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Welcome to Scotsnet - discuss all aspects of life in Scotland, including relocating, schools and local areas.

Original poster

GPs in Scotland are so bad

99 replies

Fragmentedbrain · 02/04/2025 13:39

I can't believe how long it takes to get an appointment

And then when you do you have to wait around for them to call (no timed appointments even if you have work to go to).

Feels so belittling and a bit scary. I really think this problem is behind the large numbers of people out of work for ill health. Why can't we be treated with some respect. Even my hairdresser treats me better (a lot better, there's an app).

OP posts:
SatsumaDog · 02/04/2025 17:50

Mine are ok. I prefer the new system of
them calling you to decide if you need to be seen in person. If you do and it’s an emergency they see you same or next day. If not, you can usually see someone within a few days unless it’s a specific doctor you want to see.

AgnesX · 02/04/2025 17:50

Glasgow city. My practice has an app where you send a message with your symptoms, and I've always had a call back the same day. On the 2 occasions I've needed go in that was the same day too.

I'm reasonably articulate and have been able to express myself which might have had something to do with it but maybe not.

Roseshavethorns · 02/04/2025 17:53

Our GP is great. If you call at 8:30 you will normally get an appointment that day. We are in the Highlands.

stargirl1701 · 02/04/2025 17:54

I’m in Tayside. I can get an emergency appt on the day. I can get a routine appt within 3 weeks.

In person appts are at a specific time. Telephone appts are in a time ‘slot’. I always ask the receptionist to note I am teacher so the GP can schedule me last if telephoning.

Malbecmoron · 02/04/2025 17:55

lezsucks · 02/04/2025 14:23

I think it’s completely practice dependent. And that variation arguably shouldn’t exist

Agree. Mine isn't too bad for emergencies but routine appointments can take a while. The GPs themselves are brilliant though

Lemonade2011 · 02/04/2025 18:03

Stirling, gp is great can usually be seen the same day or within the week. Kids get seen that day and they’ve been brilliant with my asthmatic son I can’t complain at all.

Judystilldreamsofhorses · 02/04/2025 18:08

I’m Grampian. I had a note in with my last HRT prescription to book in for weight/BP review, so duly rang up - they only release that sort of non urgent appointments on a Wednesday and they were all gone, so I should ring back the following Wednesday.

Today (three weeks of phoning each Wednesday) I managed to get one but they could only give me a phone appointment - ?? Reception said I need to ring next Wednesday and try again when I asked how they would check my blood pressure by phone… I pushed back on ringing next week saying that would be into the fourth time, and to be fair she did find me one in the end, but it’s into May now.

They do (apparently) have a small number of on the day appointments if you ring at 8, but I don’t know anyone who’s ever got one. No e-Consult.

Jellycatspyjamas · 02/04/2025 18:20

My GP practice is great, quick phone call back and same day appointment if they need to see me. Kids always seen the same day. The practice half a mile down the road from them is terrible - can’t get through on the phone, no appointments available routine or otherwise. It’s very practice dependent.

Musicaltheatremum · 02/04/2025 18:33

I think the service is bad in many areas too and the service that we used to get we now don't. I say that as a retired Scottish GP who has watched the progressive underfunding of the service along with huge swathes of new houses with no provision made for new GP services.
34 years ago our practice had 2.6 GPs , no practice nurse and 4500 patients who consulted on average 3-4 times a year. When I retired we had 8500 patients and 5 GPs plus 2 nurses and a healthcare assistant and pharmacists and patients consulting about 7 times a year so if you do the maths it just doesn't add up. 34 years ago we would get a small handful of 20-30 results and letters. Now we get over 200.
Many patients were managed at hospital outpatient clinics and fully sorted before discharge as were inpatients. Now the patient gets sent to the GP to finish things off.

There are badly managed practices I am not denying that but the job is far more complex and busy than when I started in 1991. I used to go home for lunch and sunbathe in between my afternoon surgeries then. So please don't just blame the GPs. We hate that the service is so bad but there are only so many people/results we can safely deal with in a week.

topsunmaverick · 02/04/2025 20:31

Mine is also great, you can phone any time of the day for an appointment and can choose in person or online. Appointments are no more than 2 weeks ahead. And last for 15 minutes!

Scirocco · 02/04/2025 22:03

No problems here, either.

Iwiicit · 02/04/2025 22:32

What is a GP?

I'm in South Lanarkshire registered with the worst practice in Scotland (officially).

If you phone for an appointment, you are usually cut off because 25 is the maximum number that can be in the phone queue.

In the vanishingly unlikely event that someone answers the phone, you will be told someone will call you back. Your phone will ring for approximately one millisecond before they ring off.

I struggle to find the words to describe how truly execrable the service is and the contempt with which certain staff treat the patients/nuisances. It's deeply disturbing.

PoundlandColumbo · 02/04/2025 22:55

@Iwiicit it's astonishing that there's such a big difference between areas. Have you tried switching to a different practice?

Needspaceforlego · 02/04/2025 23:01

RaraRachael · 02/04/2025 14:13

We can't make appointments in advance. You have to phone up after 8am and hope to get an on the day appointment .
Each doctor is allocated some of these per day so not quite sure what they're doing the rest of the time.

That's how mine works too. It's a Royal PITA. 8am I'm trying to get me and two kids ready i don't have time to hang on the phone for 20min in a que.
It sort of puts me off phoning. And they'll call you back at any time, great if you need to work and not everyone can take private calls at work

SpikyHatePotato · 02/04/2025 23:06

I lived in Perthshire for 6 months, 2 years ago, my normal residence is east London. While I was registered with a Scottish GP, they sorted out my blood pressure medication (took 3 changes to find the right combination), and did all sorts of blood tests and an ECG to try to find out what was causing it. None of which my London GP had bothered to do, they put me on one (wrong) medication told me to piss off. I have nothing but praise for my Scottish GP, and getting an appointment was so easy. At my home GP, you can try phoning at 8am if you're nearly dead, but trying to book a routine appointment to discuss a non-urgent issue is literally impossible.

And prescriptions are free in Scotland.

Iwiicit · 03/04/2025 00:38

PoundlandColumbo · 02/04/2025 22:55

@Iwiicit it's astonishing that there's such a big difference between areas. Have you tried switching to a different practice?

There is only one practice for the town and zero other options available. I'm sure everyone here would love to move to another practice!

outdooryone · 03/04/2025 00:45

Mine are very good. Busy, stretched, but working damn hard. Appointments are between that day and maybe 5 days depending on urgency. They use triage system well.
Once your 'in the system' then I find it's super smooth and appointments etc are easy to organise and all sorts just happens automatically.

Chocchips123 · 03/04/2025 00:50

Fragmentedbrain · 02/04/2025 13:39

I can't believe how long it takes to get an appointment

And then when you do you have to wait around for them to call (no timed appointments even if you have work to go to).

Feels so belittling and a bit scary. I really think this problem is behind the large numbers of people out of work for ill health. Why can't we be treated with some respect. Even my hairdresser treats me better (a lot better, there's an app).

My child has waited 6 weeks after her temporary filling fell out and needs replacing... 6 weeks for a child for the dentist.

Chocchips123 · 03/04/2025 00:51

Chocchips123 · 03/04/2025 00:50

My child has waited 6 weeks after her temporary filling fell out and needs replacing... 6 weeks for a child for the dentist.

Show quote history

Oh and years on the waiting list for sedation to end the temporary filling situation.

GargoylesofBeelzebub · 03/04/2025 07:20

Mine are very good.

Routine appointments you can usually book for the following week. Anything urgent you usually get a phone triage within 2 hours and if necessary in to see a GP within a couple of hours.

NotTheFreudYoureLookingFor · 03/04/2025 07:45

Mine is great. Always manage to get a same day in person appointment (out phone appointment if I prefer).

Gingerkittykat · 03/04/2025 08:55

A few years ago my GP surgery was amazing, I remember them apologising for making me wait for 3 days for a routine appointment!

It merged with the other GP practice in the same building and was still fine. Then a practice in a nearby village closed and they had to take a lot of the patients on and it became a lot harder to make an appointment. Then 2 of the senior GPs retired and it was chaos, you were only allowed to phone for a routine GP appointment on a Friday and you would get given one for 6 weeks time.

They have now gone to on the day appointments only. I've only used this system twice and after phoning at 8am on the dot have had appointments the same day.

NosnowontheScottishhills · 05/04/2025 09:17

i was listening to somone moan about mine “oh you can never get an appointment etc”. I’ve seen mine 5 times in 5 years I’ve always managed to get an appointment once within 1/2 an hour of me ringing up.
I also work with GPs and their patients again those who need to be seen get a phone call/appointment/even home visit on the day if needed. In fact I’m frequently struck by the fact that most go above and beyond for their patients.

Iwiicit · 05/04/2025 09:30

This reply has been withdrawn

This message has been withdrawn at the poster's request

Misspotterer · 05/04/2025 09:53

I had such a hard time getting medical care towards the end of last year I felt genuinely scared and completely abandoned by the health care system. Just kept getting told, sorry no appointments, try again tomorrow. Pretty difficult when you work 8-6 and the only chance of an appointment is ringing at 8 and staying on hold for 40 minutes.
After finally getting to see a GP I'm now about to see a consultant, 7 months after symptoms started. Had a scan 2 days ago and got a call from my GP practice yesterday saying GP wants to discuss scan results, next available phone appointment? 28/4. The medical staff I have seen have been great but getting access to them is extremely difficult.

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