Stupid bloomin doctor's!

prowla

I went to the doctor's on the way home from work and said I'd like an appointment.

The receptionist said to phone at 8 in the morning.

I said I'll be in the car driving to work at 8 in the morning, so I'd like to book one now.

She said the next one is next month, but there would be one tomorrow if I phone at 8 in the morning.

What a stupid system!

She went on to say if it was an emergency I could phone this evening for an appointment, and I said if it was an emergency I would go to A&E.

I looked online and the information says:

Making an Appointment

Appointments can be made over the telephone or in person at reception and are regularly available between 8.30am and 5.30pm.
In addition to this the practice also offers appointments from 6.30pm to 7.30pm on Mondays at the surgery.

I don't regard something in three weeks time as "regularly available".


They are lying.

gik

prowla wrote: »

I went to the doctor's on the way home from work and said I'd like an appointment.

The receptionist said to phone at 8 in the morning.

I said I'll be in the car driving to work at 8 in the morning, so I'd like to book one now.

She said the next one is next month, but there would be one tomorrow if I phone at 8 in the morning.

What a stupid system!

She went on to say if it was an emergency I could phone this evening for an appointment, and I said if it was an emergency I would go to A&E.

I looked online and the information says:

Making an Appointment

Appointments can be made over the telephone or in person at reception and are regularly available between 8.30am and 5.30pm.
In addition to this the practice also offers appointments from 6.30pm to 7.30pm on Mondays at the surgery.



You really

I don't regard something in three weeks time as "regularly available".


They are lying.

Perhaps you could phone when you arrive at work?

DCFC79

Its the same here, you have to ring after 8 30 to get a same day appointment, havent tried to book 1 face to face at the doctors.

themull1

Tony Blair said he would put a stop to the ridiculous appointment fiasco, it happens at my doctors - its a ridiculous system.

meer53

My doctors is fantastic, i can always get an appointment within a couple of days if it's non urgent, same day if it is. We also have a walk-in centre at the local hospital too if it's out of hours.

If it's my kids who are ill, i can get in same day, no matter what time i call, i might have to see the nurse practitioner but thats fine by me.

I fell a couple of months ago and fractured my hand, in and out of the walk-in centre in less than an hour, X-Rays and all. I can't praise the NHS enough.

System

My previous practice was like this they were rubbish but my new practice is amazing I can make appointments order repeats online . If I need a same day appointment I ring after 8 and so far have been able to get a same day one.

hollydays

If it's urgent only you could judge that-if so say it's urgent

suki1964

This is the same as my GP. If I ring for an appointment it's three weeks.

However if I need to see a doctor right away I can ring at 8,30, and see a locum

In the great scheme of things this works BUT there is no continuity of care. Each appointment is used giving past history. As a female hitting " that time of life" I'm sure most of my issues would seen as part of a whole if I saw the same GP. However as it is I'm being referred for the most ridiculous of OP appointments at the hospital IE a neuro appointment when really it's symptoms of uncontrolled BP

Helix

I think this is fairly standard in many parts of the country. They at least seem to give you an option of an appointment in the future even if it is weeks away now. It used to be get down in person for 8.30 (you could call but they would prioritise those queuing in person which normally was enough to take up all the appointments) or nothing.

forgotmyname

Same system here also. Phone at 8:30 what a joke, They dont answer the phone.

If you want an appointment you need to queue up before 8:15 and its first come first served. They ignore the phone until everyone waiting outside has been sorted, Then they answer the phone to tell you there are no appointments.

If you need to see the doctor quickly, you need to come down at 11am and wait. Go down at 11am and its almost empty.

photome

We can phone at 8am and get a same day with a NP

It can be very frustrating at our docs though

What would be a better way and how would it work