Phoning for A Doctor's Appointment

simple_but_sweet

Hi, was just wondering what the average waiting time for appointments to see your doctor is?

My sis phoned this morning, and as it was more a current health issue she's being seen this evening. However, when I was on the phone (to the same person - my sis literally just handed the phone to me when she'd finished talking) they offered me an appointment for next week, granted it maybe isn't as urgent as her's.

Also, another instance was when I fell at work on a Monday, I left early as i'd hurt my leg and rang the doctors surgery on the way home (hands-free!) only to be told the next appointment was on Thursday. I refused (ashamed to say rather ignorantly) and ended up going to A&E and waiting for 3 hours only to be told what my GP should have told me!

fluffnutter

I can go to the emergency clinic each morning and wait my turn, or I can phone for a routine appt in which case I'll generally wait about a week (or more if I want a particular doctor).

I've also, on occasion, just turned up. If it's bad enough/you cry hard enough they'll usually try to fit you in or tell you to come back in an hour or two.

I can't fault my practice really - they genuinely do seem to care.

VikkiiKawaii

I guess our GP must be fairly good because I almost always get either same day or next day appointments. Generally I get same day if I call in the morning when the surgery opens and next day when I phone later in the day but on some occasions have managed to get same day when I called late in the day.

Gloomendoom

Usually seen the same day.

tea_lover

Average for my GP is about 3 weeks from when you phone, and you're usually on hold for about 20 minutes just to get that.

podperson

The average at mine is about a week. You can ask for an emergency appointment though and they will try to fit you in same day. Also if you call first thing in the morning they will check for any cancellations for you - and 9 times out of 10 there'll be something that day.

jackieb

tea_lover wrote: »

Average for my GP is about 3 weeks from when you phone, and you're usually on hold for about 20 minutes just to get that.

Sounds a bit like ours. The phonelines open at 8.30am and if you haven't go through by 8.50am then that days appointments are usually all gone by then. They ask if it's an emergency and if you say yes they'll usually get you in to see the emergency doc that day though. If you don't want to wait a few weeks for an appointment they tell you to phone at 8.30am to try and get an on the day appointment, but if you can't get through by 8.50am then they're usually all gone............and then the circle begins again!

Faith177

If I want a late evening appointment (after 6) I have to wait anything up to a month!

I had a really bad cough I could not shake last Nov-Dec. I couldn't get an appointment with my doctor for love nor money I ending up going to the walk in clinic.

Otherwise it's anything up to a week.

simple_but_sweet

tea_lover wrote: »

Average for my GP is about 3 weeks from when you phone, and you're usually on hold for about 20 minutes just to get that.

So glad I don't live in your area!

We used to have open surgery up until about 5 years ago, you maybe could have sat for about 2/3 hours but at least you were seen!
After that the wait time was maybe 2 days from phoning to the appointment, and now its up to a week (or more). Years ago there was only 2 doctors, now theres 3 & 2 student.

3v3

My previous surgery, it was fastest finger on the redial button for that day; if an "emergency", you would first have to give some detail and then you may get an afternoon appointment. If you wanted the GP you are registered with, you'd probably have to wait a week or more.

At my current surgery, it's fastest finger on the redial button; or, wait outside the surgery door for when it clicks open. They try really hard to get you in as soon as possible if you miss these two windows of opportunity.

Some months back I was growing concerned about something which had progressed throughout the day; my surgery is 5 minutes walk away and it took me 10 to get there. With very brief details given to the receptionist, she ushered me to the waiting room: my buttocks never touched the seat before I was called in. Superb and most efficient!

On another occasion, instead of trying the GP, and definately *not* to clog up A&E, when I experienced leg/back pain, I went to a walk-in clinic. It resembled a mini A&E and they were great! (Although their waiting times also resembled A&E)

simple_but_sweet

3v3 wrote: »

On another occasion, instead of trying the GP, and definately *not* to clog up A&E, when I experienced leg/back pain, I went to a walk-in clinic. It resembled a mini A&E and they were great! (Although their waiting times also resembled A&E)

That's what annoyed me the most when i hurt myself, I had to go to the A&E just to be told what my gp could have told me in 5 minutes, instead I had to take up 2 nurses' time. I don't think we have any walk in clinics in N.I (although don't quote me on that one lol)