Impossible to book an appointment at my local GP.

[CoralQueen]

I have the depo provera injection every 3 months and I've recently moved to a new area. As I knew it was due soon, I registered at the local doctors straight away and have been trying to ring every day for the past 2 weeks to make an appointment!

They never answer the phone and reviews online state a similar problem. I work the hours that they are open, so I can never get there in time to visit and book an appointment.

There are a lot of complications if you don't get the injection on the day or within the week, so I'm really at a loss of what to do.

Any advice?

Can you do it via a Family Planning clinic instead? Assuming these still exist, or maybe they have a different name now...

I'm new to the area so I don't know if there is one, but Google doesn't bring anything up other than my GP surgery!

Is there a surgery near to your work that you could register with instead?

Or one of those drop in health centres maybe? Or ring NHS direct, they might have other numbers?

Thanks for all the help. I was thinking about moving surgeries but I don't know whether it would transfer in time for when I need to appointment? Walk in centres have unpredictable waiting times and as its a new job I don't want to take liberties!

Family Planning Clinica normally have evening sessions I think.

How long are you waiting on the phone before deciding that "no-one is answering"?

I ask because the surgery I used to work at had 8 lines coming into one phone - therefore, if 8 patients are calling, 1 is being dealt with and 7 are getting a ringing tone! The calls did come through in turn but getting 'your turn' relied on you staying on the phone long enough. If you hung up & redialed you would go back to the end of the queue.

I have no idea why they do this - although I suspect that if people were constantly getting the engaged tone they would be accusing the staff of "having the phone of the hook".

From memory, lunchtime to about 3pm used to be quieter on the phones, so you may be more likely to get through then.

Try this - Family Planning Association clinic finder

Thanks again everyone.

Each time I have rang, I have waited about 5 minutes before putting the phone down and I usually phone in the afternoon.

Anyway, problem solved! I went in this morning, making me late for work, and I booked the appointment. I asked why no one was answering and like you explained @LazyMonkeyButler, there is a queuing system where the telephone just rings until you get through.

That's fair enough, but why would you not have a message stating that you're in a queue? Not very clear but hey, it's sorted now.