I thought £30 was reasonable. If it was up to me I'd charge £150 then strike them off if they do it a 2nd time.
It only takes 5 minutes to pick up the phone and give your surgery a call to cancel.
I can never get an appointment
- Thread starter anything I don't mind
- Start date
I thought £30 was reasonable. If it was up to me I'd charge £150 then strike them off if they do it a 2nd time.
It only takes 5 minutes to pick up the phone and give your surgery a call to cancel.
Soldato
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- Bath
If you ring ours you'll probably only get an appointment in about 5 days time.
They do a "walk-in and wait", but it's a complete waste of time as you end up sat there for hours waiting. Which is fine if you're old or haven't got a job, but when you're employed it's not really an option unless you're so very ill that you're not at work.
They do a "walk-in and wait", but it's a complete waste of time as you end up sat there for hours waiting. Which is fine if you're old or haven't got a job, but when you're employed it's not really an option unless you're so very ill that you're not at work.
Soldato
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- Inverness,
doesnt matter, the OP says old people are mainly to blame and as they would get cheaper/ free healthcare even with a charge added, this method would ultimately fail.
Agreed!
Why? Either turn up, cancel the appointment so someone else can use it, or pay the fee. (obviously if you can provide evidence of circumstances out of your control there should be some leeway)
Actually, that's a **** system. Great if it's a quiet surgery, but if it's a busy surgery then it's quite likely you won't get an appointment.
How do you fit it around work? Take the day off then find you can't get an appointment?
What if you just need a new prescription for your regular medication? Would make sense to book an appointment a few days in advance so you know you aren't going to run out, rather than spending a week ringing up every morning trying to get an appointment.
My surgery is always very good. If you ring at 8am you'll generally get seen too that day. It's none stop from the minute they open till they close.
A&E is an absolute joke. Some of the story's I get told from my friend who's a consultant in A&E.
A&E is an absolute joke. Some of the story's I get told from my friend who's a consultant in A&E.
I live about 100 yards from my gp surgery.
You cannot book in advance for appointments.
You cannot go in to the surgery and book an appointment at reception.
The reasons? It wouldn't be fair.
You can only telephone - between 8am 8:20am for morning slots and 1pm 1:30pm for afternoons.
It usually takes 2-3 days to get through.
After having an operation last year, I tried to see my gp for a followup and for a sicknote, it took 2 days of failing to get through on the phone before I lost my rag and went in to sort it out in person.
The receptionists must be recruited from a pool of the most socially obnoxious people to grace a public facing role as they are universally impolite and condescending.
Several years ago they had a hearing impaired woman on reception who had the habit of repeating your 'reason for seeing your doctor' loud enough for the teenage mothers smoking outside to hear. A colleague of mine at the time had her 'repeat proscription for the contraceptive pill?!' announced to the whole waiting room, whereupon she commented that if the practice were going to employ a speak & spell person, the very least they could do was to make sure the batteries in her hearing aid were charged.
My gp is a decent enough chap for the most part and there's not usually much need for me to see him, but it would be nice to have a better system for appointments, especially when they have days off to to practice privately.
Pretty much my comments to the receptionists after trying for an appointment for 2 days. They didn't seem to give a **** either.
You cannot book in advance for appointments.
You cannot go in to the surgery and book an appointment at reception.
The reasons? It wouldn't be fair.
You can only telephone - between 8am 8:20am for morning slots and 1pm 1:30pm for afternoons.
It usually takes 2-3 days to get through.
After having an operation last year, I tried to see my gp for a followup and for a sicknote, it took 2 days of failing to get through on the phone before I lost my rag and went in to sort it out in person.
The receptionists must be recruited from a pool of the most socially obnoxious people to grace a public facing role as they are universally impolite and condescending.
Several years ago they had a hearing impaired woman on reception who had the habit of repeating your 'reason for seeing your doctor' loud enough for the teenage mothers smoking outside to hear. A colleague of mine at the time had her 'repeat proscription for the contraceptive pill?!' announced to the whole waiting room, whereupon she commented that if the practice were going to employ a speak & spell person, the very least they could do was to make sure the batteries in her hearing aid were charged.
My gp is a decent enough chap for the most part and there's not usually much need for me to see him, but it would be nice to have a better system for appointments, especially when they have days off to to practice privately.
Haggisman said:
Pretty much my comments to the receptionists after trying for an appointment for 2 days. They didn't seem to give a **** either.
It wasn't a particularly quiet surgery but I always managed to get an appointment when needed.
How did I fit it around work? If I was feeling ill enough to need a doctor it meant I wouldn't be going to work anyway.
Follow-ups requested by the Doc is how you got another prescription, however there is a system for regular prescriptions, they're called repeat prescriptions and don't require seeing the doc
Think it's pretty much standard. You ring early, you might get an apt that same day. If not, expect a few days waiting period.
You could even try ringing several times a day to see if there has been any last minute cancellations.
You could even try ringing several times a day to see if there has been any last minute cancellations.
Not really sure why you're feeling so entitled on their behalf.
Yep they've paid taxes. And guess what? Modern medicine has meant people are living way beyond what was predicted when they were paying taxes, and we're now filling in the black hole to prop up their NHS care along with their pensions and other services.
And you can honestly say that all of these people have worked hard and paid their taxes all their life?
The ones who had free education and went to University not only for free but with a grant in some cases?
This has go to be down to the individual Doctor's Surgery.
Mine is really good. You can only book appointments on the day and they have a telephone triage system.
Last Tuesday I rang up at 8am, got called back instantly by a doctor to assess if an appointment was required. It was. I got told to be there at 8:30am for my appointment. I was seen and had my prescription by 8:45am.
Really really good.
Mine is really good. You can only book appointments on the day and they have a telephone triage system.
Last Tuesday I rang up at 8am, got called back instantly by a doctor to assess if an appointment was required. It was. I got told to be there at 8:30am for my appointment. I was seen and had my prescription by 8:45am.
Really really good.
Associate
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- 26 Nov 2011
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- West London
That's not people that have developed a sniffle and go in after antibiotics when they need a paracetamol though is it? My point was there are a lot of people that will just run to the GP because little timmy coughed.
That's fine if it's an illness that keeps you off work. What if it isn't?
Follow-ups requested by the Doc is how you got another prescription, however there is a system for regular prescriptions, they're called repeat prescriptions and don't require seeing the doc
Which would be great if the doc actually requested them. My partner was supposed to get a review with the doctor about 4 months ago, however every time she rings up, she gets told there are no appointments and to ring back the next day. She's still waiting to see someone.
She's also been waiting 8 months to be able to see a nurse for something else, so evidently the system doesn't work all that well
Again, this is fine if you're sat at home all day twiddling your thumbs. If you have a job which requires more than 10 mins notice of absence, then you basically have to book several days off in advance to make sure you actually get an appointment on a day you're free.
Edit: saying all that, they were very good when our 2 year old had a 39.5c fever, and got us in within 10 minutes, but it would be nice if they had a mix of both emergency/on the day slots, and pre-bookings.
Soldato
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- 30 Sep 2009
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- 2,916
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- Merseyside. UK
What I take from the above rant is how much you dislike old people because it apparently inconveniences you and despite many of them shedding blood for the likes of you and I you will happily be in favor of charging them £20 out of their already meager pensions to see a doctor. They and many others are already suffering enough under the heel of these tory ******** don't add to their misery.
In Middlesbrough (my last GP Surgery), you'd have to phone up from 8am (not a minute sooner) to stand a chance at getting an appointment that day. On several occasions, I had to phone back the next day as they appointments were all taken.
A few times I had advanced appointments (like for a review/follow-up) and they cancelled it last minute, advising that I phone up to rebook. Same situation as if it was a first-time appointment.
It worsened and worsened for all my family, until you basically just had to self-diagnose or go to a Pharmacist, or A&E.
Since moving house, our local GP Surgery is a bit quieter, but it is still typical that if you don't manage to get through within the first 15mins of the 8am daily appointment window, that won't get in that day, and have to phone back the next day.
A few times I had advanced appointments (like for a review/follow-up) and they cancelled it last minute, advising that I phone up to rebook. Same situation as if it was a first-time appointment.
It worsened and worsened for all my family, until you basically just had to self-diagnose or go to a Pharmacist, or A&E.
Since moving house, our local GP Surgery is a bit quieter, but it is still typical that if you don't manage to get through within the first 15mins of the 8am daily appointment window, that won't get in that day, and have to phone back the next day.
Can't believe she asked what the reason was nosey cow. Only time I've ever told a receptionist what the reason was for an emergency when I had chest pains.
For the OP.
http://www.nhs.uk/Conditions/contraception-guide/Pages/vasectomy-male-sterilisation.aspx
In most parts of the UK, a vasectomy is available free of charge from the NHS. However, waiting lists can be several months.
Sorry about the wait.
http://www.nhs.uk/Conditions/contraception-guide/Pages/vasectomy-male-sterilisation.aspx
In most parts of the UK, a vasectomy is available free of charge from the NHS. However, waiting lists can be several months.
Sorry about the wait.
Oh how many in our society have become self entitled and have absolutely concept of how the world isn't all about them.
Incidentally you'll find that most GPs don't have an easy time of it and aren't just sitting around with their feet up ignoring their patients dying quietly outside. I wouldn't want to do their job, even the ones that do get paid very well. If you'd jump at the chance I think that says more about your lack of understanding of their job than anything else.
Of course it's annoying not being able to get an appointment when you need one, it's amazing though how easy the old people seem to find it. When it comes to making appointments OAPs kick your ***
Incidentally you'll find that most GPs don't have an easy time of it and aren't just sitting around with their feet up ignoring their patients dying quietly outside. I wouldn't want to do their job, even the ones that do get paid very well. If you'd jump at the chance I think that says more about your lack of understanding of their job than anything else.
Of course it's annoying not being able to get an appointment when you need one, it's amazing though how easy the old people seem to find it. When it comes to making appointments OAPs kick your ***
Associate
- Joined
- 22 Jul 2008
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- 49
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- Stonehaven, Scotland
To get an appointment for the same at my GP you have to call from 8.30am onwards but as everyone and their brother calls at the same time you need to be calling repeatedly from 8.27 onwards, luckily today I called just before 8.30 and was 3rd in the queue - got an appointment @4 with my usual GP.
If I need an appointment that isn't urgent (followup or something) I use the web booking system but it only shows appointment for 2 weeks and further from the current date
If I need an appointment that isn't urgent (followup or something) I use the web booking system but it only shows appointment for 2 weeks and further from the current date
Soldato
- Joined
- 28 Nov 2004
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- 16,024
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- 9th Inner Circle
So the old and the chronically ill would get stuffed with a big bill to see their GP? That seems fair - NOT. Old people often have little spare money due to them not having big pensions. Those with chronic conditions may not be able to afford to see the doctor when they need either.
Hell, I'm well paid and if I had to stump up a fee I'd be in trouble (and private cover is a no-go either, it's astronomical)
The idea of the NHS is everybody pays in. Some, such as the old, young or infirm may need it more but in the end it balances out.
EDIT: My GP is brilliant. I can get an appointment with them same day and my preferred doctor knows all about me, my job, activities and family. She's friendly, doesn't talk down and takes her goddam time with me. No complaints here. No self-inflated sense of entitlement despite my illnesses.
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