Doctors appointments ?

[burston]

Ive been trying to get to see my Doctor for a review for a few days now. Each time I ring there is no appointments free until 29 May !! but I can ring each morning between 8-8.30 to see if theres a cancellation !! When you have to try to fit in with work shifts so you dont have to have a day off specially, its ridiculous !! I shall try again this morning to see if I can get in before I start work at 11 oclock.
How do other ABers get on with their Doctors Apps ?

[missspeedy23]

I normally have to wait up to a week unless it's an emergency but that's ridiculous!!

I think I'd change my docs if that was the case at mine! I mean, how do you know you're going to be ill to make an appointment that far in advance?!

[sleepyj]

our doc is the same .i have been wanting to see a doc now for the last 3 weeks ...when ever i ring the doc i want has no appointments left .as you say its awkward if you have to work in the day you need to know when your going to tell work ...its a joke

[tigwig]

my doctors are very good, you ring first thing in the morning and they will give you an appointment for the morning, if not you can see a nurse who can give prescriptions. You can also ring after 2pm for afternoon appointments the same day as well. I guess I am lucky!

[Jugglering]

My situation is similar to yours Burston.... they only keep a few *pre-booked* appointment slots free every week, the rest are taken on a first come first served basis. My surgery claim this minimises the amount of time you have to wait for an appointment, pah ! You can only ring after 8:30 am or actually visit the surgery from 8:00 am onwards.... so you can imagine the queues for both of those ! If you are lucky to get through (the usual wait is at 10 minutes), then you are put on hold for a further 15 minutes.... This crazy system doesn't help me at all because my employer insists on 3 days notice of non emergency medical appointments ! But don't get me started on trying to get repeat prescriptions off them..... lol

[yogasun]

Having read these posts I realise how lucky we are here. Like tigwig you ring in the morning to get a same day appointment. I'm very fortunate, can't remember when I last had to see a doc. but Mr yogasun has to have regular check ups and has always got in on the same day he rings.

[Jillius]

Oh my god, don't get me going on this !!!!
My hubby is a long distance lorry driver and he starts work in the early hours on a monday and finishes very late on a friday. Last year he complained that he was coughing up blood so I rang to see if he could be seen on the saturday. The receptionist told me they only opened on a saturday for people on benefits !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
What the hell is the country coming to ? Those on benefits can go any time. I was livid. He never did get to see a doctor.

[toby99]

They don't have a choice - You can thank the Government for that - they make GPs offer so many pre-bookables and the rest have to be same day appoinments

[bednobs]

grrr it really annoys me when people complain about this. All surgeries have "emergency" appointments which are available withinn 48 hours (usually same day) and then longer away pre-bookable appointments. If what you have isn't an emergency, then it shouldn't matter that you have to wait a while, whereas if what you have is an emergency then you can get seen quickly

If you want to prioritise work over your health then that is up to you, not your surgery's fault. If work is more important to you, so be it.

also, if you are that peeved about it, go to your local walk in centre

[MrXLA]

Thank you bednobs finally someone on here who appreciates the difficulties involved in healthcare provision.
We all (or at least many of us!!) pay taxes and therefore some of us believe (INCORRECTLY!!!) that the NHS is there for us as individuals, as and when we need it at times convenient to us.
NOT POSSIBLE!!! (there just simply isn't enough money for that and even if there was too many people take the P**s out of the system for it to work that way)
Someone mentioned that they were annoyed because they couldn't have an appointment on a saturday THERE IS NO JUSTIFICATION.
If its urgent then its requires urgent out of hours care or A&E etc..
If its not then 9-5pm will do.

[MrXLA]

In case any of you don't realise next time your at the doctor's have a good look, notice that they appear to breathe the air and have a physical composition very similar to your own, that's because like you they are human.
If there are no appointments available that's beacuse the doctor is FULLY BOOKED not because the receptionist doesn't want to give you an appointment.