Appointment system at GPs

[Zzzmumzzz]

Phoned my surgery for a routine appointment to address a gynaecology issue (asked to see a female GP). Receptionist informed me that I will go on a waiting list for Woman's Health appointment and will be contacted when I am at the top of the list/appointment becomes available. So I wait for how long.... she couldn't say. Is this a normal system for appointments?

I would see this as a positive - that you will get to speak to a GP with a special interest and some additional knowledge and experience around gynaecology issues.

Our practice has a female GP that runs weekly clinics for women's gynaecology, she does all the smears, coil fitting and removal etc and you can book in quite easily. Your surgery's system sounds awful! They should at least be able to give you a time frame for an appointment or book you in in the next few weeks! I'd be looking into changing GP surgery if I were you.

If it’s routine then I think it’s ok as it means you will be seeing a specialist (obviously it would be good to know when that’s likely to be but the NHS just doesn’t have the systems/resources to provide that kind of data). Presumably if it was urgent issue then they would had booked you in with just whichever doctor was available.

I experienced the same recently requesting an appointment for a dermatology issue and was very pleased. Previously the surgery wouldn't make advance bookings, everyone went into the same pot at the 8 am scramble for appointments over the next couple of days and it was potluck who you saw.

This way I got an appointment assigned the next day to take place in a fortnight's time with the doctor who had a dermatology special interest.

I'd be unimpressed. If you need an urgent check for thrush or B or you have irregular bleeding, you need to have your cervix looked at quickly.

This is completely deluded even for Mumsnet.

No i wouldn't be happy i would want some indication at least of how it may be.

And if you're not happy with the surgery look into changing.

People shouldn't just have to accept waiting weeks for a health issue.