Can drs have no pre bookable appointments?

[Franklyfranky]

I need some blood tests because I’m pretty such I’m anaemic and low vit d (have history of it symptoms are the same as when I’ve been quite poorly with it)

I cannot get a blood test without a gp appointment. I cannot pre book a GP appointment. I have to call the emergency line everyday. I cannot get through. Ive been told categorically the GP does not have pre bookable appointments. I thought they had to?

is anyone familiar with the guidelines to say if this is correct?

At my surgery you phone at 8am for an urgent appointment, throughout the day they'll book you in an non urgent with the GP or nurse. The most I've been is 7th in the queue on the phone and the longest I waited for an non urgent was a week. However this may change as our practice has been taken over.....

Ours only have them if you fill out an e-consult or if it's a follow up appointment for an ongoing issue

No there is no online form or anything like that

That is the only way realistically to get an appointment here

They meant that they don’t offer them period. They do for nurses but not the dr and only the dr is able to organise a blood test, which is fine, seeing a dr would be ideal because I’ve been unwell with this for months.

it’s same day emergency only, and you can’t get through on the phone and they don’t let you in at 8. I feel it’s an impasse.

Email the practice manager and complain

Write as above

Ring 111 and ask for a GP appointment

See a PA or a Nurse Practitioner for bloods approval

Turn up on the surgery doorstep at 8 am

Ring at 8 am

My GP is the same OP. Its disgusting, they are not an emergency service they are first line primary care and should be covering a whole host of health issues that are not emergencies but nonetheless need dealing with.
Huge numbers of us are being denied basic healthcare

There is a weblink for pre bookable appointments and it functions like a calendar but it’s entirely greyed out until 2028 so for all intents and purposes it doesnt exist.

there is no form you can fill in.

if you get through the appointments are gone and the process starts the next day again ad nauseum.

its the only one I’m in the catchment area for

Nurse Can’t do bloods app

wont let you in at 8am (used to work)

can’t get through at 8am, not even in the queue

I'd book a nurse appt, explain your symptoms and ask her how to progress.

Is there a repeat prescription form? I'd also request a repeat of your previous medication, and state in the notes field that you are suffering recurrence of symptoms.

See if either of those achieves any progress.

My gp tried this, it was a nightmare. What are working people supposed to do? Stay off in the hope you get an appointment that day? Go to work hoping you will get one later in the day? My ds is in a SEN school miles away so I am driving between 7.45 and 9.30am, am I supposed to call whilst driving?

Its a bit better now, you have to submit a form after 8am to try to get an appointment, they close the form when it's full for the day but they do offer appointments on other days if they don't think it's urgent.

My drs allows you to email from 6am, they triage it and call you or text with an appointment if required. Blood tests are 9-12 midday on a first come first served basis

Id request via the NHS app.
Give a detailed request.
Ours is only available to message during working hours.

Can you see a pharmacist instead? A lot of pharmacies are now offering extended services for minor conditions. I'm not sure if this is something they'd deal with but it's got to be worth a try.

I think all drs use the nhs app now so you can email

We used to have walk in phlebotomy at hospital, it's still there but now you need an appointment. My GP has a phlebotomist that comes in twice a month so you can book. Ask them what they expect you to do? Email the practice manager and PALS too.

Or yes call 111 and ask them what they advise. They can usually get something done or suggest what to do.

This is one the reasons which always holds me back leaving my current area. We have a little village GP surgery and most days if I call (anytime whilst they're open) they can get me in the next day.

For my son who is under 5, they always see him same day.

They also have pre-bookable appts. 4 per day for the coming 8 weeks which you can book via the NHS app.

We are so fortunate. I see more and more how lucky we are in comparison to many.

Cannot get appt unless you do it on line on the day , it’s usually at full capacity v quickly so it’s a shocking system. I have been told by receptionist when I was requesting help that they categorically will not make any appointments by phone.

We book almost all our appointments on the day. Any further ahead and people don't turn up.

It’s the same at my GP. You could try going through the NHS app and booking a NHS check up - which included blood tests , but it might be at another GP practice. Also check their website to see if they do GP consult - it’s an online form which may result in a call back from the dr. If your really stuck Superdrug do one for £179

Most triage to avoid pointless appointments while pressures are high.
When you call in the morning do they triage your call in the daytime??

Agree it's crazy. I remember when you could call or walk into the surgery and book a non urgent appointment for a future date. Now we have to call and a doctor calls you back which isn't what I necessarily want ! Most of the time they call back when I'm at work or busy and I miss the call so the whole rigmarole starts again. I don't know why they did away with this system, surely it puts more pressure on the doctor having to call people back the same day.

Do you take vit D and good intake of foods high in iron OP.

Can you just go there as soon as they open and book appointment at the reception ? I had to do it few times as I couldn't book an appointment for weeks and was really unwell...