What the hell do you do when you just can’t get a GP appointment?

[Anniessongs]

It’s a horrendous system.

I am 43. I’ve had back troubles for years but my last pregnancy exacerbated issues to the point I could barely walk. I am now also having issues with one knee being incredibly painful and I’m struggling to live a ‘normal’ life.

You can only make appointments at 130 on a Friday. Normally I’m at work then and you can be on the phone for hours. I’m actually on maternity leave at the moment but you just cannot get through. I’ve tried going in but with two small children waiting for hours isn’t feasible.

The only thing I can think of is to go private but I don’t want an online appointment! Does anywhere offer a system where you can actually SEE someone?

@Anameisaname That wasn’t specifically aimed at you. I honestly have no desire to cause upset here. I probably shouldn’t have mentioned my own surgery, but I did and I do feel a little bit uncomfortable with some replies. I’m sorry if that has caused you offence or upset, that genuinely isn’t what I wanted at all

Osteopaths have a massive amount of medical knowledge. I go regularly for routine maintenance appointments. It would always be my first port of call for pain

Its pretty pointless seeing a GP anyway for your problem. Its best to get an app-ointment with physio and then they can refer you to orthopaedics if necessary.

Why privately? Is there not physio at your surgery? I agree in your shoes, with intense and new pain, I'd want to see a GP, but maybe physio will get you in the door and then they'll decide you need a GP. They'll definitely be able to get you an appointment. (Obviously this is moot if there isn't physio at your surgery).

Or what if you ring in the morning for a same-day, as you're doing for your child, and say your pain has intensified and you're very worried?

Or (sorry if you've answered this and I've missed it) how about using the online bookings system?

Timings and distance. Anyway - let’s wrap it up. I’m not sure it’s serving any useful purpose and there’s a lot of ill feeling.

What painkillers are you taking @Anniessongs ?

@Anniessongs
I understand where you're coming from.
When I have ever managed to get a face to face at my GPs and have sat in the waiting room, it galls me to see the digital message board scrolling There were 418 missed appointments last month...
If the GPs surgeries tackled these wasters, along with the ones who turn up because they have a cold, then the appointments would be available for the people genuinely in need! And then people wonder why the NHS isn't fit for purpose! It is a public service, which we pay for, we should be able to use it, not have to fork out to see someone privately! And I would want to see a GP over a pharmacist/chiropractor/physio any day. That's what they trained for! First port of call and I only ever want to go see a GP when there is something seriously wrong. I know my own body! In fact, my last doctors appointment was in 2018!