Accessing Healthcare on a Zero Hours Contract

[JockTamsonsBairns]

I'm a full-time care worker, doing domiciliary care on a Zero hours contract.

For what it's worth, I've been doing this for nearly 30 years, and I adore my job.

However, I need to try and get a GP appointment for myself - and I don't know how I can do it?

My surgery asks that we ring up at 8am for an appointment. I can't do that? I'm with my elderly client at that time.

I've tried popping in at around 2pm on my break, but I'm not allowed to make an appointment at that time.
I'm told I need to phone at 8am.

The only way I can phone at 8am, is to make myself unavailable for work?
So, I would lose my entire day from 7am until 10pm.
Even then, I couldn't guarantee an appointment.

Is there a solution to this that I'm not seeing?
I can't risk losing an entire 15hr shift, on the off chance that I might get a 10 minute appointment (or not).

Am I being unreasonable to think this doesn't work for ordinary folk?

Surely they also release some at lunchtime for the afternoon? Our surgery does so I presumed they all did. Worth asking

Some surgeries make appointments available to book via systm online or the NHS app

I would email/call the surgery with your predicament and see if there is any help at all they can offer. Hope you manage to get an appointment soon!

Thank you.

My problem is, if I've accepted a shift from work, which is 7am-10pm, then I can't take an afternoon appointment?

Ask the surgery how you can arrange an appointment. Tell them your schedule and request a solution. They're the healthcare provider, funded by you. It's up to them to provide healthcare.

Thank you.
I've tried this route, but they just tell me I have to phone at 8am.

Can someone else call for you at 8am?

Can you not quickly call them while you are with a client?

How many days are you working 7am - 10pm?

If you're not accessible for an appointment during these hours I'm not sure what you're expecting?

You need to call on a day off or holiday. Some surgeries are open Saturday mornings.

Do all the GPs in your area operate in this way or can you change to a different one?

What does your line manager think? Honestly I work with the elderly and most will happily allow you a few minutes to make a call. You should change surgeries if you can't resolve this. My surgery you van contact them online from 730 to 930 and explain the issue. They get back via text or phone call whichever you prefer and offer a solution which may be a phone consultation or a face to face appointment. Your surgery is behind the times.

What happens in your break times during these hours?

This is my issue though?

I can't tell the Surgery my schedule, because I need to get an appointment before I can give my availability to my work?

My work schedule is 7am-10pm.

If I could get an appointment a few days in advance, I could probably arrange cover for my appointment time?
But, I can't arrange cover with the way it's set up.
Nobody can cover me at 1-2hrs notice xx

Tell them you can't ring at eight. Lots of people can't ring at eight. They should sort it. Admin systems are supposed to enable work to be efficient and recordable, not to impose impossible conditions on patients who have a reasonable expectation of accessing the healthcare they fund.

The best solution to this actually depends on what you need to see a GP for.

GPs also vary in what they offer.

some surgeries offer an e consult where you fill in a form on their website. They then either email/text/phone you back.

you can get someone else to phone for you (but obviously they might get asked questions about what the appointment is for and do you actually need to see a nurse (blood tests and the like).)

I don't have break times, as it's domiciliary care.

Do you work every Monday to Friday as its not just getting an appointment its also being available for one. If I get a telephone appointment they perhaps won't ring you until 7 hours after your appointment time and if you don't answer it goes down as you missed the appointment it really needs to be done on a day of or you need to apologise to your client and say I need to call/answer for the doctor

I was going to suggest an e consult form too

Thank you. I do 7am-10pm five days a week, which includes weekends.
I have one day off a week, and another when I work just an early shift.

If I could get through on the phone, I could arrange an appointment, and get someone to cover me.
It's my inability to make the phone call that's the difficulty.

I wonder why OP is avoiding all the sensible suggestions?

You should be able to get a private GP appointment for about £70. Not ideal but better than losing a days salary. And if you are happy with an online consultation, its about £40

It depends what the issue is.

Are there urgent treatment centres or minor injury units near you - they may be accessible 'out of hours' and tend to be sit and wait situations.

One is illness, the other is injury.

There are also pharmacies that can assess and treat various things. Their opening hours can be longer.

Really?

https://www.england.nhs.uk/primary-care/pharmacy/pharmacy-services/pharmacy-first/

Otherwise 111 is accessible 24/7 and may be able to put you in touch with out of hour doctors - but the urgency of your situation will dictate how long you wait for call back.

Honestly, I don’t know. My mum’s surgery is like this. They only allow appointments if you call at 8am so I have no idea how people who work manage it.

Tbh I couldn't make an appointment if I was working. If we need one in this house, we all three of us get on our phones at 7.55 and redial until one of us is finally answered at about 8.45. Hence why we now either pretend not to be ill or go private.