AIBU to complain about the doctors surgery?

[hdgshsknx]

I had an appointment at the local GP practice today because I believe I have a chest infection. I'm asthmatic so prone to them.
I arrived at 13 45 for a 13 50 appointment. I signed in on the automatic screens and it showed me as arrived and to take a seat. It stated I was the next patient.
I waited for the screen to call me. It states on the wall of my practice that if you've not been seen 15 minutes after your appointment time to speak to staff. It got to 14 00 and I went to the receptionist who told me id not been marked as seen and therefore the GP couldn't see me because it would have a knock on effect
She saw me sat in the practice, there was nobody else here. I insisted on being seen and I was told that it wouldn't be happening and I'd have to return and try again another day
I can hardly breathe and my chest is tight. I'm asthmatic and I really feel shocking
I want to write a complaint but my husband says that might be overkill

Do you mean you’d not been marked as Arrived, OP?

It sounds like something went wrong with the computer system. I think you should factually inform the Practice Manager of what happened, including the fact that you are asthmatic and having difficulty breathing (say what meds you have had to increase).

Presenting it as a concern for other patients and the running of the surgery, not just your own issue, and staying low key, will help the impact. The PM ought to be well aware already that asthma kills.

Good luck with this

That’s appalling. Did you tell her you were asthmatic? Definitely complain to the practice manager but please get help sooner via 999 or 111 if your breathing deteriorates.

The doctor should have poked their head into the waiting room to see if you were there. I always do this if patients haven’t turned up, just to check. And we would always shuffle things to get you seen in the event of a computer glitch, especially if you are unwell.

This happened to MIL. I was with her and saw the logged in computer thing. After 20mins or so I went to the counter to query it and they too didn't think she'd arrived! They did fit her in though. I'm surprised, given that breathing issues can be a serious problem and a higher priority than say a sore toe, that they didn't fit you in.

I too would be writing a letter to the practice manager. Their name can often be found on the surgeries website if you look for 'Meet the Team'. I'd phrase it that their computer system is flawed/might have glitches and the knock on affect to yourself. I hope you are recovering OP x

Thank you. I ended up in a and e last night but am feeling a lot more human. I'm going to ring the practice this week

That's terrible. I have a lung disease which causes bad infections and last time I turned up at GP with no appt and they took one look at me and took me straight through and put me on a nebuliser. No appt, no fuss, just immediate attention and treatment.

In your case, I'd be contacting practice manager

I am so sorry you ended up in A&E. The PM needs to know this when you contact them.

Again, this is so serious and potentially of consequence for so many patients that I think an understated, factual, ‘we’re in this together’ (‘we’ being the patients, the PM and the GP) attitude will gain you a lot of respect, good will and hopefully results.

It will help if you can state a preferred outcome when you contact the PM - eg change this policy when the office screws up, prioritise asthma patients, whatever.

Best wishes