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?

Providing the OP has someone willing and able to take part in the 8 am scramble for her and also able to make decisions about when she's going to be able to get to an appointment.

In the past there's occasionally been a 'choose and book' facility, which seems to have been quietly dropped. I've been referred for a scan on something non urgent, but needs looking at and it seems impossible to jump through all the hoops to get an appointment - I have to ring up and give my details then they'll ring back, which they inevitably do when I'm away from my phone because I'm working so not able to answer it. Then I ring back and the cycle continues.

Or they just issue an appointment for a random time when I'm at work and I have to find time to ring them to go round in circles again because there seems to be absolutely no appreciation that people have time when they're at work when they're unavailable and time when they are available and they'd like the appointment then - many people have health issues that need attention but don't stop them working in the meantime, so it's not like they're off sick and available for appointments at the drop of a hat.

I suggested this as it has come in useful for me before as my DH was able to make an appointment for me when I was particularly unwell. But he is familiar with my availability/ work schedule so knew when to avoid.

Call on your day off. You might get an appointment that day. If not is for the future one of your posts said that you can swap shifts

What a garbage system. It doesn’t have to be like that. At my GPs, there is no 8am scramble, you call at whatever time, you go on a list, the “duty” Dr rings you back, assesses you over the phone, and if you need it, gives you an appointment.

Over the last year, for all my family, when we have needed it, we have been seen the same day.

GPs surgery’s need to invest a bit more… a decent Practice Manager can make all the difference.

Does your employer have an employee assistance programme? If so you may be able to access a GP that way.

Ring on the day you’re not at work. If you can’t get an appointment that day, ring on the next day that you’re not at work.

You work for £3.80 an hour?

I am self employed and a carer to my mum, regularly come up against this problem.

When you ring the surgery, first take the name of the person you are speaking to, then when they won't play ball calmly explain that you will be holding them personally and severably liable for damages should any long term ill befall you by their not letting you speak to a GP.

Works every time!!

I'm surprised you haven't been contacted by the practice manager and asked not to threaten the staff.

Why?, it's not a threat, but a statement of intent - and perfectly legal, which is why it works every single time.

What receptionist needs to be looking at a potential legal case against them - you have to be of course polite and concise, you are not being nasty to a given person, just explaining calmly the potential result of not being given access to care.

A threat of legal action is quite legitimate and a regular occurrence, Ie: if you don't pay your rent I am going to take action to evict you.

A threat of illegal action is a different ball game, and in itself illegal.

As I say, works a treat, they fold easily every time.

The receptionists are just doing what they’ve been told, they don’t make the rules. They get paid minimum wage or not much more, and they’re just following rules.
I spent my university holidays working as a GP receptionist, 20 years ago. If you’d have spoken to me like that I’d have just referred you to the practice manager. I wasn’t paid enough to be spoken to like that.

In this case, I would write to the practice to say my work meant I was unable to call at 8am to make an appointment, so how am I and others in a similar position able to make an appointment, especiallyif there is no obe rlse who can call on your behalf? I'd also point out I can't have a mobile phone in the workplace and can't guarantee exact break times to be available for a call-back.

Phoning at 8am works if you're too sick to work, but only once have I had an appointment thst urgent - usually it's regular check-ups for a chronic condition or for things like smears, or they want me to do bloods.

Fortunately, my surgery doesn't work like this - we fill in a form, it's triaged the same day and you get sent a list of possible appointment times to choose one that suits. You can still phone ,but then the receptionist basically filles in the form for you, but at least there's an option for those who are visually impaired or don't have Internet access. Phone only does not work for many people for various reasons.

But you said calling was the issue, not the appointment as you can book time off for that?

What do you want people to tell you?

😂😂😂id like to see that court case

Bet you're on their Christmas card list, not

Oh come on, we all work. You have one day off in the week...so thats your answer you do it then???

Yes, the OP is in a better position that many of those who work Monday- Friday. At least they have a day off in the week to call.

It’s a load of nonsense over nothing.

I'm in the same boat. I just organize anything non urgent on my week off.
Also I found an online GP service that's also worth a try. - I'm minimum wage paid but still works out cheaper to do a private GP appointment than take a while day unpaid (or more) to get an appointment.
To all those saying email the GP surgery -In my experience the GPs dont give a shit & say it's not their problem if it costs you to attend.
Anything urgent use 111 to get an out of hours appointment or a&e/walk in centre.

You have been given loads of good advice. You have a day of in the week every week to make the appointment and go to it. You're acting like you don't actually want a solution and just want to moan.

But I think the OPs problem is that she doesn't always get through if she rings on her non working day, because you have to get through at 8 am.

Then if she does, either there's no same day appointments left or if its not urgent, they refuse to give her an appointment that day and she can't make one for another day because she doesn't know which day off she'll have in the next week or two.

It's the system that's at fault. Just about anything else that requires a booking allows you to go online and get one for any time between now and pretty much the end of time. Yet it seems like an impossible ask for a GP appointment.

Can you call on your day off if it is midweek? Is there a walk in centre you could visit if it’s an emergency or urgent

Well everyone else works and manages. I don't believe people who say they couldn't get through you do actually have to put some effort in and ring at 8 and being willing to wait in the queue or if it's engaged keep pressing redial until someone answers. Also like others have said she needs to look to see if her gp surgery let's you book online. None of us can do this stuff for her she has to do it.

OP, if your shifts as you've indicated include weekends, then your day off must be in the week, in which case, why can't you phone them and book an appointment for that day?

She said that, as long as she has notice, she can arrange for cover. So, not getting an appointment on that day would still work because she can arrange for cover on whatever day she gets.

we have to fill out a form at 8 am
if you fill out the form, shouldnt take long, while you are at work and then tell them your availability