GPs... is 2 weeks alright with everyone?

I was in a similar predicament with a distressing problem and was given an appointment 4 weeks later. I couldn’t go on that long so I paid £60 for a private GP appointment and it has to be the best £60 I have ever spent. Same day appointment. A full 20 minute consultation with thorough examination and investigation. It was followed up with a number of telephone calls and ultimately I was put on a course of treatment the same day with the concern resolved a week prior to the appointment my NHS GP had offered.

I understand it may not be an option for everyone, but for the sake of the price of a cheap meal out for two, it was absolutely worth it.
 
blame stinking rags like the daily mail for demonising Dr's and the NHS. The fact that Troy toffs that do nothing constucitve for society think medical professionals should shut up and take one up the rear passage for the team tells you ebrything you need to know. Just look at the state of our so called health secretary of state.
 
Before covid it was the same system as my old vet! You turn up on certain days and get seen, no telephoning needed but under 1000 population
 
Scuzi said:
I understand it may not be an option for everyone, but for the sake of the price of a cheap meal out for two, it was absolutely worth it.
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Just a note, it may be worth checking with employer's private medical insurance. I've found out that our scheme is now offering GP appointments so that's one way around it.

Personally I'll not bother yet as my needs aren't really urgent but it may be an option for some.
 
Fantastic here, I’ve had call backs on the same day and an appointment within 48 hours both times Ive seen GP during the pandemic.

maybe services vary wildly, but it’s outstanding here :)
 
A few years ago mine was terrible and it was literally impossible to get a non-same-day-urgent appointment most of the time because they only gave out appointments 2 weeks in advance, and normally they were fully booked for those 2 weeks. I always wondered if this was a way of gaming some 'waiting time' statistic so they could say no one waited longer than 2 weeks for an appointment.

The result was I just got to the point of finishing a prescription which needed renewing and then had to get an urgent same-day appointment! Absolutely ridiculous system.

Last year I had a few appointments and it was much better - they put an online system in and started doing early / late appointments, and sometimes I could even book one for the same week. They seem to be good at calling you back if it's an urgent issue too.

It is really annoying how even now its better than it was the service is still so poor and difficult to use, and you'll still get turned away if you ring up because the slots listed online are not bookable via the phone. It shouldn't be so hard to access health care, and it should be possible to get appointments the same week all the time imo, not a matter of luck or being able to use their online portal.

Edit: So basically in response to OP yes I think it is the norm in some places, and no it's not OK. As others suggested if you're able to afford it, then might be worth trying to get an earlier appointment with a private doctor...
 
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Big changes at my GP since I last needed to see them for a routine appointment 7+ years ago, even before the pandemic made it more tricky. Used to be very good odds of ringing first thing and being able to get seen that day, now lucky to be seen in less than four weeks.
 
Haven't been to a GP in my adult life. When I really needed help a few years ago, they had a two week waiting period as I wasn't an emergency, despite being in quite some discomfort. They told me to go A&E, who were brilliant tbf
 
d_brennen said:
Haven't been to a GP in my adult life. When I really needed help a few years ago, they had a two week waiting period as I wasn't an emergency, despite being in quite some discomfort. They told me to go A&E, who were brilliant tbf
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I've been about 5x in 20 years, since your basically made to feel as you are wasting their time even if your properly ill

every UK hospital I've been to feels like a prison as well.

pregnancy ward locked behind doors etc, in Switzerland I could just walk straight in to visit my partner without speaking to any nurses or anyone.

we live in a country where everyone is paranoid, every stranger has bad intentions etc and no one is honest.

probably the idea people get from watching our representatives running the country though
 
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arknor said:
we live in a country where everyone is paranoid, every stranger has bad intentions etc and no one is honest.
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To be honest there are definitely a lot of unpleasant people out there these days. It'll vary depending on where you live but it's just a sad fact of life now.
 
I’m a bit perplexed that OP says it’s been going on for 6 months mainly due to not being able to see a GP, yet every time he calls he’s offered an appointment two weeks away. Surely if he took the appointment he would have been seen 6 months ago :confused:
 
We get a good service here. I needed a non-emegency appointment this morning. I requested it via their web site at around 08:30 and a doctor phoned me back 30 minutes ago. It must be region specific.
 
I think the more rural regions are less stretched, We also live in a more rural area, my Mrs phoned this morning about 9am for a none emergency and the doctor phoned back about an hour later.
 
ZombieFan said:
We get a good service here. I needed a non-emegency appointment this morning. I requested it via their web site at around 08:30 and a doctor phoned me back 30 minutes ago. It must be region specific.
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When the eConsult system works it seems to work well and I've had two good experiences using it similar to yourself I've had quick responses and there seem to be more Dr's available.

However, I've had issues with the eConsult, if I need to ask a question about an existing condition it doesn't just ask for the condition and a note to the Dr, it makes me go through all the same questions as if a new issue and due to the nature of it this just ends in saying I have to phone for an emergency appointment.. So I do that and the Dr keeps telling me if anything changes to just pop in a note via eConsult to which I point out it won't let me..

On top of that, I struggled to register with it since Reception had used a spelling variation of my name which meant 3 calls to reception over 3 days to sort out.

On the same subject I have had a seriously eye opening observation when I needed an 'urgent' ultrasound screening in early December, I was warned of delays and had to chase them up a month later (early Jan) and on phoning the Ultrasound directly (on advice of the Dr) they miraculously had an appointment open up the next day first thing..
On attending, the Ultrasound unit (normally busy) was empty, I was the only person there both before and after and immediately got seen, my results were typed up immediately after and sent to the GP.. On grabbing a Costa on the way out, as I left I noticed the radiographer in the queue..
Call me cynical, but it would seem someone has massively over reacted for no real reason and deliberately caused severe delays for absolutely no reason what-so-ever, the radiographer looked bored and clearly had an unprecedented amount of time on their hands..
Another observation is that they've obviously cut the chairs in the waiting area to about 1/5th of the number available to ensure 2M distance is observed, yet you look down the corridor and there are swathes of areas that additional seating could easily be put..

Every time I go near a hospital I see the same thing, a horrifically badly managed crap fest.. Don't get me started on A&E.. it is massively busy on the surface but grossly (and deliberate) inefficient underneath, staggering..



rant over..
 
So much about them is terrible and not compatible with modern society. I.e. the fact that the receptionists require you to know the "secret words" like "pre bookable appointment" for an appointment at any stage in the future after that current day, and that you have to say your problem is urgent or they won't see you at all. Dreadful.

The only way to get an appointment at mine is to ring at 8 (who wants to wake up at 8 and mash redial if you're Ill?!?) There are no automated queues or tech to take care of your call it's just luck if you get through. Imagine some old dear on her own, not able to use a phone very easily but having to join in the virtual stampede......barbaric and pathetic. They need binning

In fact I'm half convinced there is no place for GPs in 2021. They could shut them all down in favour of huge Walk In centres. They're like a cheese counter. You walk in and take a seat, and eventually you'll be seen.

Someone on here mentioned "livi" which I've just downloaded and looks great!! Surprise surprise none of my local surgeries seem to be signed up
 
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