What is it like getting a Doctors appointment for you ?

[postman]

I have been notified that I will have a phone chat with "someone" today...... anytime between 08.15 and 18.15 so keep my phone with me.......why have I paid into the system for 50 years

Are you still on hold.

 

[Ming the Merciless]

Are you still on hold.

Hold for constipation

 

[fossyant]

MrsF has managed to see the Paramedic at the practice twice/three times - couldn't get anywhere near a GP appointment. Practice was trying to refer her to A&E first !

Turned up, Paramedic finds a lower lung infection, a weeks worth of Antibiotics prescribed there and then. Calls again next week, sees them again, another weeks supply. Then this week, gets to see them again, sounds clear, go get an x-ray. Now just waiting for the results. She's not been able to see the GP. But, we are impressed with the paramedic, need more of this.

 

[Drago]

A while ago I saw another retired bobby in the docs waiting room.

"Hello Burt," said I in a loud voice, "your piles acting up again, eh?"

He replied...

"Oh yeah, something terrible, really bad when im riding my bike. What you doing here? You caught the clap again?"

We carried on like that in loud voices across the waiting room, leaving a number of traumatised pensioners in our wake. I think they get me in and out quickly just so I don't have time to traumatise any more.

 

[presta]

I rang the hospital on Monday, and found they've now got a call centre with an AI bot. I thought it was a foreign one, but Google says the call handlers are whoever's available at one of three different hospitals on the network. All precipitated by the imminent switch-off of analogue phones apparently.

 

[nogoodnamesleft]

One "weirdo" I found the other day.
I haven't seen my GP Practice (other than routine NHS vaccinations) for 2½ years so I've no idea about appointments but at last (one of the last) I became eligable for my Shingles vaccination, got a text message and so called my GP Practice to make an appointment and they immediately replied "You have to go online, fill in a form and we'll get back to you with an appropriate appointment". I commented I don't need to see GP but it was for Shingles vaccination "Oh we can do that" and they made the appointment.

But I did wonder how the online system was working and who got exceptions. I know that if either of my parents would have been totally incapable of going online to submit their reasons for needing an appointment, best they could have managed would have been a phone call so I assume that for some more vulnerable there are alternatives (but I didn't waste practice time inquiring).

I can see the system makes sense avoiding the frantic 08:00 telephone call "You are 37th in the queue ...", worse when I was a full time carer for my parents when I had to be standing outside then practice queuing from 07:30 to be closer to the front of the queue for 08:00 whilst my parents started on the telephone at 08:00. But I can see there shoudl be a fair number of exceptions and that those exceptions might be for those needing above average GP appointments.

 

[nogoodnamesleft]

Another weirdo but one I can appreciate but am uncertain about it being rigorously applied is only one condition per appointment.

Quite a few years ago I had to attend my GP for something dull and routine which took no time so I then asked about a suspicious dark thing on my skin (bit concerned about skin cancer). He said "one condition, one appointment you need another appointment" and put a not on my record for reception (nothing bad). Stopped at reception for another appointment, they saw the note and gave me an emergency appointment the next day (potential skin cancer). Next day appointment was 2 mins, same GP looked at it, "no it's fine" and I left.

Just struck me as poor use of limited appointments but I can see the reasons for the rule but wonder it rigorous implementation is "optimal".

 

[Punkawallah]

Another weirdo but one I can appreciate but am uncertain about it being rigorously applied is only one condition per appointment.

Quite a few years ago I had to attend my GP for something dull and routine which took no time so I then asked about a suspicious dark thing on my skin (bit concerned about skin cancer). He said "one condition, one appointment you need another appointment" and put a not on my record for reception (nothing bad). Stopped at reception for another appointment, they saw the note and gave me an emergency appointment the next day (potential skin cancer). Next day appointment was 2 mins, same GP looked at it, "no it's fine" and I left.

Just struck me as poor use of limited appointments but I can see the reasons for the rule but wonder it rigorous implementation is "optimal".

A case of the tail wagging the dog.
I don’t do doctors, but if I did I’d turn up at the surgery any 8 with a book and a bottle of water, and wait for the (statistically likely) missed appointment.

 

[presta]

I can see the system makes sense avoiding the frantic 08:00 telephone call "You are 37th in the queue ..."

The 07:30 scramble for appointments is the same at our place whether you phone, go online, or go to the surgery in person. Either way they're all gone in a few minutes.

 

[PaulSB]

We do very well, especially when compared to the tales of woe I read here and elsewhere. Our practice is relatively rural, from memory there are +/-5000 registered patients.

We have the usual 8.00am rush if we wish to join it but tonight I can choose from ten face-to-face appointments starting tomorrow at 11.20 through to 11.20 next Friday. Three different doctors available. Two of the 15 minute slots are with my preferred GP.

Oddly if I want to see one of the Practice Nurses I have to phone for an appointment. The appointments are generally made a week ahead, and if a follow-up is part of the process that date is booked on the same call.

It works and like the rest of the NHS is wonderful.

 

[YMFB]

For us it’s easier to go into the surgery if it’s not an urgent appointmen, for an emergency same day appointment you need to call at 0800 and hope.

We have always got one. It’s about two weeks if you want to see a specific GP.

 

[presta]

AFAIK, you can't make non-urgent appointments in advance, you have to join the 07:30 scrum whether it's urgent or not.

 

[MichaelW2]

I recently had an annual NHS checkup that showed a problem. Saw a GP pharmicist within a week then GP within a week then hospital Xray within a week then echo cardiagram within a week.

I am very happy with the service.

 

[vickster]

AFAIK, you can't make non-urgent appointments in advance, you have to join the 07:30 scrum whether it's urgent or not.

You can at my practice via Anima (or whatever it's called now) - if not urgent, they send you a link to scramble online for available appointments (usually weeks if not months ahead!)