To want to scream-GP appointments

[trainboundfornowhere]

I have to log onto an online system to book a 5 minute telephone appointment with a doctor from my surgery which cannot be booked more than a day before. Unless you are at death’s door the receptionist will tell you to book online as you cannot see a doctor before you have spoken to a doctor and they have decided it warrants seeing you in person. So far whenever I have logged on to the system since Sunday I have been told that they have no appointments. I am far from being at death’s door but might require antibiotics to clear it depending on the diagnosis. Am I wrong at this point to want to scream? Does anyone else have this many issues getting an appointment?

Honestly - no. I used to have that issue 10 years ago but I far prefer the online system that my GP practice uses. I have always had an appointment when I needed one, either face to face or telephone.
Having worked as a GP receptionist though I know that every surgery operates very differently.

The only issue I have had is that the online system is only available Mon-Fri, 8-am-6pm so if there I have a simple request (e.g blood test request) then I have to wait until the working day to log it and that can be difficult for me when I am at work.
Otherwise, I have been able to access appointments in reasonable timeframe depending on the issue. I prefer it to holding on for ages to speak to a receptionist.

Try your pharmacy I think they can help with antibiotics in certain circumstances

Just call 111 and they can get you in to see a dr . This is not a problem we have , we have an online triage but it’s very efficient and if I want a F2F appointment that is what I say on the form and that is generally what I get .

Five weeks ago on Thursday I started I got what is now turning into my annual Christmas chest infection I started swollen glands, low grade temperature and I start coughing up mucus. This usually lasts around two weeks and clears up on its own. This time I phoned in sick for one day when my temperature hit over 39 as I deal with the public every day. The next two days were my days off and I then went back to work as my temperature was normal. Five weeks since it started and I am still coughing up mucus, breathing is uncomfortable but not very painful, my temperature is a normal 36.5 in the morning but by the evening even if I haven’t been working it goes up to 37.3-37.5 and my throat is sore in the morning but a drink soon sorts that. It could just be bronchitis in which case it will clear on its own but at this point there are other things like potentially walking pneumonia. I think at this point I need to phone NHS 111 and try and get a diagnosis as if it’s walking pneumonia I may need antibiotics. Just utterly frustrated right now.

Can you fill in e consult? Then a gp will call you

Head to a pharmacist that can prescribe. They are so useful

Yes I only ever do this now.

I haven’t needed an appointment in years, I’ve had a phone call and prescriptions, blood tests and physios appointments within days that way.

Last year I completed a 111 form which adviswd me to make a GP apt asap. Similar to you and was getting breathless.

Miraculpusly there was an apt on Monday morning for me to book. Not surenif the system is more joined up than I expected or if it was happenstance. Dr prescribed AB's for a chest infection/lower lung crackles on one side.

37.3-37.5degC is at the higher end of normal temperature but still normal. Same as a temperature of 36.5 is not hypothermia. Hopefully that is a bit reassuring whilst you wait for an appointment and maybe it will settle down soon

No, we have no issues getting appointments at our surgery.

You can fill in an e-consult and you'll get a call back within a couple of hours, otherwise book online.

Yes OP. Yes my surgery is useless.
Been registered there quite a few years and only once have I tried to get a GP appointment. Gave up after a couple of days phoning at 8am and went to a private GP. Cost me £150 but that was for a half hour appointment the next day which gave me time to ask about a few things.
Came out with 2 perscriptions - the first one he told me to try cost £25. The second one I haven't filled as the first one seems to be doing the job.

This was an NHS GP who now works part time NHS and part time private.

I was pissed off and it does not bode well for the future but for me it was worth the money.

I have been at this GP surgery for nearly eight and half years and I have still never been in the surgery in all that time. I wish I could fill in an online form with my symptoms rather than just using the online system to request a call from a doctor.