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Would I be unreasonable to complain

3 replies

BobTheFishermansWife · 02/09/2019 23:28

This is a semi rant so please bear with me, as I think I will speak to the practice manager next week anyway.

My son is 8 weeks old tomorrow, 2 weeks ago I rang my Dr's surgery to book his immunisations and my postnatal check up. (health visitor said I would get a letter about week 5 to invite me to make the appointment, this never arrived) Spoke to a lovely receptionist who apologised and said that I had been deferred to the following week (last week) as they were operating on one Dr due to holidays and could I call back after the Bank Holiday to arrange. Fine I thought, not a problem, they've changed appointment booking to same day and 48 hours following. So I called last Tuesday and spoke to another receptionist, who told me that they hold appointments for this reason and I should have been booked in when I called. As there has been a week delay they earliest they can get me in will be the 10th September (my son will be 9 weeks) I mentioned this to her and she said not to worry, the appointment doesn't HAVE to be 6-8 weeks it can be later. No worries, I booked the appointment.

Saturday morning I get a letter from the practice asking me to book in my sons immunisations, odd I thought I'd sorted this, I called them today just to check details because I thought I had booked this when I called last Tuesday.

No, turns out they had only booked my postnatal check up, even though I specifically told the receptionists in both calls "I want to book my son in for his 6-8 week immunisations appointment" I said ok, well can he be done before or after my appointment, it's not like I have anyother plans that day No, there isn't space for him the be seen, the earliest will be the 12th September 2 days after me.

I am so frustrated, I've never had an issue with my Dr's surgery until now, but quite a lot of patients have been complaining about the ability to get appointments recently.

Would I be within my rights on Tuesday to ask to speak to the practice manager and to potentially log a complaint. My son will almost be 10 weeks old when he finally has his injections, I feel like I've been doing spot of running on the spot and personally I am not bothered about having my postnatal check up, he's more important than I am.

OP posts:
Are your children’s vaccines up to date?
FeelUselesss · 02/09/2019 23:39

My son was almost 12 weeks old when he had his first round of injections, it's nothing to fret too much about as they just space them out as they should be.
Personally I wouldn't make a complaint but I know my surgery is fully booked most of the time.

BobTheFishermansWife · 02/09/2019 23:55

@FeelUselesss thank you that's made me feel better about the timeline with him being seen.
But it's more I feel I've been messed around, it's the fact that I was told I'd get a letter around 5 weeks, that arrived this weekend when he is 8 weeks tomorrow, I called twice to book him in and was fobbed off and then the appointment wasn't actually booked as expected, if I hadn't called today I would have gone in next week fully expecting him to have his injections and that not happen. That's my biggest frustration here, iyswim?

OP posts:
Tulips26 · 06/09/2019 10:10

It doesn't matter that he gets his vaccines at 10 weeks. A lot of mums I know had their kids vaccinated late too due to lack of appointments. It's completely fine!

I know it sucks but unfortunately GP surgeries are extremely busy and mistakes can be made. It looks like a small admin error so personally I wouldn't complain.

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