Parents unable to get doctor appointment after weeks of trying

stormCat99

For those saying surely this can't be the case, and maybe they aren't ringing as much as they tell me they are, this is the front cover of their local paper from this week :-(

http://edition.pagesuite-professional.co.uk/launch.aspx?eid=935e052e-28ac-4560-9238-a88b7ec2edd0&pnum=0

The sooner my parents get to move up near to us the better.

[Deleted User]

boots_babe wrote: »

It's just made worse by the fact that my parents were forced to move to this practice (only a few months ago) when their existing one closed down.

If there are thousands of others who have transferred to the same practice, that would account for the difficulty getting appointments.

When the last two GPs resigned from our surgery, it was taken into administration by the DoH and run on locums, even though there are three other practices in town. When they sold the building I thought they were planning to close it down, but Virgin Healthcare have built new premises now.

pmduk

boots_babe wrote: »

My GP does phone consultations too, it's a great system. You get to be heard without taking up an appointment for something that doesn't warrant it, but if following the phone call you're deemed in need of an appointment, they'll book you one.

This is the way all appointments are made at my GP's. It's great as so many issues can be sorted out on the phone that it frees up appointments for those who need them.

teddysmum

pmduk wrote: »

This is the way all appointments are made at my GP's. It's great as so many issues can be sorted out on the phone that it frees up appointments for those who need them.

It also means you don't have to go out if feeling unwell. It is horrible when unwell, having to sit in a fuggy waiting room with coughers, sneezers, noisy chatterers and naughty children (the sick ones are quiet).

shandyclover

boots_babe wrote: »

For those saying surely this can't be the case, and maybe they aren't ringing as much as they tell me they are, this is the front cover of their local paper from this week :-(

http://edition.pagesuite-professional.co.uk/launch.aspx?eid=935e052e-28ac-4560-9238-a88b7ec2edd0&pnum=0

The sooner my parents get to move up near to us the better.

I have tried getting appointments in the same surgery - almost impossible! Last year my dad visited and got food poisoning from a meal out with friends, he has a heart condition and I could not get through to the gp from work. He managed to get himself down to the walk in centre and they had him wait 45 mins then the receptionist said they couldn't see him because despite being British he had just moved to Australia and not entitled to see the doctor (!). In the end I went to the pharmacy on the way home, desperate for advice, the pharmacist was alarmed, called the surgery themselves. I don't know if they have a special number but my dad was called by the doctor and we picked up a prescription for him 30 mins later! We have had a brush with menegitis last year and the only way I was able to get daughter seen was SHROPDOC, an out of hours emergency doctor. Maybe worth being seen that way then insisting a referral to their GP. As a matter of interest I have been with this surgery 6 years and never met 'my' gp.