Getting a doctors appointment

[bobibobi]

I have a mole that has appeared on my neck over the last month so I want a doc to check it over but can never get an appointment.

I call the doctors when it opens at 8am, stay on hold for an hour, someone answers and tells me they've reached capacity for the day and my only option is to call back tomorrow. They wont add me to a queue and ring me back or anything. Repeated this several days.

They have an online option, but can only use it as a live queue from 7am weekdays. So same problem as phoning.

I have to take time off work to try and call and it ends up being a fruitless task.

Anybody any idea what I do now?

Have you actually tried using the online option? Mine works their online query like a triage and I have received an invitation to book off the back of the triage.

Otherwise can you go there in person?

Do you have the NHS App?

I haven't, no. I will try tomorrow at 7am.

I've been into the doctors previously, but they advised to ring from 8am the next day

Can you do an econsult and upload a photograph? My surgery offers this and it is excellent.
The other alternative is to write an actual letter to the practice manager stating clearly that you are extremely worried about a suspicious mole. List everything you have tried to access a gp appointment. Include dates, times, phonecalls everything
Send it recorded delivery.
They have to respond.
Contact your MP.

Yeah I got the app. When I go through online appointment booking it says i can only book for "cervical smears" or "bloods". Online medical advice is temporarily unavailable - maybe this option becomes available at 7am tomorrow.

They used to have a econsult option. But that no longer appears to be there About 5 years ago I had a mole that was a Basal cell carcinoma. I went through their econsult and was referred and mole was removed in a week or so.

Do add the fact that you have a history of basal cell carcinoma to your letter.
Keep a copy of the letter so you can send a copy to your MP if necessary.