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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

How on earth does anyone get a GP appointment?!

81 replies

2023b · 27/02/2023 08:39

My first time calling in about 5 years, probably longer. Moved house recently and registered with a local GPs. Told appointments for nonurgent issues given out on a Monday morning and to call at 8am. I havent been able to do this for a number of weeks due to working at this hour. Obviously this is a non urgent issue but an issue that needs sorting none the less.
Been calling up non stop (37 times so far) since 8am, listen to the automated message which eventually cuts you out.

What the heck am I supposed to do? Ive taken a half day off today (genuinely) just to organise an appointment for a future date then to try and take that date off too. When I went in person to register I was told this is the process, to keep trying on a Monday morning, all other days are for urgent same day appt. I cant keep letting the weeks pass by... Is this what its come to :(

OP posts:

Sassato · 27/02/2023 18:27

It's appalling.
I work for the NHS. Often I will have my personal mobile and work phone on from the time they open at 8.00am, whist driving to work (yes I know) fiddling around with two phones while negotiating traffic lights and crossing schoolchildren/pedestrians, blood pressure rising and getting more and more annoyed. The surgery won't allow turning up to make an appointment. So left with little choice. I've called up to 74 times without being on the queue. Why are we being treated so badly and how have our surgeries become so inadequately managed? I wrote a letter complaining to the Practice Manager with screenshots of the number of calls made. No response or acknowledgement. Tried again, hand delivered, no response. Shocking.

PumpkinQueen1 · 27/02/2023 18:45

NowAAT · 27/02/2023 12:00

I called for an appt for my son whom I suspected had scarlet fever based on the symptoms (and recent outbreak at Nursery). Receptionist said there are no appointments available (bear in mind this is 8:05 when and the practice opens at 8:00 and I dialed at exactly 8:00). She said the best they could for me is a call back from a GP and I said ok.

Anyways, Dr eventually called and I told her DS has scarlet fever and he needs antibiotics. I explained all the symptoms and she said she can't prescribe antibiotics unless she sees him and suddenly a magical face to face appointment was booked the same day.

We were really grateful but where did the slot come from if they were all booked? Granted the appt only took 5 mins so maybe she just managed to squeezed us in or are receptionist being told to say "no more appointments available" and they're leaving some slots open only for urgent matters? Who knows but the state of affairs now is really bad.

I work in a GP surgery. Before christmas, with all the media hype regarding scarlett fever, we were fully booked every day within 20 minutes of opening.

In this situation, if a patient calls needing to be seen urgently (which a child with suspected scarlett fever would be), they would be put on the duty GPs list for a call.

If the duty GP decides the patient needs to be seen in person, they have slots in their diary for this purpose, which only they can book.

There are no magical slots, and the real problem is that we have 11,000 patients, and 5 GPs. You do the maths.

Yes, it's a terrible state of affairs, but the receptionists are doing their best with what they have available.

NowAAT · 28/02/2023 08:29

Musicaltheatremum · 27/02/2023 17:50

This is the thing. We do "squeeze you in" so the appointment wasn't available...the duty doctor triages and brings you down if they feel it's necessary but the reception don't have these appointments on their screens, we add them as we need them. Sometimes I need to see 2 or 3 extras. Some days it's up to a dozen or more and that's on top of a full surgery. It's hellish out there. I'm actually just going to type my resignation letter for 6 months time as I'm off.

Show quote history

Awwww I know it's hard. My brother is also in the field. He's a junior doctor and he complains everyday! I feel so sorry for him. He works so hard and he get paid pennies. He wants to quit as well. I honestly feel for everyone that works for the NHS. No wonder everyone's leaving.

NowAAT · 28/02/2023 08:30

PumpkinQueen1 · 27/02/2023 18:45

I work in a GP surgery. Before christmas, with all the media hype regarding scarlett fever, we were fully booked every day within 20 minutes of opening.

In this situation, if a patient calls needing to be seen urgently (which a child with suspected scarlett fever would be), they would be put on the duty GPs list for a call.

If the duty GP decides the patient needs to be seen in person, they have slots in their diary for this purpose, which only they can book.

There are no magical slots, and the real problem is that we have 11,000 patients, and 5 GPs. You do the maths.

Yes, it's a terrible state of affairs, but the receptionists are doing their best with what they have available.

Show quote history

Yeah, I know everyone's doing they're doing their best. I was just wondering.

Heatwavenotify · 28/02/2023 17:15

Our must be up there with the worst. Now you can’t even ring. They refuse to acknowledge you if you turn up at the surgery. The receptionist basically kicking out elderly people all queuing because they couldn’t use the app.
Now the app you used to be able to use during surgery times is only 8-10am or 7-8pm. And even then you will get a call back in a week to decide whether to see you or not.

There is no GP service for all anymore. Nobody seems to care. I felt so sorry for the elderly I saw being turfed out and spoken to in such a rude manor.

JenniferBooth · 28/02/2023 18:35

Its no longer free at the point of access then. Because last time i checked smartphones cost money and i cant see every elderly person rushing out to buy one

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