Page 8 | GP didn’t call me because their “workday has ended”

Zov · 26/02/2026 21:32

latetothefisting · 26/02/2026 20:49

(bangs head against wall) but that is irrelevant because 3.40 (the time OP's appt was for) is highly unlikely to be the end of their working day!

And even if (very unlikely) this particular GP's set working hours are 9am to 3.40pm and there is no expectation they should ever have to work a second past that, then in that case the surgery shouldn't be booking appointments for them for 3.40pm - their last appointment should be 3.10 or even earlier to allow for appts overrunning, paperwork, etc.

Otherwise what happens if someone goes in at 3.38 and starts stripping off for a vaginal exam - according to you it's fine for the GP to just jump up and walk out the door, leaving them on the table legs akimbo?

Lots of things aren't an 'emergency service' but realistically you would still expect them to carry on until the job had been completed.

I doubt you'd be happy if you were at the theatre, it started a few minutes late so the actors just all stopped half way through the climactic final scene/song and walked out. Or were at a restaurant waiting for 3 hours for a meal, because the old chef had finished their shift and the new one phoned in sick, with nobody bothering to tell you? Or if you were 2 mins late to pick up your child but when you arrived they were nowhere to be seen because the school/nursery had kicked the kids out and locked the building the second the school day ended? Or your plumber/electrician left you without a working boiler/flushing toilet/any lights because they needed to get home to their kids and couldn't take 5 minutes more to fix your issue?

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100% this! ^

Pinepeak2434 · 26/02/2026 21:44

I’ve never had a doctor fail to call, but I have had them call later than arranged. We’re given a two-hour window for the call, which I find very frustrating, as it means I’m waiting around. However, this is an improvement, as they used to provide no indication of timing at all. I’ve reached the point where I try to avoid booking appointments whenever possible because the whole process is so frustrating , but this has sometimes left me very unwell.

Beentheredonethat26 · 26/02/2026 21:50

hyggetyggedotorg · 26/02/2026 19:40

Surgeries have to have procedures in place for that too. I should know, I was responsible for deciding what ours should be. This still cannot be call at 8am or you’ll never be able to see anyone.

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Ours still have that system. Call at 8am or E-consult between 8am and 10am for urgent appts, but it's often shut by 8.30-9am. Calling dead on 8am, usually means you're 30+ in the queue and all appts are gone by the time you speak to someone.
They've got around the new guidelines by saying you have to be invited by them to be able to book a same day online appt. Can't access it without a link and it's only for 3 things eg, smear test.

JohnTheRevelator · 26/02/2026 21:51

Absolute bloody piss take.

Womaninhouse17 · 26/02/2026 21:52

Notsandwiches · 26/02/2026 20:39

We have to do the 8am battle. Tried last week and was number 14 in the queue. Got to the front and there were no appointments. I think it's BS that they're inundated. Even when you go to the surgery theres never more than a couple of other patients waiting. No way are they rushed off their feet.

Maybe there's only a couple of people waiting because the appointments are well organised and on time? Can you do appointments via the NHS app? (I think they're trying to get all surgeries to do this now.) I find it really useful and get a choice of times and days. I do appreciate that my surgery seems to be less busy than others though.

Beentheredonethat26 · 26/02/2026 21:55

Cappie73 · 26/02/2026 19:13

Wow! That’s a bold statement! Not a sentiment I share

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Can I just point out that only the first paragraph, shown in italics was written by me.

I do not agree with, and did not write, the second bit about feminisation.

purpleheartsandroses · 26/02/2026 21:56

goz · 26/02/2026 21:15

I mean who would stop you?
Other than open days, specific meetings, or if they’ve arranged to do bus duties I know several teachers that leave when the children leave. Marking or planning doesn’t need to be done at your desk. I’ve never come across a head to dictate that.

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Open days/specific meetings/extra duties...you mean something pre-arranged...like a pre-arranged telephone appointment?

(But also emergencies like children not being collected or safeguarding reports)

onyxtulip · 26/02/2026 22:03

I'm a GP and I agree that's very bad form. They should have at least offered you an alternative appointment the next day, regardless of the circumstances

onyxtulip · 26/02/2026 22:04

To clarify - without you having to initiate that further appointment yourself/jump through all the hoops again

gototogo · 26/02/2026 22:07

When this happens at my surgery they call you at 8am to book you in though my surgery is open until 8pm anyway

SadTimesInFife · 26/02/2026 22:21

angelinlothian · 26/02/2026 17:43

Nope. The text says I need to get another call booked in tomorrow.

What I mean is people who have health problems that need to be seen cannot access care any other way. If I can’t see my GP, because even having an appointment doesnt guarantee that, what else am I meant to do?

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You tell them you are an asylum seeker and that your taxi is collecting you from your hotel, bringing you over NOW.

Nursemumma92 · 26/02/2026 22:22

angelinlothian · 26/02/2026 18:18

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?

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You definitely should be allocated a call tomorrow if the Dr couldn't fit you in before the end of the day, however it isn't fair to say that they couldn't leave before making all the appointments. You have no idea what happened that day, what emergencies may have cropped up etc. If your 15.40 appointment wasn't carried out before 17.30 when the practice closed then there were clearly significant problems that the GP was dealing with.

That GP may have had to finish due to collecting children from childcare etc... they do have a commitment to the job but are also only human.

It is the practice's fault in the way this is being dealt with- you should not have to try and rebook tomorrow.

In the meantime, you can get cocodamol 8mg/500mg from a pharmacy which may help a bit more with the pain while you are waiting for another appointment.

ForeverTheOptomist · 26/02/2026 22:31

angelinlothian · 26/02/2026 17:37

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!

OMG! Do you actually mean that you have to call in again to book a call? This is unbelievable! I'm so sorry. And I know what it's like - all the while you're trying to keep yourself in a position that you can take the call. I hope that you manage to speak to your GP tomorrow.

1Messycoo · 26/02/2026 22:44

Sign of the times

grumpygrape · 26/02/2026 22:56

nocoolnamesleft · 26/02/2026 20:55

I am not a GP. But I know damn well that the ambulance service deprioritises patients who are already in a GP surgery "because they're already in a safe place" and "they'll have a defibrillator". GPs have to wait way longer than the public for a 999 response.

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Thanks for your response.That doesn’t seem very good if the emergency patient needs equipment which the surgery doesn’t have but also surely there should be a contingency plan in place to deal with the appointment patients waiting to be seen/contacted ?

grumpygrape · 26/02/2026 22:58

Alyss05 · 26/02/2026 20:57

Yes the will ring 999. But fun fact - emergency services will nearly always put them lower priority than a call of the same nature from the public. As the person in the GP surgery is in a “safe place” and has a doctor with them.
that GP might not have equipment or the drugs to give fluids or antibiotics for example though. So yes a Doctor is there, but often there’s not much they can do to help the patient but the patient often waits longer.

also the doctor might be trying to refer the patient and this can take a long time e.g. to specialists in the hospital or trying to get community mental health services to get involved with a patient.

GPs are left to deal with a lot of stuff that they shouldn’t have to deal with sometimes.

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Thanks for your response.As I said to a previous poster, that doesn’t seem very good if the emergency patient needs equipment which the surgery doesn’t have but also surely there should be a contingency plan in place to deal with the appointment patients waiting to be seen/contacted ?

grumpygrape · 26/02/2026 22:59

goz · 26/02/2026 21:01

It wouldn’t be one thing though, there will be a baby slotted in at the last minute, several appointments all running over by a couple of minutes each and then you only need one “emergency” of 20-30 minutes and you’re nearly up to 2 hours of a delay.

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Thanks for your response.As I said to a previous poster, surely there should be a contingency plan in place to deal with the appointment patients waiting to be seen/contacted ?

Sunshineandoranges · 26/02/2026 23:01

angelinlothian · 26/02/2026 17:43

Nope. The text says I need to get another call booked in tomorrow.

What I mean is people who have health problems that need to be seen cannot access care any other way. If I can’t see my GP, because even having an appointment doesnt guarantee that, what else am I meant to do?

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I would have to make some sort of complaint. I think they should be saying very sorry we couldnt call you but have booked this time tomorrow please confirm this new time is convenient. So far my own gp are brilliant..you book online and get call backs or face to face appoints next day.

3smallpups · 26/02/2026 23:01

Crikey, all the Vet bashing in the media at the moment, but if you called our surgery at 7.20 when we closed at 7.30 and your pet needed seeing, a vet and two nurses would stay until you arrived and treat it. There are some jobs that just aren’t 9 to 5 , there will always be occasions where you don’t finish on time , it’s the nature of the job.

grumpygrape · 26/02/2026 23:01

Reinventedblanket · 26/02/2026 21:10

Plus you also have to manage the emergency to a point as well. If someone is having a heart attack or an acute episode of psychosis you can't just stick them in the waiting room you have to manage the situation until the emergency services arrive. There'll also be emergency situations from care homes or other staff they need to support with as well as urgent contacts from hospital/laboratory etc. It's just complex and not an exact science. Plus appointments just often run a long way over, often for very good reasons. Other days might go more smoothly.

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I understand this but as I have said to previous posters, where is the contingency plan for people who have been assessed as needing same day appointments ?

nocoolnamesleft · 26/02/2026 23:02

grumpygrape · 26/02/2026 22:56

Thanks for your response.That doesn’t seem very good if the emergency patient needs equipment which the surgery doesn’t have but also surely there should be a contingency plan in place to deal with the appointment patients waiting to be seen/contacted ?

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Contingency plans tend to need slack in the system. The NHS is short of slack in the system. I rather doubt that there are any practices with a trained GP sitting in a staff room eating doughnuts all day, just in case an emergency happens. They'd have their own full list of patients.

This was communicated badly, and the practice should have rebooked for tomorrow, but if there was an emergency, there won't have been a spare person to do the appointments.

grumpygrape · 26/02/2026 23:04

Appleandcidergravy · 26/02/2026 21:31

So what if the GP had an emergency- they were taken ill, or had to pick up a sick child, or their parent was dying?
Yes it was rubbish how they have handled it- but the GP may have had to leave for an important reason- I have had to leave to pick up sick kids from nursery or deal withy husbands seizures. Unfortunately my patients just get cancelled.... I have also gone home throwing up due to a migraine.....

I’m getting boring even to myself now. I appreciate emergencies happen but why do previously assessed patients in need of a same day appointment then get shunted back to the end of the queue ?

grumpygrape · 26/02/2026 23:06

onyxtulip · 26/02/2026 22:03

I'm a GP and I agree that's very bad form. They should have at least offered you an alternative appointment the next day, regardless of the circumstances

At last ! Surely this should be the automatic contingency plan in case of emergencies ?

grumpygrape · 26/02/2026 23:10

nocoolnamesleft · 26/02/2026 23:02

Contingency plans tend to need slack in the system. The NHS is short of slack in the system. I rather doubt that there are any practices with a trained GP sitting in a staff room eating doughnuts all day, just in case an emergency happens. They'd have their own full list of patients.

This was communicated badly, and the practice should have rebooked for tomorrow, but if there was an emergency, there won't have been a spare person to do the appointments.

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I don’t mean a donut eating GP should have been available, just that the patients who would not be seen/phoned should be communicated with and appointments booked for the next day without them having to start the process again. It should be like snakes and ladders or Monopoly.

CactusSwoonedEnding · 26/02/2026 23:14

angelinlothian · 26/02/2026 17:55

Guaranteeing me an appointment tomorrow morning?

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No. Because tomorrow the triage system will have received 20 new cases that are more urgent than yours. It's not a "time served" queue. You having been bumped off the list today is unfortunate but wasn't a deliberate act of malice. Each patient is scheduled for 10 minutes but sometimes it takes longer if there's a complex history, or the patient has multiple interlocking issues. Or there could have been a serious emergency at the surgery that took the dr away from the phone for an hour. No one was sitting with their feet up thinking "I can't be arsed to call @angelinlothian today"

They need you to complete the form again in the morning because they need to know your symptoms at the time, not yesterday's symptoms, in order to correctly triage you. If you are deteriorating then your urgency will increase.