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

@IAmADancer

The bottle shortage is real. Urgent means urgent... not I can't sleep and feel crap "urgent".

Are you on chemo?
Are you in ICU?
Are you giving birth?

It is awful, and as a health professional I despair about state of NHS right now. But the menopause is not a medical emergency.

"YourFinestPantaloons

This is why I go in to the GP for appointments now, it's a while away but by the time I've got there it's quicker than waiting in the phone"

Our surgery will not accept anything but telephone appointments, if you walked in they refuse and tell you to call. I needed to speak to the secretary, I had to go to my car in the gp car park and call in.

My local surgery only does on the day appointments, unless it is a regular blood test appointment which the nurse makes in advance each time I attend. I was left in a situation where I needed a medication review appointment before they would prescribe my monthly repeat prescription, but couldn't get an appointment. Idid the ringing 200 times each morning for a week without success, and eventually went in to speak to someone on reception. They apologetically gave me an appointment for 2 weeks ahead, by which time I had run out of my medication, but hey ho, who am I to make a fuss! When I had the appointment, the GP said it was unnecessary, as it was obvious all my medication was essential (rheumatiod arthritis).
the appointment system has now changed yet again, but luckjly I have not had any need for GP lately.

Maybe try one of these urine tests first?

www.boots.com/flourish-menopause-test-kit-two-pack-10274837

I just want to say it's mad that we in the UK accept these abysmal healthcare standards . We should all be outraged at how bad the GP service is. In most other developed countries you simply phone the doctor at any time of day and you'll get an appointment in the next week or so, or same day if it's urgent, or even book it a year in advance if it's for routine checks.

My surgery is the same . Doesn't begin with A does it ? Some posters here not realising that a lot of surgeries won't book appointments in advance . You have to fight it out day by day. I feel for you OP, I hope you get seen soon. We got so fed up with the shambles of our GP surgery that we've gone private via work health insurance .

I had a coil put in several weeks ago and I’m having a problem with it, so rang the receptionist for advice last week, knowing full well I’d need an examination and referral for scan.
She said I needed to see the ‘coil’ doctor who was working next day, so I’d need to ring next day at 8am to get an appointment. If I didn’t get one, keep trying every day that she’s in, she then proceeded to tell me which days she works.
Why not just give me an appointment if she’s in next day as it’s the coil she put in that’s causing the problem !!

@RB68

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

I take it you’ve not hit menopause yet?

@maddening

"YourFinestPantaloons

This is why I go in to the GP for appointments now, it's a while away but by the time I've got there it's quicker than waiting in the phone"

Our surgery will not accept anything but telephone appointments, if you walked in they refuse and tell you to call. I needed to speak to the secretary, I had to go to my car in the gp car park and call in.

That's ridiculous. I sincerely worry for those who find a 'normal' (old school) GP inaccessible, how many people slip through the net when it's that hard to simply converse with a professional?!

This is why I can't get the slightest bit wound up by people going to A&E when it's not an emergency or accident. If you're experiencing chronic pain, for example, and you spent all day in agony trying to contact a GP can you really be blamed for seeking medical attention elsewhere?!

Surely the ones for the day are for those that need appointments because for example they are uncomfortable, poorly that day.

There should be other routine appointments available to book in advance?

@MrsPelligrinoPetrichor

I couldn't even access the queue on the line this morning, it was just permenantly engaged. Off to urgent care now .

Same here 🙃

@RB68

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

I presume you're not female? If you are

@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 surgery only allocates appointments like this. You can’t book a normal appointment. They are all allocated by ringing that morning

Haven't RTFT but my gp is the same. One of the lovely receptionists told me Tuesday and Wednesday are the best days to get through. Know that doesn't help when you need a Monday morning appt though!

@EvilPea yes I think most GPs operate this way now

So lovely of people to tell the OP who they don't know that her symptoms aren't something that need treated any time soon

@IAmADancer my practice has a call back system, & is such a timesaver. I can do other things at home while waiting for the practice to call me when I'm closer to the top of the queue. Perhaps you could suggest this to the practice manager

@Snowisfallinghere

I just want to say it's mad that we in the UK accept these abysmal healthcare standards . We should all be outraged at how bad the GP service is. In most other developed countries you simply phone the doctor at any time of day and you'll get an appointment in the next week or so, or same day if it's urgent, or even book it a year in advance if it's for routine checks.

I agree, as a former nurse it infuriates me.

I think my only option is to pay to go private and access care that way.

It's good you've found a way to sort your needs.

Do you want to want to swap crap sleeper notes? Mine is getting comically bad. I functional very well on not much sleep, thank goodness.

My GP surgery still doesn’t let you in the building unless you already have an appointment.

I’m stuck in limbo trying to make an appointment that would have been routine but is now becoming more urgent, and also chase up a missing blood test form for thyroid function, and I can’t get through on the phone. Been trying for two weeks now!

We can ONLY make appointments by phone.

It’s actually quite worrying.

My surgery only allocates appointments like this. You can’t book a normal appointment. They are all allocated by ringing that morning

That’s so daft that they do this. My surgery is half and half. Not everyone that phones needs to be seen that day.

@serielchanger So where does a suspicious looking mole fall into the urgent category? Or a bit of blood in your stool? Both of which get you seen by a specialist within 2 weeks of seeing your GP. Is that urgent or keep waiting until it becomes so much worse chemo won’t work?

Fom what I can see, at my local surgery the reception staff know the system isn't working, but it is imposed by some management structure from above, which they and the doctors etc have no authority over, it takes ages to get it changed, and nothing really works because of such high demand. So complaints need to be directed much higher, basically by your vote!

The thing is that many surgeries still seem to be running in ‘shut down’ mode.
You still have a phone call first, before an appointment.
We still have to wait outside until it’s your turn.
There’s a lot of wasted time, and I say that as a former practice nurse.

A GP practice is not intended to be an emergency service. The OP is perfectly within her rights to try and be seen and if the GP service works by only being allowed an appointment if you call on the day (this is how my surgery works - you can only book smears in advance) then the service being provided is crap and not fit for purpose.

People are unable to access GP services and as a result are heading to hospitals to be seen. The system is not working.