Impossible to get GP appointment

usignuolo

The problems started with the new contracts but has got worse since the older partners retired and younger doctors took over. The size of the list did not change but the main doctors in the practice, now all appear to work part time in some form and book their holidays whenever it suits them.

The theory is you can see a doctor in an emergency within 24 hours if you phone up at 8.30am when they open (and assuming you can get through on the phone). I imagine a number slots are reserved for this each day and the rest are available for appointments. In practice there never seem to be more than three doctors on duty at any one time although there are 4 named doctors in the practice. The bookable slots with the GPs are limited as result and are not booked more than two weeks ahead. Once they are full they are full until the next window opens.
No online booking.

So it figures that you might have trouble seeing one of the practice partners but I have never before had to wait 2 weeks just to see a locum.

Cornucopia

My old surgery receptionist told me that they gave preference for emergency appointments to people who were physically at the surgery when they opened, above phone callers.

The one time I tried it, I was the only person there. Whereas calling in resulted in constant engaged tone.

She also told me that an emergency was whatever I said it was... which was probably a mistake.

maman

Cornucopia wrote: »

My old surgery receptionist told me that they gave preference for emergency appointments to people who were physically at the surgery when they opened, above phone callers.

The one time I tried it, I was the only person there. Whereas calling in resulted in constant engaged tone.

She also told me that an emergency was whatever I said it was... which was probably a mistake.

That's more the sort of thing I experience.


I'm fortunate to live only a couple of minutes walk from the surgery. So instead of trying to phone I always go in person, look the receptionist straight in the eye and say I need an appointment. Last week she tried telling me I'd have to wait about 10 days to see my doctor. I said I needed medication urgently and suddenly she conjured up an appointment that day.

Amica_2

I was also told about a number of emergency appointments - ours start at 7am before the surgery opens at 8:30 (or something like that). Try calling last thing before the surgery is closed or first thing in the morning or simply walk-in as early as possible. Alternatively, some hospitals have emergency GP, maybe try one of those? Sorry to hear they don't seem to care about their patients at all..

Bantex_2

Why have you not changed GP?

usignuolo

There are two alternatives - one practice near my current GP which has poor ratings for customer satisfaction on the NHS site and the other which has opened on a new development up the road only a few months ago and noone I know is on their books and knows anything about it. So there is no guarantee I would be better off and I might be worse.

System

This site might possibly be of use?

https://www.iwantgreatcare.org/

You can enter the name of a doctor or speciality and read the reviews. I am not sure how many people know about this website, as some doctors and dentists have lots of reviews while others have none.

It may prove useful to someone who doesn't have any personal recommendations for a healthcare professional but wants to find out from other people what the standard of care is like.

MicaMoo_2

I have had to wait up to two weeks to see my GP before. Thats if I can even get through to someone to book it. You could be on hold for up to ten minutes - and then INFURIATINGLY they answer it and say "Will you hold please" and put you on hold before you can say NO!

robrooo

Last time I phoned to see my GP, the next appointment was in 3 weeks. Surgery is closed weekends and early one afternoon a week.

If it was "an emergency" you could be seen same day, no guidance as to what constitutes "an emergency", but I thought it would not apply to a chronic, long-term illnesses which flares up occasionally. But then for a real emergency I would probably go to A&E anyway...?

But I did manage to find a local walk in GP clinic where you can just turn up on a first-come first-served basis - doors open at 8am but when I was there at about 7:30am there were already about 10 people queued up! I thought the GP I saw was much better than my registered GP. She advised me to keep my GP appointment and use it to ask for a referral to a specialist.

There also used to be a walk in GP centre near my work, but that closed down last year - I thought it would have been very popular with workers who mostly commute in to work and for whom seeing their local practice would mean at least a half-day off work and where it seems hard to get a same-day appointment. Maybe it was too popular!

faerielight

I have lots of health probs and I haven't been able t0o see my actual gp for over a year and I've had 3 bowel surgeries since then. She only works 2 days a week but she is never free, I can't book in advance and she's on holiday or training so much. I'm going to change gps soon as the other drs are really horrible. You could get a phone consultation and they should have a ring on the day emergency appnt if you call at 8.30 am.