Doctor's appointments - what a farce.

gem599

My OH phoned NHS direct - was told to go to doctor's, we went straight there and he was sweating, tearful and nauseous after being bitten by an insect a few days earlier. The receptionist resolutely said he couldn't be seen and nothing she could do. He protested only to be accussed of 'getting arsey' and the receptionist refusing to speak to him. She then went to get her supervisor saying, 'can you come out here, he's being arsey' (which she thought was out of earshot). This reduced me to tears and only then did they magically find him an appointment within 10 mins.

The doctor told us to go straight to A&E.

If it's impossible to get an appointment I will never again think that a condition 'isn't serious enough' for A&E. You never know and it's better to be safe than sorry. They assess you as soon as you arrive to prioritise you so there's no need to worry you're preventing someone more seriously ill from being treated.

movingforward2010

why aren't GP surgery's open sat and sun? I mean it would be a lot easier than taking time off work

molerat

Tell them you are a traveller. They have to be seen same day :mad:

narabanekeater

molerat just for my own personal intrest is that true?

stacey1444

thankfully I dont have to worry bout UK docs anymore, but when we lived in the UK our GP clinic was the same, if I wanted an appoint for the same day if the kids were sick i had to ring at 8am but there were never any appoints left.

I've worked in healthcare for a long time and knew that by threatening to speak to the practice manager, request a home visit or to take the kids to casualty usually done the trick...

What is it with doctors receptionists requesting to know the ins and outs of a cats ar#e?? Do they do 7 years in University studying for GP exams??

_party_

sillyvixen

when i needed an emergency appointment - i went through the whole phoning a receptionist first thing and being told no appointments, after being told my symptoms the receptionist said a nurse would ring me back, she did after discusing my symptoms again i was told a dr would ring me back! 3 hours after my initial phone call i spoke to a dr who told me to go in asap and i would be seen in between appointments as soon as a dr had finished with the patient was currently seeing - i spent half an hour with the dr (sorry to all those waiting) while he got in touch with the hospital to fast track me through A&E.

Aspiring

stacey1444 wrote: »

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What is it with doctors receptionists requesting to know the ins and outs of a cats ar#e?? Do they do 7 years in University studying for GP exams??

_party_

Oh I agree - but only up to a point. No they are not "qualified" practitioners, but - and here's the nub of it - they are given guidelines and (I'm assuming) a level of training on how to prioritise appointments?

Only last week I needed to make an appointment (on the recommendation of NHS Direct) for my son to see the GP - for a referral to a specialist if nothing else. I called bang on 8am, kept pressing redial, got through at 0815hrs. The receptionist did ask if it was "personal" or could I give a brief outline of the problem: no hesitation - I explained I'd asked for an appointment on NHS Directs advice and explained the problem. Got an appointment for 1000hrs Now, I could have been difficult, or sensitive and refused to answer, but, somehow, I feel that would have hindered my progress rather than make my point My son's welfare was more of a priority than principle.

marleyboy

It reminds me of when my kidney's failed me, I woke one morning in excruciating pain and it was only after I collapsed on the floor that I accepted I had a problem that needed medical attention.

Being at home alone, not one to make a fuss, I phoned the doctors, to be told an appointment could be made for the following Wednesday (it was monday), there was no way of bartering with them it was "take it or leave it". The prospect of having the Doctor come out to me was less than zero.

By the Afternoon I was passing out, I ended up trying to catch peoples attention at the window (I could not get up to open the door).

It wasn't until my then GF got home from work at 6pm and on seeing me, dialled 999 that I was rushed into hospital, with a telling off from the hospital for leaving it so long.

I quit my doctors from that moment and registered elsewhere, rarely if ever, do I phone a doctor for anything.

molerat

narabanekeater wrote: »

molerat just for my own personal intrest is that true?

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1193810/Want-GP-Gipsies-come-NHS-tells-doctors-travellers-seen-straight-away.html

JohalaReewi

It does vary from practice to practice. Having just completed a one year campaign to save our wonderful local practice, I have had my eyes opened by what goes on behind the scenes. I can 100% recommend that if you are having a problem getting appointments with your GP, complain to the local PCT. Most of the time, the PCT get told how great things are by the practice so unless the public put in their 10p worth, nothing will change.

If you ring your GP for an appointment, you have to be given one within 48 hours (although not necessarily with your own GP). The receptionist is not supposed to fob you off with excuses like, 'there are no appointments left', or 'you have to ring at 8am'. Nor do you have to discuss your condition with them. If they don't give you an appointment, report the practice to the PCT.