Why Is It Getting Harder To See A Gp

[nailit]

Rang GP this morning (was going to go down in person, unfortunately fell back asleep after alarm went of) Was 'in a queue' for 15 mins before I got speak to a receptionist.
ME ''Can I make an appointment to see a doctor please?''
RECEPTIONIST ''Sorry, there are no appointments left for this morning''
ME ''That's OK, can I have an afternoon appointment?''
RECEPTIONIST ''You will have to ring back after 2 and then we will get triage to ring you back to see if you need to see a doctor''
ME ''I need to see a doctor, I've got rectal bleeding''
RECEPTIONIST ''Ring after 2 and triage will ring you back''
ME ''Why cant you book me an appointment, Ive just told you why I need to see a doctor''
RECEPTIONIST '' Ring after 2 and triage will decide if you need to see a doctor''

I remember the days when you could just phone and book an appointment without all this kerfuffle.

[albaqwerty]

start phoning just before 2 and keep hitting the redial button :-)

I have no idea when my surgery started doing same day appointments instead of having to wait 2 weeks to see a doctor.
They have always had the emergency appointments tho, if you can get through at 8.30, then nurse phoned you back and decided whether you get same day or next day appointment but that's changed too.

[New Judge]

"Why Is It Getting Harder To See A Gp?"

Because:

1. There are considerably more people who want to see them.

2. Mr Blair gave them a new contract which paid them about twice as much for doing about half the work.

3. As a result of (2) many of them earn more than enough and have decided to work part-time.

[emmie]

so sorry to hear this, i know how frustrating it is.
our surgery is no different. I once checked, though can't remember how i did it, to see how many people they had on their books, and 10,000 came up, which was astonishing to me, its no wonder i also found it hard to get an appointment.
ring them at 2pm don't forget, and good luck

[New Judge]

Does your surgery do online booking, nailit? I so give it a go. Mrs NJ and I have found it quite convenient.

[douglas9401]

It's more difficult to get a GP appointment if one is asleep while others are booking their slot.

[nailit]

Seems to me though that its making more work for themselves. First of all you get to speak to a receptionist who THEN has to pass it on to 'triage' who in turn has to ring you back and only then you can (perhaps) finally get an appointment.

[nailit]

NJ, I'll look into that thanks.
Douglas, I started ringing bang on 8oclock (phones wont connect you to a receptionist before then)

[Islay]

I ring up my doctors surgery politely ask if I may have an appointment and I generally get one in 24 hours.
No 'kerfuffle' at all.

[naomi24]

nailit, if getting through on the phone is difficult, why not nip down to the surgery and make an appointment? Far less frustrating.

[diddlydo]

Our surgery operates the same crazy triage system - they seem to think one has all day to hang about waiting for the surgery to call back. The reason - they're so busy meeting flipping "targets" like screening the un-worried well, offering flue jabs to people who don't want them etc etc because that's more lucrative than actually seeing people who are ill.

[emmie]

that probably is your best bet, to nip down there today and make an appointment.

[naomi24]

I think systems like that have arisen because too many people go to their GP unnecessarily.

[nailit]

Naomi, that was my plan but unfortunately I fell back sleep after my alarm went of this morning, Id had a bad nights sleep. I did start ringing bang on 8 oclock when the phone lines open.

[emmie]

nip down there and get this sorted, hope you get your appointment.

[naomi24]

Well, go now you're awake. The sooner you sort it, the sooner you'll see a doctor.

[Voltage]

we are lucky to have a good surgery also helps that receptionist is a good friend of ours always been seen within 24 hours

[nailit]

If I go down now, they will tell me the same, ring after 2. The system is bonkers.

[nailit]

Stuff it, I'm just finishing my tea and toast off and going down there, I'm fed up with all this phoning and triage cr ap.

[emmie]

that's the ticket, let us know how you get on..

[anneasquith]

A polite patient will receive helpful and polite advice, NB. The gp receptionist do not make the rules .