How does your local Doctors appointment system work?
- Thread starter Things change I've changed
- Start date
Lots of walk in places still exist, you'll be waiting a while though.
Phone early doors, usually get an appointment that afternoon or morning if lucky.
Any later in the day, next day or a cancellation. Same across 2-3 doctors in the last few years.
Waiting times when you get there mind, that's another story. 4.30 is never 4.30, closer to 5. If lucky. (First world problems, karmic realignment as I'm normally a terrible time keeper. Oh the ironing.)
Any later in the day, next day or a cancellation. Same across 2-3 doctors in the last few years.
Waiting times when you get there mind, that's another story. 4.30 is never 4.30, closer to 5. If lucky. (First world problems, karmic realignment as I'm normally a terrible time keeper. Oh the ironing.)
Call first thing in the morning to get an appointment that day. If you call later there are no appointments and you can't book them for the next day. They also don't see patients every day and sometimes do half days. If you are referred to the nurse there can be a 2 week wait.
IMO GPs should be employed by hospitals to meet the requirements of the area they serve. They will also be more likely to run clinics in the community and it will take away the strain on A&E.
IMO GPs should be employed by hospitals to meet the requirements of the area they serve. They will also be more likely to run clinics in the community and it will take away the strain on A&E.
Ours is the phone up, doctor calls back system. Never had to use it myself as I've not needed an appointment for about a decade. I've heard loads of people moaning about it though. I heard they did a survey to get feedback about the system a while back. I've not heard a single positive comment about it from people yet the survey results were supposedly praising it. Huh?
Our old one I would phone them at 8.30 to get an appointment for that day and they would ask what was wrong with me but you could just say its personal and they would give a time. That worked all of the times I needed a doctor, always got a time. Other option was to book with 2 weeks time.
Our new one is not as good. If you need urgent time you go in at 9 and sit and wait rather than them giving you a time. My partner had to go on the day he signed up and was there at 8.30 to do the paper work and was already number 7 in the line even though they are supposed to start at 9. Waited a long time too which is not good but lucky they are understandig at his work. Have to book in 2 weeks ahead otherwise. It really is a joke...
Our new one is not as good. If you need urgent time you go in at 9 and sit and wait rather than them giving you a time. My partner had to go on the day he signed up and was there at 8.30 to do the paper work and was already number 7 in the line even though they are supposed to start at 9. Waited a long time too which is not good but lucky they are understandig at his work. Have to book in 2 weeks ahead otherwise. It really is a joke...
Soldato
- Joined
- 2 May 2011
- Posts
- 12,275
- Location
- Woking
I hate this:
You: Can I book an appointment please?
Receptionist: OK, what's wrong with you?
You: I've got haemorrhoids and my arse hurts like hell.
Receptionist: Too much information
I do all my appointment making and prescription refill via an online software from a company called Emis. I can pick a doctor and a time convenient to me.
As for prescriptions I state what I want and a couple of days later I can wander along to my local pharmacist and collect it.
I am in Edinburgh by the way.
I log on via this site. https://patient.emisaccess.co.uk/Account/Login?ReturnUrl=/
As for prescriptions I state what I want and a couple of days later I can wander along to my local pharmacist and collect it.
I am in Edinburgh by the way.
I log on via this site. https://patient.emisaccess.co.uk/Account/Login?ReturnUrl=/
Last edited:
I hate this:
You: Can I book an appointment please?
Receptionist: OK, what's wrong with you?
You: I've got haemorrhoids and my arse hurts like hell.
Receptionist: Too much information
To be honest, if the receptionist at my doctor started asking that I'd probably make up the most disgusting/embarrassing symptoms possible, and explain them to her in great detail.
Permabanned
- Joined
- 28 Dec 2009
- Posts
- 13,052
- Location
- london
My doctor works like this.
You can only book appointments over the phone during certain times of the day on certain days of the week. No appointments in the morning on any day of the week.
If you want an appointment in the morning you have to line up outside from 8am and book an appointment for the morning in person.
Closed weekends
Closed some random days during the week at random times.
Open one day during the week till 8pm.
6 weeks wait for appointments during work hours and 2 months wait for appointment outside of work hours, ie between 6 and 8pm.
Lining up in the morning is also no guarantee that you will see a doctor as the appointments are all gone by 8:30am.
Private doctors: doctors wait on you.
Socialist doctors: you wait on doctors.
** No hotlinking images **
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/A9zM3DRCcAEh_pU.jpg
https://img.4plebs.org/boards/pol/image/1389/37/1389372041172.jpg
You can only book appointments over the phone during certain times of the day on certain days of the week. No appointments in the morning on any day of the week.
If you want an appointment in the morning you have to line up outside from 8am and book an appointment for the morning in person.
Closed weekends
Closed some random days during the week at random times.
Open one day during the week till 8pm.
6 weeks wait for appointments during work hours and 2 months wait for appointment outside of work hours, ie between 6 and 8pm.
Lining up in the morning is also no guarantee that you will see a doctor as the appointments are all gone by 8:30am.
Private doctors: doctors wait on you.
Socialist doctors: you wait on doctors.
** No hotlinking images **
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/A9zM3DRCcAEh_pU.jpg
https://img.4plebs.org/boards/pol/image/1389/37/1389372041172.jpg
Last edited:
Soldato
- Joined
- 22 Jul 2014
- Posts
- 3,927
- Location
- Oxon
We have the same here in Southampton, or at least for the GPs on my University campus anyway. Not sure about other practises in the city.
Associate
- Joined
- 31 May 2004
- Posts
- 1,933
- Location
- The 'Toon, UK, in Europe
This ^^^^^
My place does it and it's brilliant. Sat at 10pm last night, fired up the SystmOnline app on my phone and booked an appointment + ordered repeat prescriptions too.
Managing any appointment system is complex. People go and see the GP for nonsense. One thing I haven't seen mentioned in this thread though is the amount of missed appointments.
These are called DNA's or Did Not Attend. Some surgeries have over 100 DNA's per week. Personally, I think that if you miss an appointment and do not call to cancel, you should be charged. This is why you get the ridiculous waiting times to see a doctor.
These are called DNA's or Did Not Attend. Some surgeries have over 100 DNA's per week. Personally, I think that if you miss an appointment and do not call to cancel, you should be charged. This is why you get the ridiculous waiting times to see a doctor.