To think it’s disgusting you just can’t get a gps appointment these days

[Perimeopausepip]

Been in the phone since 8 am trying to get an appointment
first 10/15 mins I couldn’t even get in the queue the phone would just say unable to connect you please try later …. Wtf

then 15 mins later was able to get in the queue
15 person in the queue
so 30 mins wait then to be told no there no appointments at all
all I can get is a phone call from there partnership
in the evening

when I said I really want a face to face with any dr as my face is swollen
just got told sorry no we don’t have any … and that if I get a phone call this evening and then they want to see me they will book it then ….

its just so fuckign shit

For a swollen face I would try your dentist.

I don’t feel like there’s any problems with my teeth tho

Why is it essential that it should be a face to face? Can't you describe the condition? They did offer you an appt.

They’ll call you tonight and if they need to see you they will. They keep appointments for this reason, try not to panic.

Mine does phone appointments as default and then decide if they need to see in person. For face swelling they might able to do a phone consultation if they have a facility for you to send a photo

It's terrible. Our surgery has a severe shortage of GPs. The e consult system is almost always closed due to it. I need to book a smear and cba with the phone wait to get through! I also need to chat to someone about the tiredness I've had since covid but that will never be urgent enough to actually get an appt.

Maybe our expectations have always been too high? You are getting a call tonight, so same day, from a doctor where you can describe your symptoms and possibly photos (? I'm not sure how it works, I tend to just go to pharmacy). I think it makes sense to not fill waiting rooms with sick people passing illnesses on. This isn't an emergency.

Yes, it is appalling, why are people pretending it isn't. I don't usually read the Daily Mail but saw that Rod Stewart had called ITV News to offer to pay for some people's private scans as the private medical care has empty waiting rooms. He said he's never known it as bad as this and despite being a Tory supporter most of his life they need to go! My parents are a bit younger than him but they say the same and they have never know it as bad as this even in the 70s, even when the training strikes happened in the 70s you could still get a train!!

What is wrong with some of you? It is an utterly broken system and you are happy to accept it, shrug and say 'maybe our expectations are too high'.

YANBU OP - it's awful.

But you can. You are. They will assess you over the phone and then book you a face-to-face if needed. I don't see the problem.

It depends. I got an appointment within 2 hours this week. I got bitten by a rat and called 111. They sent me to a surgery that wasn't my usual one where I got a tetanus shot and antibiotics.

Where I am it's answered straight away and an appointment next day have cancelled a few as well and got a new one next day where is everyone as I know other areas are different

GPs are no longer like McDonalds - you can't just call up and get whatever you demand off the menu. There aren't enough GPs or GP appointments to go round so GPs have to prioritise.

And while more £ for the NHS might help a bit, you can't grow GPs fast, so we'd better get used to it.

Have you seen a pharmacist?

This. I have been so shocked by the way the NHS GP system has disintegrated in the UK in recent years. My partner has recently had to go private due to an inability to book an appointment and then when finally getting an appointment facing months-long waits for tests for something potentially very serious. I contacted the NHS about 5 months ago about some mental health issues and was told it was a 6-12 month wait to see someone (and that’s the short wait as I said I would be willing to see someone in training). The system is totally broken. i also don’t agree with those saying phone appointments are just as good - there was recently something in the news about a young man who passed away after having several phone appointments and it was determined that he most likely would have lived if seen in person as the issue would have been identified.

Agree ,peoples expectations are far too low !Not that long ago ,
it was absolutely a big NO to ever diagnose over the phone .
People suggest going to pharmacists but they are not DR or Senior Health Practitioners who can properly examine someone ,and they are actually struggling with their own workload.

But OP isn't at A&E, they're trying to see their GP. General Practioner. So it not being an emergency is very much not the point.

It's absolutely ridiculous that you can't see your GP, @Perimeopausepip . Unfortunately where my sister lives is the same. She's had to battle to get even an online consultation. Disgraceful.

It’s not ideal but it sounds like you waited 30 minutes and you’re getting a call from a doctor same day and face to face if needed. I think that’s much better than many surgeries are managing at the moment! At mine you’d probably be asked to send in a photo. Presumably it’s not bad enough to need A&E and you’ve already considered going to a pharmacy for some antihistamines.
I appreciate it’s less convenient for you than going to your usual GP straight away at a time to suit, but I don’t think its shit even by pre-covid standards, especially for winter.

You're annoyed that you got offered an appointment? Erm okay!

YANBU. I don't go to the GP often - maybe once a year, some years not at all. 16 years ago when I moved to my current home it was possible to get an appointment at the GP. Now it's fucking impossible. 13 years of Tory rule, combined with the building of 1000+ houses in our small town and no extra provision means we are fucked.

I've had to have quite a few GP F2F appointments for various different reasons since 2020. I've become a fan of e consult and phone appointments, I think it helps them be more efficient. I've been called in for a face to face when it's needed.

Your phone call later should yield results...

But you have got an appointment. A GP will phone you, may well send you a link for you to upload a photo, then decide on the next steps. The fact that they will phone after working hours shows just how overworked they are.

Yes it's awful I agree. But a swollen face? Have you spoken to the pharmacist? Be quicker and easier than your GP.

Can you book via the nhs app? It’s much easier for same day appointments, I never have any issues booking online

I called my Dr surgery bang on 8 this morning and waited 15 minutes to get through. When I got through I was told they only had emergency appointments and asked what it was for. I'd phoned because I have swelling on one side of my face and can barely swallow 2 weeks after a course of antibiotics for tonsillitis and got an appointment for 12 this afternoon so it isn't every Dr surgery I just think some are better than others.

I think a call today is reasonable.

But in general the system is broken and we must not show a stiff upper lip and accept it. And I say that as a senior NHS clinician of 30 years. I blame the government for the awful recruitment and retention. The change to pension rules has also made GPs reduce sessions or take early retirement.

The media has not helped. The vilification of primary care during and post-pandemic has put young doctors off becoming GPs. I am glad I don’t work in primary care.