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.

[jno]

I waited 30 minutes this morning and that was at 10.15. The earlier cases must have been real doozies.

It does suggest poor time-management, though.

[hc4361]

Don't see how poor time management comes in to it, to be honest.
Each patient has an allocated few minutes with the doctor but I'd rather wait and the doctor be thorough with the patients rather than be shown the door after my allocated minutes because my time was up.

My GP once spent 25 minutes with me, regardless of patients waiting, and thank heavens that he did - he investigated my problem and got me in to hospital and operated on the same day. I didn't know my symptoms were so serious.

I wouldn't dream of making a formal complaint because I waited 30 minutes.

[naomi24]

I have no idea what the rules are, but do bear in mind that doctors are people with families and with private lives of their own, and just like everyone else, they want to get home after a day’s work. They don’t keep you waiting for no reason. You have to consider that someone else’s problems may be more severe, more urgent, or more time-consuming than your own.

[yogasun]

The receptionist at our doctors usually warns that they are 'running late'. Our doctor likes to spend longer with each patient and people get to know this. I certainly wouldn't dream of writing a complaint letter having only just registered with a new surgery, but hey ho.

[boxtops]

30 minutes is not unreasonable although it's annoying, but I'd rather he dealt thoroughly, and emergencies can crop up and some patients take longer. The requirement is to see a medical practitioner within 48 hours, so hanging around for 30 mins in the surgery is negligible. It's far too early to complain to the practice manager if this was only your wife's first appointment. There is no such obligation to see a patient at the appointment time so don't assume there is.

[boxtops]

... PS if there were any such rule, it would be that you could be seen by a healthcare professional, which doesn't mean a doctor - sometimes an appointment with the nurse or healthcare assistant will suffice, depending on what you are going for.

[Baldric]

///a formal complaint.///

Well, good luck with that Frazer, carry on like that and I suspect you will soon become familiar with all the Surgeries in your area, if indeed you can find one that will accept you at all.

[whiskeryron]

// My family moved to a new Surgery recently// Your first statement says it all, how many surgery's have you already tried & found pretty much the same ? There will come a time when you run out of surgery's & then your only option will be to go to A&E at a hospital & then you will really discover what waiting means.

WR.

[Sqad]

\\\\How Long To Wait For A Doctor?\\\

Until he is available to see you.

[Smowball]

I go to a busy surgery in outer London, and I am always seem within 10 mins of my appointment time x

[LoftyLottie]

Agree with Sqad. Times are allocated for appointments, but I sincerely hope no good doctor would turn a patient out at the end of their allocated ten minutes!!! I have arthritis too and if I am uncomfortable whilst waiting, well so be it. My doctor always apologises if there has been a long wait to see him, but reasonable people understand the reasons why.

[frazer_d]

Well that certainly opened a can of worms didn't it?

Thank you all for your comments. I think it comes down to us being spoiled by our last (and only) surgery, who always saw you within 15 minutes. We only moved through recommendation and the fact it was a lot nearer home.

Never mind, we'll just have take a book and be patient.

[boxtops]

That's what we do, frazer - go, and prepare to camp until we're called.

[FredPuli43]

Don't where the idea comes from that if you go private you won't have to wait 30 minutes. The one private doctor that I use nearly always has a delay of that order; I've never once been called in at the appointed time. There is a difference. The NHS doctor won't charge you. Mine costs upwards of £300 every time! The reason for delay is as with the NHS. The doctor can't predict how long is needed to deal with the individual case.

[SMP]

I wrote this when I was a GP receptionist.

When you are sitting waiting and the doctor's running late
Please don't rush up to the desk all angry and irate.

We know that you arrived on time and want to be seen quick
But the doctor sometimes takes his time with someone very sick.

They know that you are waiting and we'll try to let you know
That the doctor is a bit behind and not on a go-slow.

So we will do our very best but please remember too
The doctor may run late one day because he's treating YOU.

[Sqad]

SMP.......;-)

[naomi24]

SMP, excellent! That could be adorning surgeries all over the country! Would you mind if I passed it on to a couple of friends?

[SMP]

Thanks Sqad.
Naomi no problem. It used to be up in the surgery I worked in. I also gave a copy to my own surgery.

[naomi24]

Thank you SMP. :o)

[emmie]

i have waited over an hour before, not acceptable at all for anyone.