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

@RB68 your type of response is the reason women don’t get the help and support they need. Belittling someone and making out that what they are suffering is worthless is why it’s not taken seriously in the first place.

Can you call up and get a bloods forms and head down to your local hospital for a blood test?,(walk in)
Big hugs

• 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.*

Or perhaps the OPs GP surgery is now like mine, no pre-booking appointments with GP, only the nurse for vaccinations/smears etc. Anything to do with seeing/speaking to a GP requires you to call on the day and hope you get an appointment.

OP, do they have an afternoon surgery? At mine you can phone after 2pm for afternoon appointments.

OP how entitled, to actually expect some sort of functioning health service in return for the large amount of NI we all pay.
Our precious NHS is far too important to trouble with trivialities.

My GP surgery keeps you on hold saying you’re number xxx then once you’ve been on hold for about an hour cuts you off when you’re finally number one. So annoying.

It does not matter what time you call my surgery is crap, I do find emailing with the screen shot of how many times I have called and how long I’ve waited usually gets a response

Surely if you call back at 10 they can book you an appointment for a few days time.

You're incredibly fortunate if your surgery allows you to do this. At mine routine appointments are only allocated at the request of the GP, so if you can't get an on the day appointment, there's no way you're getting a routine one. I was offered one for October, in August.

The system is overloaded, and if several people ring 200 times in one hour, the chances of anyone else getting through (who may have an urgent need) are even less.

Perhaps try midweek when it might be slightly less congested

I am also not over 45 but have a pre existing condition that would need managing if I am in early menopause. Hence the need for the blood test

@Greenandcabbagelooking

200 times in an hour? That means you spent 3 seconds per phone call. Have you tried holding on to see if you get an answer? You are probably in a queue, and every time to hang up you lose your place in it.

Not in my experience, it's just says user busy and cuts off.

I called 73 times this morning but managed to get an appointment tomorrow morning.

The OP did not come on to be told by some amateur wannabe doctors that she does not need to be seen. The blood test thing as well needs to stop being perpetuated- I was easily able to get a blood test last week for hair loss which most of you would consider non urgent so it presumably depends where you are etc so stop giving awful advice, it could put someone off going when they really should.

OP - I don’t blame you for being fed up - there is no answer but it’s not a good situation.

I totally get it OP. The flushes, the insomnia, the being dog tired but being unable to get to sleep, and then waking up regularly through the night. It is awful.

One thing to ask for is whether there is a menopause clinic running in your area, there is one in mine but it's at the large sexual/reproductive health clinic in town, not in the surgery. You can't self-refer and there's a long waiting list but I asked the GP to refer me anyway, and start me on HRT in the meantime.

Can you call up and get a bloods forms and head down to your local hospital for a blood test?,(walk in)

The GP needs to request the tests. Also many hospital phlebotomy clinics are only doing urgent consultant requested tests, so please check before going.

@Bigtruth Or maybe, just maybe, every surgery is different and won’t allow this... I used to belong to one that only did same day, so everyone had to call at 9am and 2pm to get the same day slots. It was a nightmare.

Your post is incredibly unhelpful and patronising considering you didn’t actually think and use your brain. Why comment?

It wasn’t the op that said she was off to urgent care it was another poster who was experiencing a similar issue getting hold of a go. You might want to check before criticising.

I've got a blood test appointment for menopause this week. Doctor didn't even hesitate when referring me. It took me two weeks to get the GP appointment and another 2 weeks for the blood test appt mind, but no one seemed to be concerned about shortage of vials.

@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.

If OP GP is anything like mine you simply cannot book an appointment in advance. Every single call is triaged and the GP will call back to discuss. If you don't get in really quick you don't get on the list unless it an emergency. Saying that it's 'people like' who are causing problems when you don't have a clue about how each practice works is downright ridiculous.

@RB68

urgent care for menopause symptoms - are you for real. Just book an normal appt at 10am and wait your bloody turn.

Oh @RB68. I didn’t realise you know something about OP’s practice that she doesn’t.

I guess you must be one of the fortunate ones that GP’s practice allows this. Others, like OP’s, ONLY does same day appointments.

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.

@SaturdaySpread

I've got a blood test appointment for menopause this week. Doctor didn't even hesitate when referring me. It took me two weeks to get the GP appointment and another 2 weeks for the blood test appt mind, but no one seemed to be concerned about shortage of vials.

Funny how two of us have managed a blood test within 7 days for menopause symptoms when the medical "experts" on here are telling us that's impossible, isn't it? It's almost as if they're talking complete mince.

If you can, use e-consult, or go to your GP practice for 8am to book a telephone triage appointment.

YANBU, some practices have 1 receptionist on the phones to book appointments, it's bonkers...

Our surgery is just as rubbish as yours, same system. You can never ever get through.
I’ve given up with ringing and use an online system called engage consult.
Basically you put online what’s up and they contact you back…. They normally get back to you within a day or so… does yours have it?

I try not to call on Mondays if I think I could possibly wait a day, as I think that is the busiest day.
Our GP surgery us the same as OP. Same day appointments only and if you havent got through by about 8.35 they will have all gone. There is no facility to book an apt for say 2 weeks time for something routine or non urgent (not that I'm suggesting the OP should wait 2 weeks) unless you've already had a dr apt and then they can give you a follow up in 2 weeks.

I hear you, OP. I called about 50 times last week at 8am before I could get through. No queueing system either.

Weird thing is, the surgery provides excellent service and I am always able to get an appointment on the day, in person if needed, it's just the phone system that is rubbish. And I had to call at 8am as depending on the time of the appointment I would take my child to school or not, I couldn't hang around until the lines became available.

Sorry this is happening to you OP, the NHS is simply now not fit for purpose and people, like you, are told to "save it" by suffering in silence.