How Long To Wait For A Doctor?

[frazer_d]

My family moved to a new Surgery recently as it was nearer and recommended. My wife made her first appointment and waited over 30 minutes without being seen. When she asked the receptionist "is it usual to have to wait this long if you have a booked appointment?" the answer was "yes, usually."

I was under the impression that surgeries are obliged to get a Doctor to see you within 30 minutes of your appointment time. Is this the case, and if so who should i write to with a formal complaint. My wife is in her 60's with artheritis and finds it painfull to sit too long.

[gingejbee]

I have no idea about the "30 minute rule", but a formal complaint so soon? You'll end up with no GPs willing to see you.

[bongoboy]

we have had to wait anything up to an hour at our surgery and thats also like you with a booked appointment.

[Connemmara]

Me too - a good hour or so of waiting - that is why you are a patient - you have to be patient.

[Prudie]

I've not heard of the 30 minute rule but a wait of that length is fairly normal, as it is at the dentist, vets, hairdressers even on a busy day.

[B00]

Yep, its a wait, and that's provided you can get an appointment in the first place!

No disrespect, but I imagine the vast majority of people waiting are also feeling levels of discomfort/pain whilst waiting too. So while ive sympathy for your wifes' arthritis, I can't see it having any bearing on a complaint I'm afraid. Also agree with Gingejbee, perhaps not wise to naff off your new doctor just yet!

[Bbbananas]

My surgery has no such rule. A a complaint so early after new registration?
Methinks the gentleman protests (and expects) too much.....

[birdie73]

I always have to wait but i have an excellent GP & it's always worth the wait which can be up to an hour, they are very busy overworked people so try to be a patient patient !!! I always take a book to read or find someone to chat to.
A little tip, if you can get an early appointment you will not wait so long.

[gingejbee]

birdie: that is a good tip about earlier appointments. When I asked for an early one recently.... "is 7.30 am early enough for you?" I nearly fell over with the shock!

[Wak]

I don't mind waiting as long as I'm in there long enough to get my problems sorted out while I'm seeing the Doctor.
I'd hate to be thrown out of the surgery without getting sorted out just because my allocated time was up!!!

[Canary42]

The complacency with which people accept such appalling timekeeping must be music to the ears of Cameron and Co in their carefully planned destruction of the NHS.

Beveridge must be turning in his grave.

[birdie73]

gingejbee I've never been given one that early, I try to get one about 9am, but your appointment just proves how hard they work, I have had telephone calls from my GP as late as 7.30pm. I really think we should not complain & as stated many of us are not comfortable sitting there & often quite worried about result of visit.

[starone]

I thought the half hour wait rule (made by some government department) only applied to hospitals, but I could be wrong!

[daffy654]

If I have an appointment to see my GP I am always seen within 10 minutes of the time booked for.

[Prudie]

From what I remember you've always had the risk of a long wait at the surgery, whoever was in Govt.

[gingejbee]

daffy: if that happened to me, I'd be concerned that the GP was more interested in timekeeping than patients problems.

[Jan1957]

Always a long wait in my doctor's surgery, anything up to an hour.

[sara3]

I always think I've been forgotten about!

[B00]

Whilst waiting for a doctor to come and look at my broken wrist in A&E I actually was Sara!

[spotit3]

If each patient before you keeps the doctor an extra 5-10 minutes it delays all the other appointments. Can't really blame the doctor. Once you get to see him you wouldn't appreciate it if after 10 minutes he said, "Times Up" and you were still asking him questions.

[2sp_]

I was at the GP surgery a few months ago, my GP popped his head out to tell me he was running 20 minutes or so late, and then he was called away to an emergency. It was about an hour before I saw him. I was just grateful that I wasn't the poor sod needing emergency treatment.

I know it can be frustrating waiting for so long, but you never know why your GP is running late. S/He may be breaking bad news, dealing with an emergency or just snowed under.

I would hold off on making any complaint. You will just know in future that appointments are usually running about half an hour behind and you will be prepared for it. Or ask for an early appointment, before the waiting time expands too much.

I think that we need to appreciate that the NHS is free (OK, we pay taxes, but still...).

If you want quicker service, go private.