. Then you go through the same routine all over again. I just want to access basic care. Feeling very frustrated

Can't you book an appointment online. Since I registered for online access I haven't needed to ring for an appointment

I’d put a complaint in writing to the practice manager and ask them what they are doing to address the issue. Granted Monday morning is the worst time to call, but if you can never get through at other times that’s really no good. As much as it’s not nice being the squeaky wheel and moaning, it might be enough to get you an appointment.

Bit of a deviation, apologies all. Still NHS, though.

Today, I called approaching 40 dental surgeries in an ever increasing circle from the city our son will be starting university at in a couple of weeks. 35 simply told me they are not taking NHS patients (though could all offer me a private appointment within the week, funny that).
Only one asked the age of the patient and says they were taking new NHS patients under the age of 18. He is 18 and according to the NHS website entitled to free NHS care until 19 if in full time education, but they said sorry, no.

I’m not anxious or overly precious, he’s having on-going dental work and returning home will mean quite a lengthy return journey throughout term.

Ultimately, for us it’s ok. We can - just about - afford to fund private treatment in his new city (its nearly complete) or pay his fares home.

What on earth are people who can’t manage either of those supposed to do, except wait until it’s a medical emergency which potentially requires more extensive/costly treatment.

Thanks a bunch, George Osborne.

(To clarify, it’s not elective treatment)

This is all very sound advice except for one point (which I imagine is a practice by practice situation). My GPs literally turn off their phones after the appointments are filled, usually between 9.30 and 10.00am. If you ring the number, it’s an automated message to ring back tomorrow morning. No alternative numbers are available.

Mine do this too.

Oh my God. Never has a thread made me so pleased I live in Jersey where I can access a doctor (possibly even 'my' doctor) any day I want for the sake of a phone call. Never have to join a queue, never have to wait to have the phone answered, never have to wait more than a few hours (often even less than an hour) to get a face-to-face appointment, or a phone consult if that's more appropriate.

The catch? We pay to see the GP. (like I did for a UTI this week - phoned reception at 8am, was told Dr would phone at 9.40, which she did - spot on - didn't need to see me, prescription waiting 5 minutes later for me to pick up. And was free to fill).

It's £30 for a phone consult and £50 for face-to-face (but if you have private health insurance you can claim that back). Either half price, or sometimes free for children, depending on the practice, and people on local income support have reduced rates, or aren't charged at all.

All in all, I'm pretty sure that's cheaper than a private GP appointment in the UK, and better than idolising the 'free at the point of use' NHS. And it's only the GP we pay for when it comes to health care via the surgery. Referrals onwards to a consultant, and outpatients appointments are free (of course, you can pay to go private if you want, or have health insurance).

I don't get the resistance to paying to see the GP in the UK to streamline things with a small payment for those who can afford it, with a sliding scale of subsidies for those who can't. No, it's not perfect, but it's a hell of a lot better than the UK's 'lauded' NHS in many ways. The best of both worlds, really - GP, yes you pay, but after that it's all free.

The OP wouldn't have any of the issues she's having if she lived here. She'd have had a phone call with a GP within an hour or two of her initial phone call (which would have been answered almost immediately!).

It's £30 for a phone consult and £50 for face-to-face (but if you have private health insurance you can claim that back). Either half price, or sometimes free for children, depending on the practice, and people on It's £30 for a phone consult and £50 for face-to-face (but if you have private health insurance you can claim that back). Either half price, or sometimes free for children, depending on the practice, and people on local income support have reduced rates, or aren't charged at all. local income support have reduced rates, or aren't charged at all.

I’ve paid £90 for a F2F and £60 for phone, and even that is hard to find.

That’s in London, btw, and it’s bloody expensive but when the next NHS appointment is in 8 weeks time and you have an problem then you don’t really have a choice.

Hope they do it as i read about a shortage or tests recently

@IAmADancer

No, I can’t drop in. I can’t call later on in the day, I can’t wait in the queue as there isn’t one. I don’t even want a same day appointment.

All I want to do is speak to my GP about this, discuss it in the context of my medical history and conditions and what that means for me and be referred for the relevant blood tests. I would just like to be able to access my gp and I don’t think that is to much to ask.

For everyone giving me their opinions about what I do and don’t need in relation to this, whilst I understand your thoughts on what I should do, you are not me and don’t have my medical history. Because of this, telling me I don’t need a blood test or to see a GP is irrelevant. And I mean that in the kindest way possible

Of course it's not too much to ask to speak to your GP about the menopause.

Mine prescribed without a blood test just based on symptoms and my age. There is a useful list of potential symptoms on menopausenow.

I hope you're successful in getting through soon. I've noticed a marked improvement 6 weeks in

@Bagamoyo1 perhaps the solution is to charge. I am in NZ and pre covid could get an appointment within 2 or 3 days. But I do pay $45 for that, around 25 pounds. I appreciate this is totally against the spirit of the NHS and would be very unpopular, but it does not seem as though the system is working at the moment.

I did enjoy Groundhog Day. Did anyone else? Does this. Thread remind you of it?

[quote FiveShelties]@Bagamoyo1 perhaps the solution is to charge. I am in NZ and pre covid could get an appointment within 2 or 3 days. But I do pay $45 for that, around 25 pounds. I appreciate this is totally against the spirit of the NHS and would be very unpopular, but it does not seem as though the system is working at the moment.[/quote]
Surely that massively impacts the poor in favour of those that can easily afford the fee? Poverty is one of biggest impacts on health already so exactly the opposite group you would want to be without healthcare

@Bigtruth

You don't need an emergency same day appointment for menopause symptoms. Call at 9 or 10 and book yourself in.

It's people like you who cause the whole backlog I'm afraid, desperate for same day appointments for stuff like this.

My gp surgery ONLY does same day appointments. Whether it is for urgent or not.

I just feel so sorry for everyone who works in a GP surgery at the moment. They are so desperately under staffed and under resourced.
I have 2 friends who are GPs and they are really at breaking point, crying whenever they come round.
Bloody government who have under funded for years and reduced beds in hospitals and pushed so many things out to primary care.

There is such disparity between the level of care provided. I support BIL who is deaf, partially sighted and disabled yet would be easier to obtain an audience with the Pope than get him an apt. Took me over an hour just to get in the call queuing system, then a further 2hrs 45 mins to get through only to be told go to the Walk in Centre. Declined as the last twice we have been there told sorry can't help see own GP. Previously told to ring 111 after 6.30pm rang them told would get call back within 2 hours. Got call back some 9 hours later at 4am!
DD had infected bite, red, hot to the touch and very swollen. Just needed a prescription for antibiotics got told to go to A&E! It wasn't tracking so didn't feel appropriate for A&E. Our NHS is broken :(

@GoldenBlue

GPs in 'poorer' areas charge less and anyone unable to pay has a Community Services Card which gives free or very reduced fees. The problem is caused when people do not want to pay report to A &E, so the hospitals are swamped.

I don't think there is any perfect system - the major issue in NZ is we simply do not have enough GPs and I suppose that is the real cause of the problems in UK. I have no idea how more people will be attracted to the profession - it certainly does not sound like an attractive career to me.

You don’t need a blood test for menopause symptoms. If you have symptoms and are of age, you can be prescribed HRT without needing a blood test. Don’t let that put you off. Maybe email them and say you’ve had trouble getting through and that you don’t need an urgent appointment, you just need a prescription.

No offence but looks like you had only been trying an hour before freaking out. My gp won't do blood test to test for menopause if u have symptoms they give you hrt if you want it. You seem menopausal overtired and emotional but actually no although I don't know your medical history so as you rightly say can't really judge actually there are 10000000s of menopausal women going through same and no it is not urgent compared to people who have heart attacks cancer broken legs brain tumours babies going blue children passing out etc etc write a note pop it through the gp. Letterbox and wait for them to contact you or try ringing back later going mad that you can't get in phone queue after an hour of trying at their busiest time is a bit ott sorry NHS is in crisis and you will have to be patient

No offence but looks like you had only been trying an hour before freaking out.

I once tried the 'letting the early morning rush go before phoning' technique. Phone lines opened at 8:30. I phoned at 10. No appointments left. "call back at 8:30 tomorrow"

After an hour I'd be pessimistic too.

@GreenFingersWouldBeHandy

Also for those saying it’s not urgent, no offence but you are not me

Well, no offence but you do not need an emergency appointment. You don't have a life-threatening condition. You're not ask risk of injury or dying. You're just tired and pissed off.

Does your surgery have a website/online options? Otherwise, just wait until it's quiet and you can speak to someone.

And you think everyone else does? Of course they bloody don't. I had an urgent appointment for my IBD during lockdown one and what did the other patients in the waiting area turn up with, at the peak of a pandemic? Complete nonsense like mild eczema and ear wax.

I'm not sure what you think everyone else is going to the GP about, but I can assure you they aren't all more important than OP. She has not been sleeping and is in pain and is deserving as anyone else regarding seeing a doctor.

I swear to God, this forum!

I swear to God, this forum!

I know!

And its the fact that people still aren’t reading it…its fair enough that they don’t read every post but surely basic manners means you read the OP and the OPs updates

I would contact your local NHS body (it might be your local CCG?) to which your GP is contracted. I'd say they are likely in breech of their contract to not provide pre bookable appointments. And get a new GP.