Three weeks to see a GP?

Russinating · 17 Jun 2011 at 16:40

I rarely rarely moan about public services, especially the NHS et al - probably because of the fact that I see the doc less than once a year.

However I've a small niggle that I had decided to get checked out. Fortunately I don't have a specific GP due to my infrequent visits, and I work for myself so I don't have a time preference either. I rang up on 6 June and based on that the first available appointment was 20 June. Thought fair enough and booked it.

Got a call today saying the doctor I was supposed to be seeing wasn't going to be in that day and the next available appointment (again, with any GP at the surgery and at any time) was on 27 June. Crazy. Told her to forget about it anyway.

Surely the majority of things you'd go to the GP about would a) have cured itself within 3 weeks or b) escalated beyond the help of a GP. I remember getting appointments within 3/4 days only a year or so ago.

Is this normal or is my surgery particularly parp?

AS_Platinum · 17 Jun 2011 at 16:42

This is quite normal where I live, then again, it is "Gods waiting list" around here and all the old cripples hog up all the space.

Freakbro · 17 Jun 2011 at 16:43

You cant even make future appointments at my surgery, you have to ring on the day.

So at 8.30am everyone rings, so its engaged for ~5-10mins before you get through and then generally they say "no more appointments left for today" :rolleyes:

Biohazard · 17 Jun 2011 at 16:43

That sounds crap.

At worst it's a week for a future appointment, sometimes get one on that day if you check for cancellations.

Gilly · 17 Jun 2011 at 16:46

Get a new one. Our lass was at a rubbish GP surgery like yours sounds, and I shifted her to mine, which is much, much better. If I need to see someone same-day I always get in, and I can choose various timeslots from fairly urgent (within a couple of days) and not urgent (within a couple of weeks) and they also have senior sisters there that can prescribe too - and they're just implementing an online booking system and so on.

My Doc's is great.

Crowort · 17 Jun 2011 at 16:47

Seems fairly normal to me. It seems to be getting worse instead of better. I hardly ever go to my GP, but I do get yearly checkups for type I diabetes (this is to do with funding more than anything).

My dad complained to the practice manager when he wanted an appointment and got told about 3 weeks. They asked him what it was for and he said a pain in his chest and just like magic he had an appointment that day. Was nothing serious but they clearly panicked it was a heart problem.

Valentino · 17 Jun 2011 at 16:51

Mine is usually same day appointment although it is in a village with neigbouring villages that require you to drive to it, which i guess puts people who aren't really ill from going unnecessarily because they've got a headache or their finger hurts etc. I'm very fortunate not to have to visit the doctors regularly i guess.

Russinating · 17 Jun 2011 at 16:52

Freakbro said:
You cant even make future appointments at my surgery, you have to ring on the day.

So at 8.30am everyone rings, so its engaged for ~5-10mins before you get through and then generally they say "no more appointments left for today"

That's ridiculous.

Gilly said:
Get a new one. Our lass was at a rubbish GP surgery like yours sounds, and I shifted her to mine, which is much, much better. If I need to see someone same-day I always get in, and I can choose various timeslots from fairly urgent (within a couple of days) and not urgent (within a couple of weeks) and they also have senior sisters there that can prescribe too - and they're just implementing an online booking system and so on.

My Doc's is great.

See, other than this my docs is good too. They already have an online booking system and a touch screen computer system that you use when you arrive to let them know you're there. That and it's in a Grade II listed building and looks frikkin' awesome...

Maybe that's why it's so popular/busy :mad:

.

scorza · 17 Jun 2011 at 16:53

Never had a problem getting an appointment in a reasonable time frame at any of the GP surgeries I've been registered at.

FARGO · 17 Jun 2011 at 16:55

For some reason if I want to see my GP I have to go in on Tuesday morning (the only day she is in) and hope you get there early enough to get a space.

It's usually a 4 week wait if I can't get an appointment. If I call up the receptionist ask if it's urgent...

I have suffered some loss of vision in my left eye - my appointment for the Royal Eye Unit at my local hospital is on the 22/07 I was refered around 16/05.

Also, the number advertised for the surgery is a premium rate line. Each time I call and the line is busy or I am in a queue it costs me dearly.

jp_bl_68 · 17 Jun 2011 at 16:58

I usually have to wait a week which isn't too bad most of the time.

Biohazard · 17 Jun 2011 at 16:59

FARGO said:
Also, the number advertised for the surgery is a premium rate line. Each time I call and the line is busy or I am in a queue it costs me dearly.

That is disgusting :mad:

Le_Petit_Lapin · 17 Jun 2011 at 17:01

FARGO said:
Also, the number advertised for the surgery is a premium rate line. Each time I call and the line is busy or I am in a queue it costs me dearly.

Surely that can't be legal if its an NHS practice?

heeeed · 17 Jun 2011 at 17:07

Is it actually a premium rate or is it one of those national local rate 0845 type ones? I think the 0845 one is legal to use but I'm not sure regarding a premium rate. I agree though if it's a premium rate that is disgusting

fewfe3 · 17 Jun 2011 at 18:31

that would be normal for me. if i wanted to see my GP i would have to ring up and book an appointment saying that i will be ill next month. although i think i can see anyother doctor straight away if needed.

i havent been to the doctors in so long i have forgot how it all works.

Beans on toast Dave · 17 Jun 2011 at 18:37

AS_Platinum said:
This is quite normal where I live, then again, it is "Gods waiting list" around here and all the old cripples hog up all the space.

i wonder what you will think when you get to that age :mad:

yer_averagejoe · 17 Jun 2011 at 18:40

I can get an appointment whenever I want at my gp usually. Though when i get there they rush you out in under a minute and it generally takes 2-3 visits before they actually manage to correctly diagnose and treat you.

AS_Platinum · 17 Jun 2011 at 19:16

challengedavid said:
i wonder what you will think when you get to that age

Perhaps I'll think for a minute, just the one, and say to myself, "hmm I remember when I was young and all those god damm old people use to hog up all the space because they wanted to natter with the doctor about their five problems"

Instead of one problem per visit.

4T5 · 17 Jun 2011 at 19:20

Your surgery is rubbish go to a new one, When you ring my surgery the Doc will ring you back, If he wants you in then your in same day. When I rang them at 9am with a lump in my left one I was up the surgery standing in front of a Doctor with my cods in my hands at 9.20am. Now that's service.

bandit · 17 Jun 2011 at 19:23

thats crazy!!!

i would suges that unless you really need to you look at attending a walk-in centre instead:

http://www.nhs.uk/Services/Trusts/PctServices/Service/DefaultView.aspx?id=7633

a quick search suggests you can go in from 9-9.

of course thats if its a generic issue. some walk-in centres are also able to register patients, so i would suggest that you look to re-register somewhere where you can be seen earlier.

with regards to the premium numbers, te government has tasked PCTs to enforce changes to numbers to ensure that patients are not firced to pay high charges for calling...