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Original poster

To have worse symptoms after trying to see a GP! I have had enough!!!!!!!!!

29 replies

blcakgaragedoor · 07/04/2025 09:33

GP surgery here opens at 8:30 for you to call and get on the telephone triage list.
I was so super lucky to get through at 8:30 bang on and to only be on hold for 12 minutes. Receptionist answers takes my date of birth then nothing, the line is silent and ive obviously been cut off!
Try 141 times again and get through to be told there are no more slots - a recorded message so no one even to explain to. I went down and was told in a sing song learned off line. "I apologise all i can say is try again tomorrow"
ive looked on line and there are no email addresses for the surgery as i wanted to complain. Why are they still using this system and the same recoeded messages from covid times???

Im calling as my peri menopause symptoms are actually making me doubt my sanity at the minute. This nonsense this morning has driven me close to the edge. Im so sick of how broken everything is. At this point i would pay for this advice. Are there private peri menopause HRT clinics i can go to? Im in Northern Ireland.

OP posts:
Original poster
blcakgaragedoor · 07/04/2025 10:02

@WingSlutzthank you. Have you used this?

OP posts:
Movinghouseatlast · 07/04/2025 10:07

Have a look on The Menopause Support Network on Facebook. They have a list of private clinics. They also do private consultations and you can then get your GP to prescribe, although that's not much use if you can't see someone.

Have you tried going in or phoning and telling the receptionist how bad you feel, in detail? It's a broken system, makes me so angry.

toomuchfaff · 07/04/2025 10:10

The "call on the day" is for day appointments, emergency type appointment, ring the surgery and ask for a non urgent. It might be next Tuesday, but its an appointment. That's what I did for my menopause symptoms- after all, you're not dying, you're not sick, you don't need to be seen today, it's a chronic ailment, get a non urgent appointment.

anonymoususer9876 · 07/04/2025 10:51

The website for your GP surgery should have a policy on how to make a complaint. If not, go in and ask for it. Failing that, ask for the practice manager’s details and write to them.

Do be aware that the receptionists are only following practice procedures but they are on the frontline of dealing with patients’ dissatisfaction - that can be stuck between a rock and a hard place as they may not agree with how things are run.

WongKarCry · 07/04/2025 10:56

toomuchfaff · 07/04/2025 10:10

The "call on the day" is for day appointments, emergency type appointment, ring the surgery and ask for a non urgent. It might be next Tuesday, but its an appointment. That's what I did for my menopause symptoms- after all, you're not dying, you're not sick, you don't need to be seen today, it's a chronic ailment, get a non urgent appointment.

Lots of surgeries don't let you make routine appointments in advance. Mine doesn't, so you have to ring on the day or nothing. Stupid system, but not unusual.

MesmerisingMuon · 07/04/2025 10:56

Ours is the same. I wanted to speak to GP about perimenopause symptoms. It took 1 hour 20 minutes to get through on the phone, 3 weeks to get a phone appointment, another 5 weeks to get an in person appointment. That then got cancelled on the day so another 3 week wait...

It is just insane!

But yes there are private clinics you can apparently speak to and get help from.

BunfightBetty · 07/04/2025 10:58

Ring and ask to speak to the practise manager. Explain the problem and ask them to solve it. They will have the ability to make you an appointment. If they don’t solve it to your satisfaction, escalate the matter to your ICB.

pinkdelight · 07/04/2025 11:00

toomuchfaff · 07/04/2025 10:10

The "call on the day" is for day appointments, emergency type appointment, ring the surgery and ask for a non urgent. It might be next Tuesday, but its an appointment. That's what I did for my menopause symptoms- after all, you're not dying, you're not sick, you don't need to be seen today, it's a chronic ailment, get a non urgent appointment.

This used to be the way but many surgeries - including my own - have scrapped the later bookings for non-urgent appts and only do the same day mayhem now. Which sucks.

pinkdelight · 07/04/2025 11:02

Although when I cried at the receptionist due to the frustrations of said system - I was also calling for menopause-related reasons - she eventually caved and gave me an appointment for the following week. So it is possible, just no longer what the system is set up for, which is ridiculous as many matters aren't urgent.

Christmasbear1 · 07/04/2025 11:10

Try and get an appt through 111. Some gp surgeries save some appts for 111 to book. But you have to g through an assessment first.

Original poster
blcakgaragedoor · 07/04/2025 13:33

Our surgery only do a call on the day. They do not do future booking for appointments. I can go down and join a queue outside the door and they allow the first 30 in. Today I went at 8 and there were 46 ppl there. So tomorrow I’ll have to go earlier. That’s why I decided to ring.

OP posts:
Original poster
blcakgaragedoor · 08/04/2025 14:47

So I went
down
to the clinic this morning at 7:45am there were 15 people in front of me. At 8:31 she opened the door and we all filed in and asked for telephone appointment. They close at 2pm today. (Every Tuesday is early close) I was told I was on the list. It’s 2:46 pm. They are closed. I didn’t get a call. Still bleeding.

OP posts:
BunfightBetty · 08/04/2025 16:30

That is so shit. It may be that they will still call, ours sometimes do after closing time. But if they don’t and you’re worried, phone 111 and explain the situation and that your GP won’t give you an appointment.

DobbyTheHouseElk · 08/04/2025 16:34

That’s really terrible. I agree with calling 111 and telling them you are getting desperate now and the GP won’t see you. Not sure what they can do, but I’ve seen a GP at the hospital before now when I couldn’t get in. I have no idea how I saw a GP at the hospital, and it wasn’t mine, but he was really good.

BunfightBetty · 08/04/2025 16:38

In our area, they triage and a Dr calls you back. If they think you need to see a GP they make you an appointment at a local GP or walking centre. They send a report to your GP that you’ve had to call.

terracelane23 · 08/04/2025 16:51

toomuchfaff · 07/04/2025 10:10

The "call on the day" is for day appointments, emergency type appointment, ring the surgery and ask for a non urgent. It might be next Tuesday, but its an appointment. That's what I did for my menopause symptoms- after all, you're not dying, you're not sick, you don't need to be seen today, it's a chronic ailment, get a non urgent appointment.

Our surgery doesn’t do advance appointments. The only way to get one is to call on the day. Infuriating.

hopeishere · 08/04/2025 17:20

There’s a clinic in Holywood the maypole I think that’s good. Siobhan Kirk is a menopause specialist. There are also private GPs at Kingsbridge that do menopause stuff.

hopeishere · 08/04/2025 17:22

Actually the Maypole is also part of Kingsbridge! You can book online.

User5274959 · 08/04/2025 18:15

toomuchfaff · 07/04/2025 10:10

The "call on the day" is for day appointments, emergency type appointment, ring the surgery and ask for a non urgent. It might be next Tuesday, but its an appointment. That's what I did for my menopause symptoms- after all, you're not dying, you're not sick, you don't need to be seen today, it's a chronic ailment, get a non urgent appointment.

Our surgery now exclusively does on the day appointments only. It's that or nothing.

Original poster
blcakgaragedoor · 09/04/2025 08:05

Does anyone know why this is happening? I’ve to send the kids to school with a neighbour again this morning so I can stand here outside again. Only 9 in front of me this morning so small meats I guess. I have been informed by the lady in front of me who is a “pro” that I need to ham up my symptoms to be guaranteed a call. She also said requesting a gender doctor (I asked for a female doctor) doesn’t help. So at this point I’d take advice from the window cleaner. If I can’t get sorted today I’ll book in with Knightsbridge.

OP posts:
endofthelinefinally · 09/04/2025 08:10

Does your surgery offer e- consults?

Viviennemary · 09/04/2025 08:15

A lot of surgeries are now ring on the day. It's really annoying you were cut off. But it happened. So just try tomorrow. The GP system will be as bad as dentists soon.

fatgirlswims · 09/04/2025 08:23

Call 111. My appointment was cancelled and I was going away a need medication. I went to the surgery (in tears) and was given a nurse practitioner appointment who wouldn’t prescribe the medicine. Offered a physio appointment and a pharmacist appointment but I did not want to be fibbed off again! Called 111 and they gave me an appointment at my surgery with a GP partner.

its fucked the system is nuts.

call 111 say you are bleeding and if you ant to ham it up - it’s heavy painful and and you think you have anaemia and feel tired and weak.

Game the system. It’s shit.

MargaretThursday · 09/04/2025 08:29

toomuchfaff · 07/04/2025 10:10

The "call on the day" is for day appointments, emergency type appointment, ring the surgery and ask for a non urgent. It might be next Tuesday, but its an appointment. That's what I did for my menopause symptoms- after all, you're not dying, you're not sick, you don't need to be seen today, it's a chronic ailment, get a non urgent appointment.

Non urgent here you get a text. Usually telling you something you already knew and told them or telling you to go somewhere else and stop bothering them normally somewhere which you've already told them has said they can't deal with it ...

The rumour is that if you actually get an appointment you won't see another patient in the waiting room (for 8 doctors in)

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