GP Surgery Times

alwaysbrassic

I would ask around for recommendations from others.
My gps surgery only has 2 gp's so extended hours isn't possible (if they had one gp working late and one early there would be no one to do home visits and baby clinics etc). However, they are brilliant in their standard of care.
My hubby on the other hand, is at a practice with extended opening hours, but can never see a doctor, instead he has to go through a triage nurse. Even when he does get to see a gp the standard of care is appalling.
Just remember, it may be difficult to get time off to go to appointments but all employers have to allow reasonable time off for this, and the logistics of sorting this is your employers responsibility, not yours.

Herongull

Put your postcode into the link below. It will tell you most things you want to know about other GPs in your area including opening hours, appointment systems and patient feedback.

Then change to whatever seems the most suitable GP practice for you.

http://www.nhs.uk/Service-Search/GP/LocationSearch/4

Faith177

Thanks all I think I might have to this surgery has become a real nightmare.

You originally sometimes had to wait up to a month for an appointment at 6:30 which i could just about make if I organised a lift. If you wanted anything later they only did one late surgery a month so you could end up waiting 2-3 months for that but they are claiming there is no need for late opening???

ukjoel

Find out what their official hours are and then try and book.

Surgeries should offer out of hour appointments however I used to work in one that had them listed on the website but we were specifically told not to book them and if someone asked for them they had already gone.
About once a month they would run the late surgery but if you wanted the appointment it was always 6 weeks ahead.

JohalaReewi

It depends a lot on your GP surgery but the first port of call would be the Practice Manager The surgery should have an official complaints procedure which you can follow.

The surgery may have an official Patients' forum. If they do, you can raise the issue with them.

You can contact your PCT. They are usually keen for GPs to offer out of hours appointments (there are usually bonus payments if they do this). If your GP has recently stopped doing them, the PCT and may not be aware. They might be able to persuade your GP to do them, or tell you which GPs in your area do. You could either transfer to another GP, or just see them as a temporary patient.

You can write to your MP.

Hope you get sorted.

pmduk

It'll get worse once the PCTs have gone, mark my words.

snugglepet20

Another option to consider is asking for the GP to ring you if you have something that can be reviewed over the phone. That way you don't have to leave work at all. Obviously if you need a physical exam this is not going to work though!

Abbafan1972

Perhaps you should vote with your feet and change doctors?

Nine_Lives

mel48rose wrote: »

Our GP surgery is great. They do a surgery til 7pm one evening a week and also a Saturday morning.

Ours don't do Saturday morning (would be helpful) though they do do late surgery Monday-Friday & the doctors have to take it in turns to do a day. Sure is helpful.