To think I'll never get to see a GP

[katniss44]

I know this has been done to death but honestly I am so fed up. Even getting through to my GP is a battle. You need to be on the line before they even open (which clashes with school runs and work starting). Then you'll be in a queue for up to an hour and when you finally get to speak to someone there are usually no appointments left. If you do miraculously manage to get one it's with a triage nurse and they will ring you back sometime during the day. If you miss the call it's back to square one.

If they do decide you need to see a doctor they have to book another appointment which is usually at incredibly short notice for the same day meaning you can't always attend.

I have an issue that needs looking at and honestly I'm just at the point of giving up. How many other people ignore or postpone serious health issues because it's so fucking difficult to see a doctor. Admittedly I struggle because I have two kids and nobody to help so I can't always make short notice appointments. This is my problem and not reflective of everyone's circumstances. But if my surgery offered the option for pre bookable appointments I could have sorted that ages ago.

I'm just at my wits end today. It's an embarrassing arse related health issue and I don't need any more excuses to keep putting it off. Why is the country in such a shit state that it takes this much effort to see a doctor? No wonder people get fed up and overwhelm a&e.

If you can't see GP look out for a walk in centre or 111 - they often have GP hubs you can be booked into.

Yep it can definitely be really tricky to get an appointment alongside school runs etc. It's such an impossible situation to solve (other than masdsively increasing the number of Doctors/ACPs, or somehow reducing the number of people trying to get an appointment).

I work at a surgery for 50% of my role, there have been lots of trials. Ultimately you've got routine appointments that people will always attend/have to occur for routine monitoring and prescriptions to be issued, so these can be booked in advance. But your urgent/acute problems need to be same day - because if on Monday you open up the slots for the whole week bookable by phone on website, the whole weeks appointments will be booked full on the Monday. The rate of DNAs/missed appointments now massively increases since appointments booked on monday for friday are now forgotten about, no longer convenient time, or the problem they were calling about is already getting better - so loads of wasted slots Same day only reduces this from happening.

The majority of people I see coming in and have booked appointments are 'self care' issues which will get better without any treatment - I have 16 slots in the surgery + a few home visits, there's normally 4-5 cough for 3 days feels needs antibiotics (very unlikely), sore throat wondering if needs antibiotics (very rarely), ?thrush - advise to speak with pharmacist as otc treatment available, 2 or 3 bouncy happy children had a fever the night before can we check them out....

These are problems which really shouldn't be coming in taking away slots from people who do have more concerning symptoms which actually need a medical assessment/aren't obviously self care - unusual headaches, recurrent/persistent abdominal pains, weight loss/tiredness, lumps and bumps,....

So people always argue about they've paid their taxes, they should be able to have a doctor check out the child who's only symptom is a slight fever for a few hours. But with finite appointments if this person calls first it can often take away the appointment from the parent calling for their child who's had a persisting fever over a week not really eating or drinking looks unwell, who might actually need to be treated/further investigations.

My small child had cellulitis recently which was getting quickly worse. Pharmacist looked and said it needed antibiotics - GP receptionist would not give me an apt. Despite me queuing from 8am and then eventually going in to the surgery in person to beg them to see her. I was told if it was as urgent as I was making out, then to go to a&e. I eventually got her seen at an urgent treatment centre but it was 7 hours before I got her home and the first antibiotic down, by which time it was really spreading. It was so stressful and I feel really down about the whole thing. I feel like it's a dangerous time if you need to see a GP urgently. It is the 4th time I have been sent to a&e by our surgery for something that could have been seen by a GP. I know they are under pressure but it worries when they refuse to see a child with an urgent and potentially serious issue. It's a 3 month wait for a routine apt.... and virtually impossible to get one on the day

I feel your pain op. I work full time. I cannot get in to see a doctor. I can’t stay on the phone for ages waiting because the time they insist everyone calls is when I am going to work. I can’t accept a call back because I am face to face with customers.
The surgery sent emails telling me they offered weekend appointments and appointments after 5pm. When I asked for one of these appointment I was told that these appointments are not fit me. Lunch time? No the doctor sees the elderly then.
Honestly the term piss up in a brewery fits here.

Also you cannot book ahead, only for that day so I can’t even use annual leave to see the doctor.

do they not have e-consult option? That works brilliantly at my GP, you just message and they reply or GP calls you. much better for me than having to go in person.

They never used to but I have just checked in desperation and lo and behold they do have this service now. I've put in details of my issues and apparently a nurse is phoning me back later today. So much easier than going through the telephone performance. Just need to keep my phone on loud now.