Same day GP appointments

[Boogl]

My GP surgery has just changed to a system of only offering same day appointments, for which you have to ring at 8am. Previously they had some same day/emergency appointments, with the rest offered in advance. I've just called to make routine, non-urgent appointments for me and one DC, and there's nothing. I can't ring at 8am due to school run and commute without taking a day off work, but the receptionist admitted that there's no guarantee of an appointment, even if you get through. I can't be constantly taking days off work and keeping children off school on the off chance I might get an appointment.

Anybody else have this system? Who does it benefit? The receptionist said that they'd had loads of complaints, mainly from working people, people with school age kids, and the elderly. She also said that maybe we should call 111 or go to A&E. But we're not sick. I appreciate emergency appointments are sometimes needed, but the vast majority of my GP appointments in my adult life have been very routine, not urgent at all.

So frustrating!

The system is no longer fit for purpose.

Recently I have paid for private GP appointments for throat infection and UTI simply because I can't get appointments with a Dr. at my GP clinic.

The private appointments are not perfect because the Dr. does not have your health records in front of them.

You also have to pay private prescription price for whatever medicine you're prescribed. On top of their £160 consultation fee.

But at least they give you enough time and you feel listened to.

It's not an option for most people though.

Yep. Ours is even worse, you can’t phone them at all, you have to fill in an online form. They only have emergency appointments and they always fill up straight away, so every time I ask for an appointment they tell me to use Livi instead. I’ve had an ongoing issue for 2 months now and it’s been impossible to get help.

My GP surgery you have to get on the phone at 8.00 and then get put into a queue. I had to call a couple of weeks ago, the queue was 'over 30 callers' long. I waited 45 minutes to finally speak to a receptionist. Managed to get the last phone appointment for the day with my GP of choice, but no time given for when she would call that day. Got a call back about 4.5 hrs later. I figured that was a relatively good result considering. Times really have changed drastically.

My GP does offer a timeslot of 2-3 hours (still not great but better than all day). Last time they even told me I was third on the call sheet so would probably be the earlier end. They called half an hour into the timeslot. In a way this is better as they never used to stick to appointment times anyway.

My surgery has an on the day appointment system but we also have an app which opens at 6am for requests. So I put my request in nice and early and usually get a message by 9am either with an appointment time (usually with my preferred doctor) or to tell me that someone will call me. The only thing that I don't like is not having even an approx time slot for the phone call. I feel that I can't walk the dog, can't wash dishes, can't do too much because I'm waiting and need to be ready and available to talk. All in all though I think that the online requests, prompt response and on the day appointments works well.

@StrataZon luckily I WFH -the office doesn't even have a decent phone signal!

The receptionist was very keen to give me an email address for me to complain, so I'll be sending that off today.

I suppose at least I can get an in person appointment. In theory, anyway...

But emergency GP appointments for heart attacks and strokes? Surely they're ambulance jobs. But I suppose that's another service that's been cut to the bone.

Have to cross numerous busy roads with three kids under 8, and then get on a busy train. Don't fancy discussing my period problems on the phone in either of those circumstances.

@Honeysuckle16 unfortunately or maybe fortunately they just cut you off if you try before 0800. It's fastest fingers first and just wait in the queue which is an improvement from having to keep dialling and taking 100calls before you got an answer.

@Boogl I said the same re their emergency appointments anyone phoning with those symptoms should be directed to call 999 not wait for a same day dr appointment.

My surgery is completely ridiculous and is only getting worse. It still has all covid restrictions in place and don't even let you in to the waiting room on the odd occasion. You do have an appointment. You have to check in via the office window and wait in all weathers for the dr to come and collect you 😬

I really don't know how the elderly and are expected to access healthcare now!