How important do you think it is to be on time for a GP appt

[Ireolu]

Just that really.

Do you think it is important to turn up on time or early for a GP appt? Do you think you shd still be seen when you are 10 mins or more late for a 10 minute appt.

This is just for adults over 18 not for children. TIA for thoughts.

For those wondering how the GP can be running late when you’re one of the first appointments of the day - there’s a lot of work goes on that isn’t appointments. So I might start my day with an urgent message from the district nurses that one of my patients needing palliative care has deteriorated and needs more pain relief - and I probably would prioritise that over the patients sat in the waiting room (whilst they’d all get an apology for being kept waiting). Or I might - if duty doctor - get called to go on an urgent visit that really can’t wait. It’s a juggling act most days and the underlying problem is that there isn’t enough time.

Yes but it isn't easy, by the time we were finished they knew the orthodontist well, knew where to go and who to see. Not ideal with a 9 or 10 year old who isn't sure where the clinic is.

I have to say I don't think people were often late, the orthodontist was the best HCP I've ever seen for time keeping. In all the years I saw her with two kids I don't think she was ever more than one minute late.

I always make sure I'm on time for a Gp appointment, normally 10 mins early. It does annoy me though when you are then kept waiting for ages 🙄 Same goes for dentist.

@TripleDaisySummer my dad does it but my mum...
"Oh it's a 5 min drive"
No, it's actually 15 and parking takes at least 10 mins...

Me and dad are always early and permanently were asking mum to hurry the fuck up

Not GPs, I know, but I have stopped using certain beauty salons because I got fed up of being the first customer of the day, yet still left waiting for 15-20 minutes past my appointment time because the staff were late/faffing/chatting.

So disrespectful.

This exactly. I arrived yesterday at 3.20pm for a 3.30pm appointment. 7 people came and went after me (not all for same GP) before I was seen eventually at just after 4pm.

Speaking as someone who works one to one with clients on a timed basis it only takes one person to be late and that cocks your day up unless someone then doesn't turn up which means losing revenue.

If your running behind all day people will moan quite rightly but it's normally always due to other peoples lateness that's caused it.

I have a strict rule now that the service time will be cut short but full fee payable if your are upto 10 mins late.

Any later than that and it's a no to service and yes full payment is expected.

Sadly drs can't operate the same way but wouldn't it be interesting if people paid a £10 non refundable deposit for appointments.

Can guarantee they wouldn't be late then

Patients should be on time , arriving early with enough time to park and check in. There is no excuse for not allowing enough time for appointments. It is disrespectful to the person you are keeping waiting.

I am always there 5 minutes before my time.

If I were a GP, I would see the next patient and so on, and ask the late person to wait until there is time to see them. If they turn up late then they can't expect to still be seen immediately.

Gp's should offer more double appointments for those who want to talk through several things, as 10 minutes is often not enough time. and then other patients wouldn't be kept waiting.

It goes both ways.

Yes this is fricking annoying! Mine was an hour late once, surely they could give you the heads up so you don't waste all that time sat there.

I aim to be sat in the waiting room a few minutes before my appointment time. I expect appointments to run over and that doesn't bother me as I know every patient has a reason to be there and a doctor can't always do everything in a set time. The latest I've waited is about 8 mins.

Df is 92. His surgery is a 2 minute drive.
However df will always 'need' the toilet as I open the front door.
This involves removing his coat again.
We then have to find his keys again which are in his pocket, help him on with his coat and get his stick. In the car park we have to help df from the car and walk slowly to the door.
I allow an extra 20 minutes and it's still cutting it fine.
If we're early df complains about waiting.

Because if you aim to be there at 12.59 for your 1pm appointment you're fucked if you're in any way delayed?

Sorry that was in reply to the poster that asked why anyone would turn up early!

If you're 10 minutes late for a 10 minute appointment, you've missed it, and it's someone else's appointment.

Surely you understand that?

110% on time.
However I still bristle at the time I was 2/3 minutes late, unavoidably (I have no record of lateness) and the receptionist barked at me that it was up to the Dr whether I'd be seen as I was late "but sit down there and you'll find out". There were two people ahead of me and surgery was running late so what exactly the issue was I shall never know.

I think patients should always be on time. I also think that all hospital/GP staff shoukd apologise unequivocally when they keep patients waiting. Their time is important too.

My last two hospital appointments were running one and three quarter hours behind. Little communication and certainly no apology. I asked at reception whether the Dr would see me if I arrived an hour and three quarters late next time. I got the NHS eyeroll.

I think punctuality and respect for people's time works two ways. Doctors and nurses need to shape up a bit if they wish to be draconian.

Of course you have to be on time and they would hopefully not see you if you are late!

The NHS are already on its knees and so much resources are being wasted by people not showing up for their appointments.

That does remind me of a school mum friends who was always late to school with her child.

She said to me it's only 6 minute walk - I was well it a good 10 minutes from my house and you are another 5 minutes away - and your late every day so how can it be 6 minutes. She then insisted they'd timed it - and a few other down her street chipped in with it's at least 15 minutes - she was then on time for a few weeks till her DH started insisting it was 6 minutes again - ended up having to see head for persistent lateness.

I do accept there are people out there who find reality an inconvenience rather than something to deal with - but they are the odd ones.

No. Because if I arrive 10 mins late for a 10 minute appointment, its still the appointment of someone who was meant to be in 20 mins before that.

Everyone should turn up on time - i.e in time to get booked in and ready to be seen at the appointment time, so arrive 5 mins before appt time.

Anyone late: get seen BUT when a space becomes free, maybe by someone else arriving late, and if you have to wait to be seen so be it.

Our surgery generally runs pretty much to tome and it pays to turn up a bit early because then if someone doesn't show, they just put you in early.

I once arrived 35 minutes early for an MRI scan. It said on the instructions, I was sent to be 10 minutes early but I didn’t know the logistics of getting to the hospital. I asked if I could just wait in the waiting room. However, I was almost immediately called as the man before me had not turned up. I was told by the receptionist that he arrived late and was going ballistic because they had not put the staff and machine on hold for him.

Sadly drs can't operate the same way but wouldn't it be interesting if people paid a £10 non refundable deposit for appointments

So what do you think should happen about the £76 (£38 each way) that has just been wasted on a taxi ride to a hospital that then cancelled the appointment minutes before.

We will always see articles and opinions about how people should pay for missed appointments but the real reason it will never happen is because it would have to be reciprocated and that would cost the NHS ££££

You should be on-time ie arrive a few minutes before any appointment.
Obviously occasionally things are beyond your control, and I would hope a GP might try and fit you in, but it should expected and would only be possible if EVERYONE else had arrived early and could be shuffled up the order

Don’t be late it has a knock on effect to the rest of the appointments. I aim to be at least 5 minutes early ideally 10 minutes.

I am always early for GP appointments. GPs, however, never run to time. I don't think a 45 minute wait for a GP appointment when you need to get back to work is on personally.

It depends.

For a GP appointment, I wouldn't expect to be seen late as I need the whole 10 minutes, and being seen late would have a knock on impact for all the other patients.

For a HCA appointment, it literally takes me 2 minutes (I'm in and out for a quick injection), so if I showed up a few minutes late, I'd hope they would still see me, as it wouldn't have a knock-on impact.