Can’t get a GP appointment. Frustrating

[number90]

I know that the NHS is really struggling, but what are you supposed to do in this kind of situation?

I've been trying to book an appointment with my GP for almost 2 weeks now. I need to get some blood tests done because I might have an underactive thyroid or diabetes (the symptoms are similar). I've also got this lump on the side of my neck that's been there for 3 weeks, which makes me think it could be a thyroid problem (my mum and grandmother both had underactive thyroids too).

I've been calling every day (starting at 8:30) and usually end up on hold for 30-40 minutes, only to be told they're at full capacity and to try again tomorrow. I mentioned the lump to the receptionist, but she said it’s not urgent. Okay, but when does it actually become urgent?

I doubt that complaining will change anything (not that I want to anyway), and I'm not sure if other GPs are any better. I've even looked into private tests, but the thyroid test alone costs £90 😔

At my practice, those early morning calls are for same day/ urgent appointments only. Otherwise you call after 10am for an appointment (not the same day), or there is an online booking system. There should be something like that available?.

Can you message them? My surgery has a message service. I messaged and sent a pic of a mole I was worried about and they sent me a link to book an urgent appointment. The same doc had no ‘regular’ appointments available.

Alternatively, tell them you have a new lump that may have grown. They shouldn’t tell you it’s not urgent. The receptionist cannot decide that.

or change surgery? My surgery have always seen me on the day when needed or will book an app in the future if it’s less urgent. My children have always been seen on the day and even if I call in the afternoon because they are small.

Is there not an online e-consult? We have that and you always get a reply within a few hours

That is terrible that you’ve been waiting two weeks. What do they expect you to do, just keep ringing?

Is there a walk in clinic in the area you could go to, or are these more for emergencies?

I have an underactive thyroid and the treatment for it when I was in the UK was terrible. I know that doesn’t help you though, sorry.

My daughter came out from hospital last week after suffering meningitis and can’t walk. I’ve tried to get one too no luck!

The issue is that they don’t allow you to book appointments ahead of time, so you have to call in the morning to get on the triage list. If the list is already full, you’ll just have to try again the next day. This all happens before you even get an appointment. Plus, there’s no online booking system. It’s really frustrating 🙁

I would phone 111 under these circumstances and they should be able to book an appointment at your surgery for you.

Our doctor has an app where you tell them what you want so on this case you'd make a request for the blood test and why you need it.

Call 111 or ask to speak to the practice manager, a receptionist is not qualified to tell you whether a lump on your neck is urgent or not.

Unfortunately no, you just have to call in the morning and keep your fingers crossed. My mums GP uses the e-consult system, and she says it works well. It’s a shame my GP doesn’t use it.

Same here.

I may be wrong but I thought all GPs had to offer it now.

I think that’s only in England? I could be wrong though. I’m in North Wales so it might be different for us.

So sorry to hear about your daughter. I hope she gets an appointment soon x

This is very frustrating OP.

My gp surgery is awful for getting appointments too.

I am waiting for a callback to discuss my test results.

They only availability they had was in 4 weeks time and so I took that one but then they rang at a different time and I’m not allowed my phone on at work, so I missed it.
It was then another 7 weeks before they had any other availability and I took the day off so I didn’t miss it.
I was then told that the test results were invalid as it had been so long since I had them done.
So I had to wait 3 weeks to get another blood test (another day off work due to limited availability) and 5 weeks for the phone call.

Can you see if there are any nearby places that do blood tests and then ask the surgery to request a blood test from them?

They usually have a lot more availability than then gp surgeries.

Thank you! I was thinking of calling 111, so I’ll see what they say.

You need to ring 111 or 999 and get an ambulance out if she can’t walk!

💐💐

Same at my practice and I’m in England. No e-consult as my practice uses their own app rather than the nhs app. We have to call every day at 8:30 and like you OP, there’s usually nothing left. If it’s for one of my kids, they have to stay off school until the triage person rings back - which can be an all day call. This is for something routine like low iron. It’s ridiculous.

Change surgery. We are with a medium sized Group practice, and if you need seeing you get seen. If you call in the morning you get triaged by the triage GP, they might call you in for appointment that day, call you in for a year, or prescribe something. I’ve never called and not got an appointment.
Some surgeries are in the dark ages, no interest in modernising.

Could you go in to the reception at 8:30 and get an on the day appointment at reception so you don’t have to wait in the queue on the phone?

If your doctor can't meet your needs, is there a practice manager you can contact or a different practice you can join? Can you raise a complaint?

Quick google gives this info:
"If you're struggling to make an appointment, contact your GP surgery directly. Details of the complaints process and surgery management team will usually be on the surgery website.

If you're not comfortable raising a complaint directly or do not feel you've had a satisfactory response, you can complain to the NHS". .Complain to the NHS

I’m sorry to hear about your daughter x

It's mad isn't it. I'm 54 and when I was a kid the doctor used to come to us if we were too ill to make it to the surgery. How have things changed so much in those years. They will claim that the waiting lists are going down but they aren't counting the people who are waiting.

Take her back to A+E

In England there are evening and weekend appointments at centralised locations that you book via your GP, these are not the same as the out of hours service. Surgeries rarely tell people it exists though.
https://suffolkfed.org.uk/healthcare-services/gp/
https://www.cambsgpnetwork.nhs.uk/gp-enhanced-access
https://middevonhealthcare.co.uk/evening-and-weekend-appointments/

Those are just some examples, it exists in every County. You can usually find it by searching for "weekend bookable GP appointment" followed by the name of your County. I've never not been able to get an appointment that way