Problems getting a Dr's appointment

Mojisola

Ask about the Pain Clinic.

Isn't there a neighbour who would pick up the tablets for you?

penguingirl

You definitely need to ask to speak to the Practice Manager if you have no luck tomorrow. You can probably get their name from their website, and there is often an email address too. If you are not happy with what the Practice Manager's response ask them for details of their complaints procedure. Tbh if I couldn't get appointments at my surgery I would be considering changing, but obviously this depends on how good your relationship with your GP is.

Also definitely speak to you pharmacy about repeat prescription services, most of them do it (even places like boots, asda) and they are usually excellent.

As an aside my surgery have a bizarre system whether they don't pre-book any morning appointments, but instead you just turn up from 8am! It actually does seem to work, and they seem to allocate appts based on which GPs are getting through their clinics quicker (although you can request specific GPs, they just warn you if you need to wait a while). It seems to take the pressure off the phones, they don't fuss about whether or not it is an 'emergency' and it seems to make getting pre-booked afternoon appts easier too.

lostinrates

Bearing in mind the particular restrictions I am afraid I too would make a fuss.

Personally I would go in first thing in the morning and ask to speak to the practise manager and explain the problem, that you are happy to see a doctor but not to be left four weeks unmediated.


To those saying 'wouldn't wait four weeks.....many of us having little choice. In rural areas in particular where choice of practise is limited or non existant. I was recently called by my ep surgery to be told my GP wanted to see me 'urgently' and be offered the next available appointment, in almost three weeks time from that call.

lostinrates

penguingirl wrote: »

You definitely need to ask to speak to the Practice Manager if you have no luck tomorrow. You can probably get their name from their website, and there is often an email address too. If you are not happy with what the Practice Manager's response ask them for details of their complaints procedure. Tbh if I couldn't get appointments at my surgery I would be considering changing, but obviously this depends on how good your relationship with your GP is.

Also definitely speak to you pharmacy about repeat prescription services, most of them do it (even places like boots, asda) and they are usually excellent.

As an aside my surgery have a bizarre system whether they don't pre-book any morning appointments, but instead you just turn up from 8am! It actually does seem to work, and they seem to allocate appts based on which GPs are getting through their clinics quicker (although you can request specific GPs, they just warn you if you need to wait a while). It seems to take the pressure off the phones, they don't fuss about whether or not it is an 'emergency' and it seems to make getting pre-booked afternoon appts easier too.

Repeat prescription services might be as tying for some meds in a weekly prescription. I have to sign for mine, they cannot just be posted through the door. I am with such a service and every single delivery in the last year has gone wrong. Last month I took the complaint to head office, but yesterday had to go back to the pharmacy to complain, as they had failed to deliver.


I am on a mission to see if anyone else will offer it in our area now.

barbiedoll

OP, do you know why your GP will only give you a week's supply of your pain medication? Is it because it is a controlled drug or because it can be addictive (for example)?

I know it doesn't help you now but when you do eventually see your GP, tell him that it is very difficult for you to obtain prescriptions on a weekly basis and that you need him to give you a script for a month's supply or even for a fortnight at a time. After all, if he was that worried about your meds, he would insist on actually seeing you every week, he wouldn't just issue a new script!

double_mummy

my LO was ill and had to be taken to emergency care in the middle of the night i was told by the hospital he needed to be seen every 2 day for 10 days even after the hospital rang my gps they said i still had to ring to get an appointment at 7.45am or 2.45pm and if i didnt get an appointment then i didnt get one

every time i didnt get one (which was every day he needed one) i rang 111 they put me through to a doctor who rang my gp and was seen within 30 mins of the phone call to 111 every time

4 weeks is quite a short wait for bookables here we are already looking at december

personally i would kick off go to A and E tell them you need your medication which wont be issued til u see a doctor but you cant get in to see your doctor or go to the surgery the minute it opens and stand at the desk until they give you an appointment or stand at the desk and ring them over and over trying to book an appointment or ask to see the manager and put in a written complaint with them

debsy42

Sorry Double Mummy but suggesting the OP goes to A & E is exactly why the service is in meltdown, people are going for non-emergency reasons when they can't get resolutions at the GP surgery.

Far better to speak with the Practice Manager if your complaint seems to be falling on deaf ears with the receptionist.

double_mummy

debsy42 wrote: »

Sorry Double Mummy but suggesting the OP goes to A & E is exactly why the service is in meltdown, people are going for non-emergency reasons when they can't get resolutions at the GP surgery.

Far better to speak with the Practice Manager if your complaint seems to be falling on deaf ears with the receptionist.

i agree it is but when you need medication and cannot get it for multiple days i would class that as an emergency you would not be on a medication unless you needed it and if you werent able to get it that could be very serious

lostinrates

double_mummy wrote: »

i agree it is but when you need medication and cannot get it for multiple days i would class that as an emergency you would not be on a medication unless you needed it and if you werent able to get it that could be very serious

But so could the reason the GP has stopped greater access to it and asked to see op.

double_mummy

lostinrates wrote: »

But so could the reason the GP has stopped greater access to it and asked to see op.

she has had her meds stopped so that she can see a doctor if her gps is not available i am pretty sure there are doctors in the hospital her notes will all be available to the doctors and so they can also make a reasonable decision

as people may have noticed i gave a and e as one of many options as it is an option if she still cannot get to see her gp and is still not having potentially very important medication