Difficulty Getting GP Appointments

DomRavioli

bubbs wrote: »

I rang for an appointment today to discuss blood test results im having on Monday, these are repeat blood tests but with medication this time, which i saw the doctor about Tuesday.
Earliest appointment i can get is March 13th

You don't need an appointment to discuss blood tests. If there's any issues, the GP or one of the practice staff will call you, and if there's not any issues (they come back as normal), ask to speak to the secretaries. It is literally our job, the GP is there as a gateway to referrals and acute issues.

TBagpuss

OP, I think that one thing to do is to ask the GP when you see them - particularly if they tell you make another appointment, explain the difficulties which you have had doing that, and ask whether they are able to make the appointment.

It would also be worth asking, specifically, whether it would be more appropriate or some of your appointments to be with the asthma nurse or with the diabetes nurse, and whether any of the appointments can be telephone appointments and if so, how set those up.

I would suggest that say, specifically, to the GP, that you are very concerned about how hard it is to maintain continuity given you multiple and complex conditions.

It might also be useful if you speak to one of the receptionists / administrators and ask for their advice - if you approach it as "I appreciate that it's very difficult to fit everyone in, but I'm having these issues, is there anything you can suggest to enable me to make the appointments I need, and to maintain consistency?" Even if they can't help, you've nothing to lose by asking.

System

Mine aren't open weekends. I tried to book and appointment the other day, nothing for 2 weeks, and no appointment with my GP for 4 weeks (i have mental health problems and it takes a lot for me to be comfortable talking to someone so i really need to see the same GP otherwise i have to start from scratch everytime i see a new one and they don;t get to know me)I ended up making a same day emrgency appointment. I had no choice. Walk In Centre won;t treat you for ongoing conditions you are under a GP for. I got seen but basically got told if i felt worse to come back asap (meaning another emergency appointment). Its madness. Ad part of the reason i dont see my GP nearly as often as i should. Over the last few years i;d had numerous depressive and hypermanic episodes and i've just had to try and cope on my own.

Savvy_Sue

Faith177 wrote: »

So with my holiday day tomorrow I have to go to the walk in clinic and wait god knows how long

I don't know if this is at your GP surgery, but we have a couple of walk-in clinics in the city.

Except ... you can't walk-in. You have to phone in advance to make an appointment ... And if they have none left, you can't be seen!

Faith177

Savvy_Sue wrote: »

I don't know if this is at your GP surgery, but we have a couple of walk-in clinics in the city.

Except ... you can't walk-in. You have to phone in advance to make an appointment ... And if they have none left, you can't be seen!

No it's a separate unit even further away from home also called a poly clinic. You turn up tell them what's wrong and wait. Sometimes towards the end of the day they start refusing people but if you go during the day normally not too bad (fingers crossed)

AndyBSG

Unfortunately, that's the state of local GP services nowadays.

My surgery will only let you book appointments a maximum of 2 weeks in advance but they literally disappear as soon as they're released.

The only real way to get an appointment is to phone up on the day and try to get one of the handful they hold back for emergencies but even then you'll be on the phone trying to get through for around half an hour before finding they're all gone.

Our GP's salaries are published and the 10 GP's are payed an average of 58K per year.

That may sound great but considering they pretty much work 6 days a week 12 hours a day and had to spend god knows how many years at University first I can completely understand why so many of my surgeries GP's are leaving with most heading abroad to get more money for less work.

downshifted

I agree with all the comments. I too am in Kent and the situation is dire. All surgeries need to have a Patient Participation Group these days - check out if yours does have one (some of them are just virtual) and go along and make your point there. It is indeed a nationwide problem - but pressure needs to be kept up so that local CCGs and the Government do something about it. Work with your surgery to get the best result for you and for the nation as a whole.

onlyroz

I see the family planning nurse every 6 months to review my contraception. I normally have to book the appointment around 5 weeks in advance - I think the clinic is held once or twice a week.

The GP system certainly seems to be under a lot of strain and it'll only get worse as more and more things are pushed in their direction that used to be done in a hospital.

bubbs

DomRavioli wrote: »

You don't need an appointment to discuss blood tests. If there's any issues, the GP or one of the practice staff will call you, and if there's not any issues (they come back as normal), ask to speak to the secretaries. It is literally our job, the GP is there as a gateway to referrals and acute issues.

I was told when i rang up that i needed to see a doctor and when i saw the doctor this week, he told me to make an appointment for when these results come back so sorry the receptionist couldnt help this time;)
So i am doing as i am told:D

Tigsteroonie

Sat in the GP surgery today, I was listening to phone enquiries where the receptionist was advising that the next available appointment is Monday 6 March, so just over a week away. Only two appointments left on that day, but I didn't think that was too bad.

Online, the earliest appointment I can book at this point is on Monday 27th, just one appointment left; the furthest away is Friday 24th March so four weeks away.