How Long To Wait For A Doctor's Appointment.

[Jennykenny]

Are we unusual in West Sussex??
My husband has asked for an appointment today with his GP and the soonest they can offer is end of July.
I had to wait 2 weeks for a telephone appointment at the same surgery.
Is this the same in the rest of the country??

[gingejbee]

Jenny....in your original post, you say "his GP". Now you are saying "ANY GP".....makes a big difference to your question.

[Jennykenny]

Mamyalynne I had to wait two weeks to get my GP just to phone me ref a possible hospital appointment, at the same surgery.
Yes we could change but my husband uses a wheelchair and it is really hard work pushing him so I'm reluctant to find somewhere further away.

[kvalidir]

That's terrible Jenny, you can always see a Dr the same day at our surgery because they run a very simple effective method where most of the Drs have appointments and one is free on a first come first served basis and yes they do stay until they have seen everyone. The latest I've seen them close is after 8 o'clock some nights but if it looks like going on after 6-00 ish then one of the other GP's also joins in the lessen the queue. Great people and a great surgery.

[Jennykenny]

Yes ginge, I wasn't clear, but give me a break.

[Sqad]

Shari...your description is how it used to be and still is apparently in some well organized surgeries.

Organization is the key.

[kvalidir]

I took it you mean 'a' GP at your surgery not necessarily a specific GP tbh Jenny.

[kvalidir]

Yeah it is Sqad, they are an huge rural practice and they are on first name terms with pretty much all their patients and all the staff live locally and they really really do put a tremendous amount of effort into everything they do. I'd never move unless absolutely forced and when we moved house recently we made sure we stayed within their catchment.

[Mamyalynne]

Jenny, I can understand your reluctance but it really is no help if you cannot get to see someone is it - as Sqad says and without being alarmist, a six/seven week wait can make a huge difference to some conditions.

I understand the access issues but you need to consider a change if at all possible.

[Jennykenny]

I've just gone on to the surgery website and quite clearly it says, 'Four weeks for a face to face consultation (with anyone).' How can they get away with this?

[Greedyfly]

Jeez I ring my surgery and I get an appointment next day, if it's a specific GP then may 2-3 days max

[ethandron]

No, it's not the same for the rest of the country, and to be perfectly honest if I was you I wouldn't be sitting at home fuming about it, I'd be down to the surgery in person kicking up a stink about it demanding an appointment.
I can ring my surgery in the morning and get an appointment with a gp that same day if necessary. I can ring and make an advance appointment for the following week too. I can also ring in the morning and get an appointment with my own gp the same day if it's a day she's on duty. I can ring and make a telephone appointment the same day too.
My practice is a huge practice which has eight doctors plus locums, and trainees as its also a teaching practice.
Either I'm very lucky or you're particularly unlucky Jenny, but there is no way I would accept what you've been offered.

[black_cat51]

then i take all my comments back, sorry! Yes seven weeks is appalling - is it urgent?

[Fusion5]

This is why A&E departments are full of patients who can't get an appointment with their GP but are worried about a health condition.

End if July is totally unacceptable, Jenny.

[Fusion5]

'of' ^^^^ that should read.

[joeluke]

If I had to wait 2 weeks+ to see a doctor I'd be looking at moving surgeries

[Jennykenny]

Thanks to everyone. Am going to write to his doctor today and ask him to look into this.