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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

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

156 replies

Perimeopausepip · 30/01/2023 09:44

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

OP posts:
Sapphire387 · 30/01/2023 11:14

I personally think patients should be trusted when they say they need a face to face. GP receptionists are not qualified to tell.

Phone calls are great in certain circumstances (e.g. to discuss a review of meds) but a lot of the time, it just doesn't suit.

PurpleWisteria1 · 30/01/2023 11:16

arethereanyleftatall · 30/01/2023 09:54

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.

Jesus - our expectations have been too high?
What if your face has suddenly swollen up for no apparent reason it’s to much to ask to phone to see a doctor.
It’s Extreme mis management of this countries training and resources and infrastructure.
Bloody hell. Stop the world, I want to get off.

Jijithecat · 30/01/2023 11:17

YANBU. Prior to covid, at our surgery appointment bookings opened at 8am: online, in person and on the telephone. I've needed one appointment for my family since lockdown. They've now taken the online booking away meaning I had to join the phone queue. I was waiting for 30 minutes for someone to answer meaning my DH had to take the other children to school and so he was late for work. By the time I could speak to someone all of the face to face appointments had gone. The reason I needed a face to face appointment was because my DC had a urine infection. A telephone appointment for a urine infection is just a waste of everyone's time.

WhereIsMyRollingPin · 30/01/2023 11:21

I realise it is not typical but my fantastic surgery is doing face to face appointments routinely. I got an appointment less than 24 hours after calling to book it (straight through to the receptionists, no queuing or pressing numerous buttons) and my neighbour got a non urgent appointment for her child just a couple of hours after she called.

I agree the NHS is broken in places but it's not everywhere.

Underhisi · 30/01/2023 11:21

I like the easier access to phone appointments rather than having to deal with ds having a meltdown because he is forced to go to the surgery even though I know what is wrong and what prescription he will need. If they actually need to see him he has always been given an appointment quickly.

Applesandcarrots · 30/01/2023 11:22

Maybe our expectations have always been too high?

This is why we have shit helathcare. Because expecting face to face for swallen face is too high expectations. 🤷🏻

schratching · 30/01/2023 11:22

It's wrong. The service was there before and now it's not. Angry

paintitallover · 30/01/2023 11:23

In my surgery they start with a phone call but they always call you in if they think necessary, often immediately. I don't have a problem with this way of handing things, given the number of non urgent calls, although it might be necessary for a video call with a swollen face. It would be great if there were more doctors so everyone could have the style of appointment they want, but "it's disgusting " doesn't really cover it. As it happened, when I had a swollen face and no tooth problem, it actually was a dental issue, which required antibiotics.

TheLastDreamOfTheOak · 30/01/2023 11:25

I can't even get through to my drs. I've been ringing for two weeks, straight into a queue system, constantly stuck at no 3 in the queue then it just cuts off. I've given up and just paid 50 quid for a private gp e consult as I haven't got time to sit on the phone for 40 minutes each morning. It's obviously variable in terms of how good your surgery is-but anecdotally there seems to be more people having issues such as this than not-and yes I agree it's piss poor tbh.

jannier · 30/01/2023 11:26

One of my customers is a GP ..in his practice they have been struggling to fill 3 vacancies and only managed to get one locum

Laiste · 30/01/2023 11:27

OK so you've had this problem a few days already. Monday morning is the worst time to ring. Everyone's weekend problems are piled up and they're all on the phone!

You have a phone appt. today though OP, so spend a bit of time getting a decent photo of your swelling - ready in case they ask you to send one.

My GPs is the same. You get on the phone at 8am on the dot and get in a queue. But, as i say Monday morning is always full on.

vivainsomnia · 30/01/2023 11:29

Phone appointments are useless no they are not. They allow to sieve through all the wasted F2F appts patients demand that are total wastes of time.

People need to start appreciating that being able to see a GP F2F on the sane day fir non urgent matters for free was a privilege that can't work anymore because we just don't have enough GPs any longer and every month we are at risk of losing more than getting newly qualified ones.

OP, taking anti histamines for a week is not going to dry your eyes out! I've taken daily antihistamines for 25 years now. Yes my eyes are dry, not not so badly it requires treatment and a week is certainly not going to end up in permanent damage. The mist likely reason for it is indeed an allergic reaction so trying antihistamines is the natural first line treatment.

If it's not that, it's an infection and antibiotics would be standard treatment too. What will you get by getting a F2F appointment rather talking on the phone? Seeing the swelling is not going to change the line of treatment. It's more about questions and answers.

You can assume that people who did get F2F appointments today needed them more than you and you get extra GPs out of thin air!

Blughbablugh · 30/01/2023 11:30

Yes it's terrible! My 18 month old ds has a very nasty cough and so tried to get him in last week. Couldn't get a same day appointment but was luckily able to get him in the next day as they'd had a cancellation. This was not at my usual surgery but one in the partnership a few miles away. Luckily I drive or it would have been very difficult to get there. Took him and he's been given antibiotics.
They said on the phone that I can't even take him to the out of hours as they don't see anyone under 2. Wtf??? So if I hadn't have been able to get an appointment what then? Let it turn in to something much worse and potentially end up in AandE? No wonder there are long waiting times!
I remember not so long ago being able to get an appointment much easier. Now I dream having to try and get one as it almost seems impossible!

user6792653085 · 30/01/2023 11:32

It's unacceptable to have to spend 45 minutes trying to make an appointment. There's plenty of people who wouldn't be allowed to take time out of work to do that.

MarchingGiraffes · 30/01/2023 11:32

YABU. You were offered an appointment. Take it.

flawless29 · 30/01/2023 11:33

PurpleWisteria1 · 30/01/2023 11:16

Jesus - our expectations have been too high?
What if your face has suddenly swollen up for no apparent reason it’s to much to ask to phone to see a doctor.
It’s Extreme mis management of this countries training and resources and infrastructure.
Bloody hell. Stop the world, I want to get off.

Show quote history

If you experience sudden facial swelling, it's best to seek care at a minor injury unit or emergency department instead of waiting for a GP appointment. It wouldn't be fair to hold GPs responsible for not offering immediate care in these cases. You are expecting too much from GPs. Enough pon their plate!!

Namechangetobeanon · 30/01/2023 11:34

Not so much GP’s in my area but the mental health services are appalling!

I called the ‘crisis team’ for advice on a friend who had self harmed and was being very impulsive with thoughts of ending his life. The mental health nurse argued that he didn’t need to be seen and rather than me sit with him to keep him safe, I should go home and leave him to be responsible for his own actions! The nurse basically told me she knew he would be safe and not to worry everything will be fine, not only this she was very patronising on the phone to me.

I didn’t leave him but after we dozed off I awoke to hearing him trying to take as many pills as he could! I can only imagine what would have happened had I not woke or left his house!

Eixample · 30/01/2023 11:36

This is not the healthcare system of a developed country. I live in a country poorer than the UK and have same day GP and paediatrician appointments (when needed for adults, alway for my children). For urgent issues, I can get an appointment within an hour on weekdays. I’ve never waited longer than 30 minutes in a&e and the two times I called an ambulance, it arrived in 5 minutes. Even severe conditions are often treated fairly cheaply since you can see a doctor the same day rather than waiting until you need urgent care for a worsening condition.
Please start voting for a party that will work towards this.

Sunnyjac · 30/01/2023 11:39

I have a friend who works in a GP practice with three GPs. He explained to me that they offer 250 appointments with those GPs per DAY. However, the big problem is that because of the backlog from Covid and the severe underfunding of the NHS they get people who turn up as if it is a drop in service or A&E, and because they have arrived on site they have to be dealt with. This impacts all the other work and causes the backlogs to get even longer. So on that basis you could just turn up and they would have to deal with you. However, wouldn't it be better to take the phone appointment?

Stressedmum2017 · 30/01/2023 11:42

It's not even just gp's, you can't speak to your consultant until you are at deaths door now, no hope of getting help with your symptoms to stop you getting to that point. Impossible situation.

TheShiningPup · 30/01/2023 11:46

I'm now going private to get a prescription for thyroxine. The GP won't renew a prescription without a review but I can't actually make an appointment (telephone or otherwise) to get a review.

megletthesecond · 30/01/2023 11:48

Can you do an e-consult? We're always offered an appointment when needed after them. Or a hospital referral

BlackFriday · 30/01/2023 11:48

I think it depends what the issue is.
My friend is a gastroenterology consultant and she says you can look at someone's symptoms written down (from the GP referral) and think there might not be too much of an issue but when you then see them face to face you just "know" there's something seriously up and can set the wheels in motion for action. She has been doing it for a very long time though and experience helps.

thestealthwee · 30/01/2023 11:51

arethereanyleftatall · 30/01/2023 09:54

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.

I'd try and ring as smear don't require a GP so much easier to get an appointment- my GP is notorious - In the papers every week- for lack of appointments etc but booking a smear was surprisingly easy

Radiatorvalves · 30/01/2023 11:55

I contacted GP via the (unhelpful) App this morning. It’s about a bit of discoloured skin on my face that has changed shape slightly). Missed the call back. Got text to say make an appointment. Couldn’t do that on line and they don’t answer the phone, so I walked up the road and went in person. I have an appointment at 2.30 today…. Not easy. And if I didn’t have App or working legs and the ability to wfh and pop out, not possible.