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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

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

540 replies

IAmADancer · 13/09/2021 09:12

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

OP posts:
MyPatronusIsACat · 13/09/2021 10:27

@IAmADancer

YABU to even think you would get through first thing on a Monday morning.

And 200 times by 9.12 a.m. Really? Confused

Just ring later this afternoon, like 4.30pm - 5pm!

RandomLondoner · 13/09/2021 10:29

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

The problem isn't that she can't get an emergency appointment. The problem is that she can't get an appointment at all. She can't even get a person or a computer to refuse to give her an appointment, as they don't have the capacity to even receive a communication that she wants one.

shesellsseacats · 13/09/2021 10:30

FFS. I just tried to get an "engage and consult" online advice from my GP surgery as I missed the 8am calls (school run) and you can't call to book appointments at other times.

Even the online approach doesn't work! It took a while to register for "engage and consult"

Now it says to me We’ve reached the maximum number of online medical requests that we can respond to today. If you’ve received this message during our working hours please contact us on [number] if urgent for today. If you’ve received this message outside our working hours please wait until our next working day and try again.

It's only 10:30! And why can't they just schedule it for another day? I need a chest xray. Might be urgent, might not, depending on the result of the xray!

BigGreen · 13/09/2021 10:31

YANBU our GP used to have that system - call at 8am or 2pm to get an appointment. No opportunity to book advance appts. It was hellish.

NotAnotherPylon · 13/09/2021 10:32

@MyPatronusIsACat Did you not read the part where the OP stated that her GP surgery only allows same day appointments? How would she get an appointment for the same day if she rang at the end of the day?

shesellsseacats · 13/09/2021 10:32

Just ring later this afternoon, like 4.30pm - 5pm!

As many people have explained, lots of GPs don't let you do this anymore. You need to get through in the morning or you're stuffed.

In my very swanky looking new "health centre" you can't even go in to book an appointment, they tell you to phone or go online.

redgoesfaster · 13/09/2021 10:32

Ridiculous posts suggesting OP does not need to see a doctor and should stop trying to get an appointment. It's not like she's called an ambulance for menopause symptoms.
The NHS is clearly not fit for purpose if the front line GP service can't provide appointments, or even access to make appointments. What is most shocking is that instead of finding fault with the system most posters here pile on to the OP for having the audacity to seek medical care.

Humberbear · 13/09/2021 10:32

I rang doctors in march for blood test for menopause symptoms. Receptionist agreed it sounded like menopause.
Blood tests results came back that it wasn't menopause, I have got type 2 diabetes and the nurse said a lot of symptoms are the same.

MydogWillow · 13/09/2021 10:33

Sorry to hear of your frustrations @IAmADancer

Are you able to call the surgery soon and ask for a duty Dr call-back?

HonorHiding · 13/09/2021 10:33

[quote MyPatronusIsACat]@IAmADancer

YABU to even think you would get through first thing on a Monday morning.

And 200 times by 9.12 a.m. Really? Confused

Just ring later this afternoon, like 4.30pm - 5pm![/quote]
Ringing at 4.30pm isn’t going to get you an appointment where the system is to ring at 8am, is it? OP had already said appointments are fully allocated by 10am.

Sympathies, OP. I have all but given up on my surgery these days too.

peboh · 13/09/2021 10:33

Yanbu. My drs surgery is the same and it's so frustrating.

However it's unlikely you'll get a blood test for anytime soon. There's a nationwide blood bottle shortage. I've had an appointment booked for over a month and it keeps getting pushed back.

Original poster
IAmADancer · 13/09/2021 10:33

@lljkk that is terrible and I completely agree that they should not be waiting this long. It’s horrendous that someone is being put through that.

But, I am asking to speak to my GP and possible have a blood test. I am not asking for surgery. I am asking for basic healthcare which I have every right to do.

Also, just to reiterate again for this who feel the need to lambast me for being selfish enough to want to speak to a dr. I cannot Pre book an appointment for another time. If I call this afternoon I will be told to call back at 8am tomorrow and go through the whole thing again.

Also, to those that have suggested other boards to gather more information, thank you, I will have a read.

OP posts:
MsHedgehog · 13/09/2021 10:34

@MyPatronusIsACat and you are being unreasonable by not reading the whole thread...OP’s practice doesn’t work like that! It’s first thing in the morning, or try again the following morning.

peboh · 13/09/2021 10:35

[quote MyPatronusIsACat]@IAmADancer

YABU to even think you would get through first thing on a Monday morning.

And 200 times by 9.12 a.m. Really? Confused

Just ring later this afternoon, like 4.30pm - 5pm![/quote]
I'd love to ring my gp in the afternoon for an appointment. Unfortunately they only release appointments at 8am on the day, you cannot ring in the afternoon. You'll be told to call back in the morning.

Faffinator · 13/09/2021 10:35

Haven't RTFT but you can get treatment for menopause and perimenopause sympytoms without having blood tests, based on symptoms alone (I did and I am under 45). I agree best to go private if it feels urgent. You can then get your prescriptions moved across to your GP.

placemats · 13/09/2021 10:35

I got through and was given a referral to the Well Woman clinic. Was rung an hour later on the day of said appointment that was three weeks later - it happens, even if you are in the clinic - and after a lovely chat was referred then to the doctor. Doctor rang on that day - later than the time and again I was happy with that - and I was given a prescription. This is perfectly normal. Stop being so precious.

SpindleWhorl · 13/09/2021 10:36

I have underlying autoimmune conditions that are affected by the menopause quite significantly, and I need to be ever watchful also regarding osteoporosis as we have a female-side family history.

If the symptoms of menopause were to become confused with those of, say, inflammatory arthritis, then I could end up unnecessarily on yet another ‘top up’ immune suppressant.

LakieLady · 13/09/2021 10:36

Unfortunately the current admin staff at most surgeries do not seem able to think outside the box or sufficiently engineer a more efficient practice for dealing with their work stream and this incompetence is letting the patients and the NHS down

Unfortunately, the staff at my practice are so run off their feet that they barely have time to think, either in the box or out of it.

MsHedgehog · 13/09/2021 10:37

@IAmADancer I feel for you. The number of idiots on here who won’t read your updates and tell you what you should be doing. Good luck!

shesellsseacats · 13/09/2021 10:37

@shesellsseacats

FFS. I just tried to get an "engage and consult" online advice from my GP surgery as I missed the 8am calls (school run) and you can't call to book appointments at other times.

Even the online approach doesn't work! It took a while to register for "engage and consult"

Now it says to me We’ve reached the maximum number of online medical requests that we can respond to today. If you’ve received this message during our working hours please contact us on [number] if urgent for today. If you’ve received this message outside our working hours please wait until our next working day and try again.

It's only 10:30! And why can't they just schedule it for another day? I need a chest xray. Might be urgent, might not, depending on the result of the xray!

FFS number 2. I just followed a link on the GP's website to try to book an appointment by "patient access" online. Signed up. Selected my GP. Am told that my GP doesn't support patient access. So why is there a bloody link to it on their website?!!
NotAnotherPylon · 13/09/2021 10:39

@placemats How lovely for you ...

RVN123 · 13/09/2021 10:40

A previous poster said that you could not be seen privately because this is a pre existing medical condition? I'm sorry but this is not true at all. You can be seen privately for anything you want if you are willing to pay! (at least here in Scotland). I've been seen multiple times for things I'd already been to my GP about. Not sure how that would even work as you usually need to have seen your GP to get a referral letter anyway so then it becomes a 'pre existing' complaint!
OP if you can afford it and you need the reassurance that everything is ok, go private.

JudgeRindersMinder · 13/09/2021 10:40

@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.
Presumably OP has just heard the engaged tone and tried again right away, not expecting the phone to be answered in 3 seconds.🙄 My practice was the same until they installed a queuing system
MsHedgehog · 13/09/2021 10:40

@placemats oh really, so the key is getting through?

OP cannot get through!!

Original poster
IAmADancer · 13/09/2021 10:41

@placemats as I have previously said, why do you feel the need to belittle my needs. You call me precious but with very little reasoning. Why am I precious for wanting to access required healthcare?

I do not understand why throwing insults at me helps in any way? I am happy to engage with you to understand your comments and why you feel the need to be so vitriolic

OP posts: