GP Surgery opening hours - official guidelines?

j.e.j.

Thinking about it, it is a strange old system we have in this country isn't it? You have to make sure you're in need of a doctor only during office hours..

OP if you are having trouble getting an appointment it might be worth you keeping an ear out for recommendations if there are any other surgeries near you? No use having a doctor if it's nigh-on impossible to see them.

KateLiana27

alleycat` wrote: »

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.

Yes, seriously everyone, vote with your feet!

GP surgeries get paid for everyone registered with them (well, it's more complicated than that, but the gist is that it hurts them financially if they lose a whole load of registered patients).

I have always been able to get an appointment at my practice within a couple of days. Plus the receptionist is nice and helpful, which makes a huge difference! It's not the nearest to me, but I'd rather drive an extra 5-10 minutes and keep my sanity (not to mention get prompt medical care). There is no incentive for a practice to change if everyone moans but puts up with it.

lilymay1

My surgery only books appointments 2 weeks in advance; so if you've got a nasty eye infection it'll either be better or you'll be blind by the time you are seen. Emergency are available on the day between 9-12 - if you can get through on the phone line.
Until I joined this one, I had never had to wait 15mins + to speak to a receptionist (who ask you precisely what the appointment is for. Is that normal?!)

After my referral to my local hospital has been sorted I will be leaving .

kiss_me_now9

lilymay1 wrote: »

My surgery only books appointments 2 weeks in advance; so if you've got a nasty eye infection it'll either be better or you'll be blind by the time you are seen. Emergency are available on the day between 9-12 - if you can get through on the phone line.
Until I joined this one, I had never had to wait 15mins + to speak to a receptionist (who ask you precisely what the appointment is for. Is that normal?!)

After my referral to my local hospital has been sorted I will be leaving .

Nothing annoys me more than this! At my uni surgery you ring up, get asked if it's a matter a doctor needs to attend to or if the nurse can do it, get the appointment and that's that. At my home one you have to ring up, go through the doctor/nurse thing, then tell them exactly why you need the appointment so they can judge whether or not it's the right person seeing you - I suffer from a few mental health issues and there's nothing worse than having to mumble down the phone how !!!!!! you feel

FBaby

I chose my practice on the basis of well, firstly being in the catchment area, nothing much that can be done about this, although Choice is being launched in some areas of England and it can be at the discretion of the practice manager (although they are normally quite strict about it for new registrations), then on the basis of opening hours, GP working full-time, and being able to book all appointments on line.

In the end, I didn't get the last one, the only practice which did it would take me on, but decided to sign up with the practice that is also the walk-in centre because they are ultimately open from 8 to 8pm 7 days a week and can make an appointment for any of these days, bliss!

Starrystarrynight

I'm also signed up with a practice that runs from the same building as our walk in centre. It's a so called Darzi type clinic and it's fantastic. 8-8 7 days a week. I've never had a problem getting appointments and the staff are so helpful.
We've recently had a questionnaire to complete as it seems that the contract for provision of the GP services is up for review. To put it midly, I'll be gutted if the practice closes. Most of the other GPs here won't let you book in advance, and I can't ring up on the day as I'm already working by the time they open and can't take time at short notice from work.
It's high time all GP surgeries started operating more like the clinic I'm with now.

usignuolo

unfortunately we live in a very densely populated area and many of the local practices are closed to new patients. A young friend of mine recently moved into the area, into a flat in a converted warehouse and 4 local practices said they could not take her on their lists as they were full. The practices which had spaces said she was out of their catchment area. In the end she had to ask the local PCT to force one to register her as she has a rare blood disorder and needs medical supervision.

inkie

[/B]Thinking about it, it is a strange old system we have in this country isn't it? You have to make sure you're in need of a doctor only during office hours.


But there is out of hours provision for those urgent matters that aren't A and E cases, but can't wait for in the morning. The GP system is to deal with primary care matters, With the hours reflecting that.

usignuolo

there is out of hours provision for those urgent matters that aren't A and E cases, but can't wait for in the morning...

but in some areas, like mine, one of the worst performing in the country, it is c--p

cottonhead

OP - our surgery is open less hours than yours but is a branch of a larger surgery that is open longer hours - it means travelling accross town to get there though.
I found out that my GP does some weekend appointments. She told me during a consultation when I was saying its hard fo m y husband who commutes to get time to see her. Its not advertised and when I asked the receptionist she also told me they dont do weekends. It was only when I called and specifially said my GP told me to ask for a weekend appointment with her that she finally booked it !
I guess so long as you can reach them most of the time its OK. You would have an out of hours DR or hospital for emergencies after all.