7 weeks until you can speak to a gp

[SkyeLou]

Called to make an appointment today to get a blood test. I have lots of symptoms of an underactive thyroid. Low heart rate (42 at times) exhausted, weight gain, thinning hair, always cold, headaches. I've had thyroiditis twice but my thyroid was still functioning but i feel it has given up now.
The receptionist was really rude saying it would be up to a doctor to decide whether I need a blood test. Not doctor google or whatever I was using to self diagnose. But I can't just demand a blood test and waste valuable resources.
Fine, can I have an appointment with a doctor then.,.
She huffed, asked if it was really necessary as they don't have many appointments.
Yes, I think it is necessary.
More huffing then she gives me a date in 7 weeks. It will no doubt be a week, at least, after that before I get a blood test and then another week to get the results back. I'm thinking it will likely be 9 weeks I get any answers. Meanwhile, I will struggle on and remain exhausted.

You have my sympathy. My only advice is to ring every day. You will either get a new appointment or just have to have the one in 7 weeks

That's disgusting. I've been horribly anaemic, B12 and potassium deficient and could barely get out of bed. Not the same thing but similar symptoms.
I'd put a complaint in to the practice manager. I did that and got a call back from a GP within 24 hours. The receptionist is not medically trained and cannot make this kind of decision.

YANBU. It’s ridiculous, though at least you got an appointment. Three days of calling at 8am and I can’t get an appointment and they won’t prebook anything.

Where on earth are you? We can usually get a same day appointment and are given a choice of in person or phone appointment. The longest waiting time for an appointment is the next day. They also phone with blood test results when they get them svsnif it's just to say everything is fine. We're in Scotland.

And there was me feeling hard done by that I’ve got an appointment in 4 1/2 weeks’ time, it seems I got lucky.

Thats shocking. I live in Spain and I walk into my surgery and get an appointment within a couple of hours, always the same day often immediately

Sooner the Tories go the better

But you live in Spain. What bloody difference does it make to you who's in government here?

Yanbu. I really cannot understand how anyone can still consider voting Tory.
This has been done to us deliberately.

🤭

I hear you OP. I can't even get an appointment for high blood pressure despite trying five different medications to get it under control so they are aware I need one. We've had the mass texts from surgery asking all patients not to contact them due to being overwhelmed three times now. It's scary.

YANBU.

Scotland here too - large city.

Same day appointments for urgent issues or able to book in advance. Just did an advanced (non urgent) booking today, receptionist apologised as it not until next Tuesday. Blood/test results are available by phone between certain hours but if results are urgent/concerning GP will proactively call to discuss. My surgery appears to have recovered fully from the minor issues caused by COVID. I certainly don't hear others complaining about their surgeries either.

Tbh, a lot of the GP/NHS issues raised on MN are not issues I or those around me experience.

It's not urgent so you have to roll with a non urgent appointment. Only other option is private thyroid blood test but then you still need that nhs appointment. It's shite.

I can see how this ended up happening unfortunately given the approach you took and you probably got tarnished by all the regulars whom call daily having read x symptom/condition online and want to get tested for it as they've diagnosed themselves already. The receptionist is quite right that you can't just call up and request a specific blood test, all tests have to be clinically indicated.

It shouldn't really matter, but human factors come in and cause a negative outcome. You'll likely get a better response if you call up again and just ask for an appointment as you're worried about the symptoms you have - i.e. i'm permanently exhausted- keep it simple/just the main problem unless they ask for more. Depending on how the surgery manages the appointment the GP may schedule you for 'tired all the time' bloods which are a standard routine group of bloods including thyroid function, then review you f2f once they have those results. Or they may call you in first for the consultation since the symptoms you describe go hand in hand with depression and aging for example - but even if this is suspected they'll probably still run the TATT bloods anyway.

Urgent same/next day appointments are generally held for symptoms that need to be diagnosed quickly - i.e. sounds like something that could be an infection needing abx to prevent significant worsening, or potentially surgical emergency like new onset abdominal pain. Potentially depending on the severity of your symptoms can be in either group - routine or urgent. As in if in the last week you've suddenly become exhausted had to call of work and sleeping 18 hours a day then you need to be seen asap. However if over the past 2 years you've noticed a steady increase in your weight, you're more tired needing a nap in the afternoon can't quite manage the level of activity you remember you used to in your 20s, hair is starting to thin out a little bit... then it might well be reasonable to suggest you could wait a few weeks for a routine spot for a review.

I'm in Scotland too. I will phone again tomorrow but I won't be holding my breath that it will get me anywhere.
I might ask to talk to the surgery manager because I do feel that the receptionist was unnecessarily rude. Her sarcastic tone and huffing was upsetting. I have been feeling quite low and it took me all my time to make the call. She made me feel like I am wasting people's time and not worth bothering with. This ties in with my internal dialogue that I fight against a lot of the time.

I don’t disagree with you about what’s been done to the NHS, but given that it’s in an even worse state in Wales under Labour I’m not optimistic it will improve much after the next election.

Does your practice have on online triage system? If so I would use this. Similar issue 2 weeks ago - submitted online form and had a telephone appointment with GP 2 days later. Blood test arranged and face to face follow up appointment tomorrow.

I agree with previous advice about accepting the appointment, particularly if the symptoms have been a 'slow burn' issue rather than emerging rapidly.

Also agree with not suggesting what tests you want as that's not really your call, unless you're medically qualified to make that assessment. Describe only the most pressing symptoms when requesting an appointment eg left flank pain and painful urination, rather than I have a kidney infection.

Personally I wouldn't take the rudeness issue further if there's even a possibility your internal dialogue may have allowed you to perceive actions/behaviour in a certain way.

On a practical level, at the moment at worst there's one receptionist who may have been rude to you. Complain about her and the entire reception team will do you zero favours in future should you need one and it's within their gift to do so.

That’s the tories for you.

less funding more demand.

7 weeks for a gp opinion is nothing compared to the 3 years you’d wait for an endocrinology appt here if needed.

whilst frustrating it is routine, it’s rubbish but it’s the sign of things to come.

That’s an awfully long time. We have a system (outer London) that means you can get a same day appointment ( booking by phone or online) or 3 weeks hence. Unusually, I have needed 3 appointments over the past 6 months and got a same day each time.

The three week option is a bit tricky if you want to schedule non urgent for say two weeks ahead, but at least it’s gone back to the same level of service we had before Covid. They did carry on with telephone appointments for a while, but those are only for Drs doing a follow up now or some other situations, not mandatory. They don’t triage the online appointments ( only some are released for that option) nor the telephone, though there are additional emergency appointments that are available on discussion with the receptionists, especially for babies and v young children.

We’ve got a good urgent care/ minor injuries unit in the area, so I think that takes off some of the GP pressure. The A & E units of the two major teaching hospitals are complete nightmares, though.

Try this: Ask to see the practice nurse because you have....choose any symptom here. Much easier to get an appointment usually. The nurse can escalate the problem if they think fit, Might even give you a blood test.

I’m sorry but that is insane. Seven weeks! I am in Aus and I usually book online, I can get a same day appointment if I don’t mind which doctor I see, I might have to wait 2-3 days if I want a specific doctor. The reception staff are friendly and polite, what happens if you have ongoing health issues?

So I shouldn't care that my mum isn't getting good treatment? Or my family and friends? Or even strangers on the internet?