Doctors Appointment.....

[janzman]

Yesterday I popped into my surgery to make an appointment with my doctor. I was cheerily told they could fit me in on the 23rd, great I thought till 23rd of March.........a full month away....However if it was more urgent just call up any morning and get a same day appointment. If its that easy to get in, why bother making an appt a month in advance.

[grumpy01]

I expect you were asked by the medically trained rotweiller(euphemistically called a receptionist) if it was an emergency or could you tell them a bit about your need to see the Doctor and they would be the judge of how necessary it was for you to see the GP urgently.Or,alternatively you could have sidelined to the triage nurse another buffer to keep you away from the Doctor.

[grumpy01]

I have to say though that the practice I attend,thankfully rarely,operates pretty well and you can get to see a Doctor in a timely fashion.There is however one female GP in our practice who is excellent and everybody wants to see her therefore the waiting times are that much longer.

[janzman]

I have been registered with my GP for 35 years.When he was a 'one man band' patiants could get to see him within 24 maybe 48 hours.Now it's a multi practice and the waiting times are a month or more.. progress..

[nailit]

Not as bad as my doctors
http://www.stokesentinel.co.uk/criticism-for-hanley-s-harley-street-medical-centre-over-appointments-system/story-29938508-detail/story.html

less than useless.

[OldBather]

I think we are lucky(East Sussex) I have never had to wait longer than the next day(or the one after) for an appointment, and you always get to see your own GP(out of a practice of 4).We also have a Dispensary in the surgery building(we are more than 6 miles from the nearest pharmacy).I have a large repeat prescription.When you collect the 1st(date on prescription) they make up the next,ready for you collect in a month's time.I cannot fault the doctors, nurses or receptionists.Also I can make appointments online.

[Hopkirk]

I think the receptionist training college is in eastern Germany

[OldBather]

Sorry Hopkirk,our receptionists are friendly,helpful and understanding.Of course we live in a small East Sussex village,where people are caring and know each other,which probably helps.

[ladybirder]

I live in East Sussex as well OldBather and I can get to see my doctor, or get a phone consultation, that day or the next day, depending on the urgency. The whole place runs like clockwork and all the staff are pleasant and friendly. I'm still getting over the shock!

[Prudie]

I think this varies so much. I'm in a quiet part of Dorset and have the same experience as janzman, really hard to get an appointment. The online ones are always at least a month away. My daughter however lives in London, where you'd think they were far more pressured and she gets same day appts all the time.

[marval]

I live in Milton Keynes, we frequently have to wait at least a month for an appointment. We can phone up at 8.am, and if you can get through get an appointment for that day. You can't always choose who you see though.

[Patsy33]

Ours is pretty good but noticed last two appointments had to wait 10 days which to me is a long time....