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Difficulty Getting GP Appointments

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  • Kaye1
    Kaye1 Posts: 538 Forumite
    Ask the nurse specialists first. I haven't seen the doctor for my asthma for years- it is the nurse I see. She is the one who suggested I change from steroid inhaler to a different one; it made a massive difference.

    Someone else in my family sees the nurse about their diabetes- she is the specialist nurse for diabetes, attends all the meetings etc and feeds back to the other staff.

    Ring up and ask for a double appointment- doesn't matter if it is for a couple of weeks- just go for the double appointment so the doctor has enough time to work out a plan with you.

    Different doctors have different specialisms too- we always had to see a specific doctor with my daughter as she was very premature and this was his area of knowledge.
  • Nicki wrote: »
    I had said to him I thought it was a nationwide problem.
    Not where I live. The practice I use just outside Bristol keeps same day appointments available and provided you ring before lunchtime you can generally get one in the evening if you don't mind which doctor you see, or next day if you ring in the afternoon.

    None of this "got to wait for the 8am pips on radio 4 and then use speed dial to get through" business that others describe.

    I've no idea how far in advance you have to book for something regular, or injections and so on, as I haven't needed to.
    Proud member of the wokerati, though I don't eat tofu.Home is where my books are.Solar PV 5.2kWp system, SE facing, >1% shading, installed March 2019.Mortgage free July 2023
  • rach_k
    rach_k Posts: 2,270 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Name Dropper
    Can you book an appointment in 5 weeks but then keep trying to get one earlier by ringing up each day when they release appointments? At least then you know you will be seen eventually but you can hope for something sooner as well.
  • clairec79
    clairec79 Posts: 2,512 Forumite
    Only time I had an issue was a few weeks ago - when I rang up and they were very apologetic but 3 GPs and the practice nurse had all gone off sick that morning

    Normally it's fairly easy (especially if you are happy to go to different branches
  • Savvy_Sue
    Savvy_Sue Posts: 47,813 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper
    DomRavioli wrote: »
    OP, surely you should be seeing the Asthma nurse, not a GP for this? most asthma nurses are advanced practitioners who can prescribe - and their appoinmtnets are usually more available.
    You might think so ... our practice invites asthma patients to an annual review, so DH responded to this last year, and was told that they'd put precisely two appointments aside for responses to these invitations!

    Anyway, the other thing the OP could try would be asking to speak to the practice manager, and explaining that with multiple conditions and your caring responsibilities it is important - not just desirable - to have continuity of care, and please how can you achieve this?

    I have found that if I ever moan about the phoning at 8.30 malarkey and how that doesn't work for non-emergency but still important appointments which you need to PLAN into your life, I am told about alternatives. However these are never offered the next time there isn't an appointment available ...
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  • Tigsteroonie
    Tigsteroonie Posts: 24,954 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper Photogenic
    How far ahead can you book with the online system, and how often do you need to see a GP?

    For example, if you need to see a GP 4-weekly and you can book 8 weeks ahead online, then (1) make an online booking for 8 weeks and (2) phone/nag in person to get an appointment in 4 weeks. Then after the appt in 4 weeks (3) go online, check the next appt is still there - now only 4 weeks away - and book another appointment 8 weeks away. Set up a rolling system by which you keep booking the "next but one" appointment online.
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  • LannieDuck
    LannieDuck Posts: 2,359 Forumite
    Eighth Anniversary 1,000 Posts Combo Breaker
    Normally they only put up appointments for the following week. At least that's how my two previous practices have done it.
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  • bubbs
    bubbs Posts: 68,341 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper Photogenic
    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
    Sealed pot challenge number 003 £350 for 2015, 2016 £400 Actual£345, £400 for 2017 Actual £500:T:T £770 for 2018 £1295 for 2019:j:j spc number 22 £1,457Stopped Smoking 22/01/15:D:D::dance::dance:- 5 st 1 1/2lb :dance::dance:
  • Ames
    Ames Posts: 18,459 Forumite
    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

    If you're having the bloods on Monday they won't expect the results to be back until the 6th anyway (although sometimes they take less than a week), so it's only a week later.
    Unless I say otherwise 'you' means the general you not you specifically.
  • Faith177
    Faith177 Posts: 2,927 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts
    edited 23 February 2017 at 10:46PM
    My surgery recently closed as the GP retired he had two practices opposite sides of town. Those two were amagulmated with a third So now you have 15,000 patients at the one practice.

    Phoned to get an appointment today as been ill for 10 days only to be told nothing for 6 weeks unless I take time off work which I can't do as due to compassionate leave and recent sick leave they won't let me miss more time. So with my holiday day tomorrow I have to go to the walk in clinic and wait god knows how long
    First Date 08/11/2008, Moved In Together 01/06/2009, Engaged 01/01/10, Wedding Day 27/04/2013, Baby Moshie due 29/06/2019 :T
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