GP Surgery opening hours - official guidelines?

usignuolo

Are there any official guidelines on when a GP surgery should open? Ours is only open 8.30am -5.30pm monday - friday.

zcrat41

I've no idea but it really annoys me - ours has the same opening hours as you! WHy on earth doctors can't work some Saturday mornings I don't know. Also, when you speak to the receptionist and they get funny with you trying to book a (non urgent) appointment in non working hours and you keep saying no, I can do after 4pm but I start work at 7am so I can't do anything else.

alleycat`

We changed surgeries for this exact reason.
Not only did they "close" at 17:30 quite often nobody would answer the phone after 16:45.

New one we've moved to is 08:00 to 19:30 Monday to Friday and Saturday 09:00 to 13:00.

We also don't seem to have to wait 3 weeks to get an appointment now.

Amanda65

Ours still has half day closing on Wednesdays :eek::eek::eek:

cutestkids

Our surgery is open 9.00 am till 6.00pm Monday to Friday (the phones are open from 8.30am).

There is one late evening surgery where the doctor is there till 7pm but the nurses finish at 5.30pm and it is the nurses that are supposed to do blood pressure, smears, smoking cessation etc and the doctors get sniffy if you waste their time with these trivial things

KateLiana27

There's no official guidance; it's up to the individual practice and GP partners.

You're perfectly within your rights to register with a different GP practice with more convenient hours. Mine closes early on one day, but does a late opening on another - much better for working people than 9-5 every day. We've moved away, but have stuck with the old practice because of their flexibility.

andi2

Ours is:
9-12 Monday to Friday
4-7.30 Monday
4-6 Tuesday, Wednesday & Friday.

poorly_scammo

Mine's really good at opening for longer. Trying to get an appointment is another thing however...

Monday
8am to 8pm
Tuesday
8am to 8pm evening surgery
Wednesday
7am to 8pm early morning surgery and evening surgery
Thursday
8am to 8pm evening surgery
Friday
8am to 8pm evening surgery
Saturday
8am to 4pm morning surgery

I'd see about changing practices if the hours don't suit.

Yorkie1

I can book appointments online. Might be worth pressuring your surgery to offer this.

usignuolo

Yes well appointments is another matter again. I had a test last year and was told to arrange an appointment to discuss the results with the GP who ordered it. After one month, and despite phoning first thing on monday morning and going into the surgery then as well, I still had no appointment. In the end I made such a fuss the GP phoned me in a lunchhour but it was not satisfactory.

Part of the problem is that there are now only 3 GPs in a practice where there were previously 5 and they only work parttime. The rest of the time you have to see a locum or Nurse Practitioner. This is ok for routine stuff but no continuity if you have an ongoing problem.

I looked at their reviews on the NHS website and they have under 3% satisfaction for appointments. They did try to run a saturday morning service briefly but stopped it because they could not decide who should staff it. I have stayed there because I have always been there and do still from time to time get to see my regular GP. But I am having to think seriously about it.

Incidentally a friend locally rang NHS direct last night and was told there was a 4 hour wait to answer calls. We have one of the worst performing out of hours services in the country (despite being quite a prosperous urban area) and ironically, it is run by a cooperative of local GPs. All this of course puts tremendous pressure on the local A & E department.

So you won't find a lot of sympathy over GPs pensions in our house.

tea_lover

usignuolo wrote: »

So you won't find a lot of sympathy over GPs pensions in our house.

Or many houses!

Ours is the same - only open during 'office' hours. No evening or weekend facilities, downright rude receptionists, and at least a 4 week wait for appointments... that's if you can get through on the phone at all.

I love the NHS. I think it's a brilliant system and I've had amazing treatment from a variety of hospitals. But unfortunately GPs seem to be the weakest part of the chain around here.