why is it so hard to see G.P

hardpressed

Perhaps there wasn't a doctor on duty untill 4. If it was an emergency I would have expected them to have got a nurse to speak to you, who could then have assessed how soon you needed to see a doctor.

Just re-read the other post, if you didn't say you needed to be seen straight away how would they know?

Justie

For those of you struggling to get appointments are there other surgeries in the area? When we moved we chose our surgery based on their appointments system and yes it's hard to get through first thing in a morning, especially on Mondays but I can get to at least speak to a GP on the day and see one if needed and can make an appointment with my GP up to 4 weeks in advance. And i've always found no matter what surgery I've been at that if you tell the receptionist that it's urgent that they'll sort something out for you.

lisyloo

Just a thought but is it worth asking them if they will call you if they get a cancellation?

laurajayne

hardpressed wrote: »

Have you told the nurse who does your dressing that you're having touble getting a daily appointment? She should be able to have a word with who ever makes the appointments and make sure they give you an appointment every day.

The nurses themselves are pretty good, and normally sort out my appointments for me. (I've just had one make an appointment for me to see my GP about the moles on my back - can't wait for that :rolleyes: ) and my own GP is fantastic, always listens to you, and does everything he can to help. I actually feel more comfortable with him poking around my rather more intimate places than the female GPs at my surgery.

Anyhoo, I digress, the problem is more with the way the surgery is run. for some reason, they keep sorting things so that all 3 nurses are off on the same day, but generally refuse to send a district nurse round on that day because I'm not 'infirm, elderly or immobile'. Oh I've had some arguments

When I had the last sinus, towards the end, they actually didn't change my dressing for me 13 days running at one point. Me and my mum tried, but we obviously didn't haven't all the kit, nor sterile guaze etc. My consultant surgeon thinks that the poor 'service' I had from start to finsh (from both the hospital and surgery) have contributed to this second one.

katiesmummy

My dr's is much the same- at least a week's wait for an appointment, and that's if your not fussy about which dr you see- if you want the lady doc its normally about 2 weeks. If I really can't wait I tend to go to the walk-in-clinic at my local hospital

Sarahjovi

My Doctors are very good, if you need to see the Duty Doctor you phone at 9am or 2pm for an appointment! I've never not been able to see one! And if you need a follow up appointment you make it there and then!

I vaguely remember seeing Tony Blair on the Wright Stuff (Channel 5) being confronted by a women who couldn't get to see her GP, due to the appointment system! He was most concerned and promised to look into it! Apparently it has something to do with people have to be seen within 48 hours or some goverment quota thing. (I'll have a dig and try to find out).

Sarah

Edit, It wasn't the Wright Stuff it was Question Time!

http://www.guardian.co.uk/leaders/story/0,3604,1473693,00.html

LondonDiva

laurajayne wrote: »

Anyhoo, I digress, the problem is more with the way the surgery is run. for some reason, they keep sorting things so that all 3 nurses are off on the same day, but generally refuse to send a district nurse round on that day because I'm not 'infirm, elderly or immobile'. Oh I've had some arguments

District Nurses are employed by the PCT and not the practice. They have a strict criteria for access and are usually only for 'infirm ...or immobile' people. They are not practice nurse cover and should actually just bounce you back to the practice if you were incorrectly added to their caseload.

If you are mobile, the practice must provide the services of their practice nurse for anything that needs to be done, or if the nurse is off, the practice must take responsibility for not managing the rotas and give you a GP appointment to be seen for what needs to be done.

Next time, talk to the practice manager or just book a GP appointment and tell them that they are obligated to sort you out:)

LondonDiva

If anyone is having real problems getting a GP appointment on a regular basis, the best bet would be to call yout local PCT's PALS (Patient Advice & Liasion Service) and ask them to a, get you and appointment & b, find out what's up with the appointment systems at the practice.

It may be that the practice list is too big, ther's illness or there's someone on annual leave & the practice have been too cheap to hire a locum...There's no way to monitor how your taxes are being spent if there's no feedback to the PCT:)