There must be a better system than this!

Of course you need to be seen to-day does your Doctor do home visits oxon it may be a better idea if he/she called in on their home visits to-day,we have always been very fortunate with the services of our Surgery if you have something that you think may be an emergency they will slot you in at the end of appointments. Hope you feel better soon.

Thanks glammanana I just needed to have a moan. I will probably be seen later, but it 's very frustrating. I can't even wash my hair which desperately needs it, in case they phone!
I can't plan anything for today....

(I haven't heard of any doctor doing home visits for several years, actually.
Seems some still do?)

Does your GP surgery operate an on line booking system many do now. I do recommend using it as there are often slots open on there and you can fit it in with your needs. Also many Gps operate a telephone appointment system where they will call you at an appointed time and discuss the problem. I would not advocate asking for a home visit for this.

Apparently online prescription service but not appointments.
They didn't offer a time for a call to me.

The service has very mixed reviews, some good.

I think you should get back onto the surgery and tell them straight that this is just not good enough, and that you really need to be seen today. Say you are feeling really unwell and tell them your age. Tell them that if you're not seen and it gets worse you will need a home visit anyway.

Good luck. Hope you get seen soon and soon feeling better.

Ours has changed to online prescriptions only. Can't book online anymore. Don't know why.

Think I will wait a bit...it's probably still engaged anyway!

Keep your fluids up, Oxon70. Like the others advise, keep trying for an appointment. If there's not one available for today, ask for a telephone consultation? Good luck.

That's the only thing they offered, greenmoss. But no idea when.

We must be very lucky with our nearest Village surgery (2 part time doctors + nurse). We can always get an appt the same day and a phone appt will always be given a time.
Our GP offers to come out to see DH to save us having to take him in his wheelchair.
Not a high tech Health Centre ..just a lovely rural surgery.
I feel your pain Oxon as our daughters sometimes have the same problems getting appts at their Health Centres.
I hope you get sorted soon .....I had the same thing before Christmas and our GP did tests and gave me antib's.
xxxxxx

That sounds antiquated.My surgery's system is -best to ring between 8a.m. and 9a.m.and I nearly always get appt.that day.booking ahead is more complicated!!
They also have one early morning surgery and one evening surgery for patients working full-time.
There is also an internet appt. booking facility.

Hello Tosh, I haven't seen your name before. And thanks.
Yes you are very lucky!

I'm hoping for the same treatment. I had to psych myself up to phone because I had a bad experience having an endoscopy years ago, when I had diarrhoea.
Painful, rough and I felt bruised for several days after!
Now I read online that this can be risky if you have diverticulosis!

Oxon70 your doctor's sounds a lot like ours! I don't mind the ringing back part per se, because it can lead to the right advice or even an appointment that day. But if I ring to book an appointment I am lucky if it is sooner than 3 weeks hence. It is better than the previous system of the entire population trying to get through at 8 when the surgery opened and all the appointments gone by the time I got through, but still far from satisfactory.

I have given up ringing my surgery if I need an urgent appointment. I drive five miles there, make my appointment to see the duty doctor sometime the same day, drive home and repeat the journey when the appointment is due.

My next door neighbour, who goes to a different surgery here, has even more grumbles, as the number is an 0844 one....she said last week that she was going to go and sit on their doorstep from 8am the next day, after trying to get them on the phone....she ended up with an appointment for the second week in April.

That's exactly what I do flicketyb. They don't answer the phone when it rings out, but as soon as I put it down and dial again it's engaged. They are impervious to any pleas about it, and I have struggled down to that surgery suffering from flu (the second time I've had it in 63 years), to be told that I shouldn't come in the surgery when I'm that ill!

Now having fluid in the shape of a cup of tea.
I can't even go in the garden and do anything, in case I don't hear the phone.

I can sit at the computer, so perhaps I should be thinking of the emails I should answer...

Oxon70, sorry to read of your problems and yes I agree with everyone else, you should be seen Asap.
If you ring the surgery and ask the Receptionists to get the GP to call you after surgery, this should work. Emphasise your urgent need. Good luck! Keep worrying them and insist.

That should be happening, but I am still waiting for their call.

I still want to wash my hair!

Talk about Murphy's Law!
I decided I wanted to wash my hair anyway, but I was betting the doctor would ring if I did, then realised that was what I wanted anyway - so....
I got to the hairdryer part and as soon as I put it on - sitting by the phone so I would hear it...she rang.
I now have an appointment for 12.20.

See - you should have washed your hair hours ago! Good luck - hope the doctor "sorts you out" (in the nicest possible way )

Hi Tosh! How're things with you?

But gracesmum, what I did worked, didn't it?

The doctor isn't sure if I have diverticulitis or gastroenteritis, and has given me a prescription, but meanwhile I have to take in a sample (ugh) and results hopefully Thurs.
I also got her to look at my left breast where I had a lumpectomy ages ago, and which has had some changes recently...I've to go for a checkup. Nothing definite.

I feel like I was making a fuss earlier now, but it just shows how frustrated you can get at their system!
Thanks, all.

Some doctors have a Patient Group where grumbles can be aired . I think this is about to become compulsory so check up with your local surgery. Ours does patient surveys to get the opinions of patients as to how the surgery is doing .We also have a ''virtual group'' where ideas are run past patients on line.