GP didn’t call me because their “workday has ended”

[angelinlothian]

I had a telephone call booked in at 15:40.

It rolls around and no call. 17:30 comes and goes which is when the surgery closes.

I get a text to say it’s not been completed as they got to the end of their workday and couldn’t make the call, which means at least 8 people were in the same position as me, they didn’t have their calls made.

So I now have to compete again tomorrow for an on the day call, and even having one booked in doesn’t guarantee it!

AIBU to think this is exactly why so many people end up in A&E? We’re told to go to our GP, but our GP won’t see us!

I'd say most jobs are like that. Where do you work where you have to stay till everything is done even well beyond your working hours? Do you stay for hours extra to finish off absolutely everything? GP have childcare and other things they need to be able to get back to. And are in a line of work where delays happen all the time. They are dealing with unwell people, who can't necessarily be rushed on.

I do agree on the communication and rescheduling though, as I already said.

I just find it really frustrating that they talk so much about how each missed appointment costs them so much money. But when they don’t work it’s fine?

I think the true issue is how it's handled - communication and rescheduling - and the fact it's generally so hard to access GPs.

Yes, that’s what the OP said.

I would assume they were dealing with emergencies.

Or do you mean you think they shouldn’t leave work on time?

Partly.

OP also seems to think that the GP should have continued working and not just gone home when their working day was over.

I’ve already stated that is what should have happened. But OP does seem disproportionately outraged that the GP didn’t stay the 3 additional hours to make up for whatever emergency took place in the day. Moaning about “what other jobs” when actually millions of people up and down the county across all professions do often just need to leave when they are finished contractually.

For clarity it’s a cyst in my knee that’s causing agony. I just want some pain relief while I wait for my ortho referral that’s been made. The physio can’t prescribe and signposted me to the GP.

I’m guessing my only option now will be 111. I don’t know if they can even help

In a way yes? I think it’s pretty shocking when it’s healthcare that they can just up and leave and leave patients in limbo!

But what if they needed to pick kids up? Or had an appointment themself? It’s not necessarily just “not bothering”. You can’t just leave kids at nursery at extra 2 hours after it’s shut because you need to work longer!

You should read threads on here when an employer has asked someone to make sure they are at their desk with computer on and logged in and ready to work for 9am. And the amount of people that would refuse to do that because the few minutes before 9am turning the computer on would not be paid!

There you go @TheChickenOrTheMiniEgg - OP thinks the GP should have stayed and finished all the appointments, regardless of their working hours and out of work commitments.

That's disgraceful and complaint worthy. My GP has signs saying if a patiemt is late, they will only be seen at the doctor's discretion. I'd be playing that back to them.

Is that so shocking?

other workers do it constantly. Doctors at hospitals, if I were to have client meetings and one overran I can’t just leave. I’d make an effort to stay, not just palm people off like this.

They’re not ‘not working ‘ they are prioritiising someone else with their limited resources.

Ah, I thought it was just that the GP had finished for the day.

Every practice I’ve been at has opened until at least 6:30 so I wasn’t expecting that it would be a problem.

Id certainly consider a complaint in this instance.

My gp runs late constantly it’s a part of the job role

So surely the appropriate thing to do in this scenario is either signpost me to 111 and OOH, rebook me for tomorrow morning, or some other help? Not just telling me to try again tomorrow.

DH has missed so much family life by having to stay at the hospital until he’s finished , missed birthday dinners family occasions school stuff funerals etc and he really regrets it. Younger doctors will not do the unpaid overtime and extra hours his generation did

Normally that will be a one off. Doctors at hospitals work in shifts so someone else will take over, it's not the same.

I imagine this happens all the time to GPs as it's the nature of the job, and I imagine they do work over. But they cannot be expected to stay and carry out 2 hrs of routine appointments after their working hours.

Do you suggest GPs just don't collect their children at school because someone had a heart attack during the day, or was suicidal and needed more than their 5 minute slot and they had to "make it up"?

And they wonder why the NHS is in the state it’s in?

They’re well paid, if myself and the other patients on the afternoon clinic all decided to go to A&E tonight that’s 9 people there waiting, adding pressure to them?

I called 111 when I couldn’t get an appointment at my GP, and was feeling really poorly.
THEY (111) got me an appointment with my GP! Apparently my surgery has slots set aside for 111 callers, and I got seen within an hour of calling them.

Good luck! xxx

Book them in as priority the next morning? Seems only fair.

I’m going to have to chance an OOH I think, which is really shit

Im not knocking what they do as they're amazing, but for a highly paid job it's par for the course that you do more than you're contracted for to get the job done. Within reason, I'd be expecting it.

Lots and lots of workers across all sectors do leave on time though. People are allowed to have commitments outside of their job and no one can prioritise their job 100% of the time, nor should they.

It’s one day to you, but where’s the cut off? Should they work 2/3hrs late every day?

I think at the bare minimum patients should be seen somewhat close to the time they’re allocated.

I understand emergencies happen, but in that case it needs to be communicated directly to the patient and something better is done? If I didn’t turn up I’d be receiving texts and letters, but they don’t carry out appointments and they’re just given a pass?