Never any appointments at my surgery!

Jahlove

This is now day 3! ring every morning at 9am, then again at 1pm in the afternoon for the past 3 days ive been told there is no appointments, I need a sick note asap and can't get an appointment going to ring back again at 1pm this is getting ridiculous, How can every appointment be gone by 2 mins past 9 in the morning? Is there anyway to get a sicknote if this keeps happening?

jasara

Hi you would be amazed how quickly gp appointments go. Some surgeries have four or five answering your calls. and each call can take 10 seconds so appointments are taken real quick. What I will say is that if you have phoned for three days then tell them as your rights are you must be seen within 48 hours. The downfall it may not be by the same gp but that shouldnt matter.

margaretclare

At our surgery, if you want an appointment the same day it's no good waiting until 9 am. They're open from 7 am and you have to get on the phone then. Mondays are worst - after the weekend. I've been on the phone at 7 am and kept pressing the 'return' button on the phone, eventually got an appointment that morning, one of the last available.

Indie_Kid

Do you need to see your GP to get a sick note? My GP surgery offers a call back service for those who need to talk to a GP; but don't really need to see one.

Jahlove

I used to book them online but i have just moved and only registered at this surgery last week and ive not been given my online registration code yet. Tried again this afternoon and still none left! i asked if a doctor can call me back and im awaiting that call now but im not sure if they will be able to issue a sicknote via phone as ive never been seen at this surgery yet.

cattie

My surgery is pretty much the same. Sometimes when you ask for an appointment you are palmed off like you've been or given an appointment perhaps 2 or 3 weeks down the line.- Hardly suitable if you're not well at the time of calling for an appointment.

Many surgeries allow you to just drop in at the end of surgery time if you need to see a dr urgently, and in your case I think I might be tempted to do this. No need to tell the receptionist the true reason you need to see a dr, you could say something along the lines of you're suffering with a dreadful anxiety, which wouldn't be a lie, seeing as how you are anxious about getting a certificate.

SailorSam

At our surgery it's just a case of phone and press button 1; 2; 3 etc and the automatic answer phone tells you when the next appointments are, you can accept or wait for the next one. So you're able to phone at midnight, although you may need to wait a few days.

Indie_Kid

It's the same where I am now. Asked for an appointment and had to wait 9 days for it. I remember not so long ago, I could just ask for an appointment, no particular GP and would get an appointment within 24 hours.

[Deleted User]

cattie wrote: »

Sometimes when you ask for an appointment you are palmed off like you've been or given an appointment perhaps 2 or 3 weeks down the line.

Ay my surgery you have two options:

Ring at 8AM and take an appointment the same day with whichever doctor is available. or:

Ask to see your own GP, and wait 3 weeks.

I did the former, and the doctor told me to see my own GP. When I told him that I'd tried to do that, but reception had told me she was on holiday for three weeks, he said "No she isn't" and made me an appointment for two days time.

carlislelass

jasara wrote: »

Hi you would be amazed how quickly gp appointments go. Some surgeries have four or five answering your calls. and each call can take 10 seconds so appointments are taken real quick. What I will say is that if you have phoned for three days then tell them as your rights are you must be seen within 48 hours. The downfall it may not be by the same gp but that shouldnt matter.

don`t think you can demand being seen within 48hrs. Labour brought in the 48hr time limit though I think this government dropped it...now you can wait days.

LilacLillie

Its been like this for about 4yrs now where I am in London.
The surgery tele: is a premium number that can cost a future for those with mobiles, living in a poorer borough I have made several complaints to the practice manager. I would never call them on a mobile and only hang on for a few mins when I call from home.
I have told my Dr. that I feel my health suffers because of this system, she says its the fault of the government.
I waited 8 1/2 weeks for my last appointment and was seen 1hr 40mins after my time.
When I saw DR. and complained she said I was wasting her medical time for telling her what she already knows!
Its shocking and other than keep writing complaints I don't know the answer to the problem.
AND the books are still open at my surgery.
LL