Gp appointments or lack of!!

Ring 111 they will
Get you an appt with the out of hours doctor

More fortunate in my area. I phone at 8.00a.m. when the phone line opens, join the queue and have always had a same day appointment when I eventually get through to the receptionist. This is Scotland.

Only been to a walk in centre once and it was am experience! There were 3 docs on duty one was grossly overweight , lanky greasy hair and his bare stomach bulging through his shirt where the buttons had come undone, quite frankly looked very dirty and unkempt. The second one who came into the waiting room to call the next patient, said something a few times and got no response, none of us could understand what he had said. He came back with the receptionist who announced the name of the patient and off they trotted. I was almost ready to go back home or to A&E as I knew I would have to have to get undressed and examined and didn't want to be examined by the first doc and would have been unable to understand the second. Luckily my name was then called by a female, clean and tidy doctor who was great spoke clear English and advised
me to go straight to A&E if it happened again.

Don’t know! The same as a policeman? Historical beings

Do they have an internet appointment booking system? My surgery only do it that way? Hate it.
Call the NHS 111 (101) not sure which ! See if they can help.
Good luck

Last year I lived in Gateshead, had a non urgent health issue (rarely bother my gp) and had to wait 10 weeks for an appointment. I was shocked. We moved to Northumberland in October last year, signed up with a gp and I needed another non-urgent appointment, just a 2 week wait so I was kinda happy with that which was in December. I rang on Wednesday gone for a further non-urgent appointment at 9.10am and was asked if I could get there for 10.40 that day. So impressed.

Now dentists…that’s a whole other issue.

Kate1949

We can't get to see a GP. We can get to see a nurse or a 'practice something or other' but there is usually a two week wait. My husband goes there for B12 injections and says the waiting room is always empty.

Whenever I have managed to get an appointment, the waiting room has always been full, so I don't accept that staff aren't there or not working. They just can't cope.

Oldbat1

Our surgery doesnt permit booking appointments. The econsult switches on at 8am and by 8.02am switched off with “all allocations taken. Please try again tomorrow”. Yes you can phone but “ you are number x in queue and no appts for today are available”. No walk in within 20miles. Ringing 111 is the advice. Only one full time doctor out of 8 and i wouldnt recognise or know any of their names. Saddened at the state of general health care.

Same here!

SporeRB

Signed up to NHS online using this link
www.nhs.uk/nhs-services/gps/online-health-and-prescription-services/

Log in just after midnight to book a GP appointment through services and it will show the dates available to book your GP appointment for that week.

So far, I managed to book two telephone appointments with my GP who worked part time to discuss my blood test results within a day or two using this method.

If I follow the normal route, it takes 3 weeks to see my GP.

It depends which booking system your GP uses. I can't use the NHS app to book GP appointments. The GP's app only works from 8am weekdays and closes within a short time as soon as the GP has no more appointments left usually about 20-30 minutes).

I've used the GP's econsult system and 111 recently. On both occasions, the message came up that the condition needed urgent attention and to ring the GP to discuss. When I rang, I was told there no appointments available and to ring again at 8am the next day or to contact 111. When I said that 111 told me to contact my GP because it couldn't deal with me, I was told to go to A & E. But ... but ... it's not life-threatening (I said) and I don't want to waste A & E time. Eventually, I wrote a letter to the practice manager, who rang me and gave me an appointment two weeks later.

It's nuts! This is all supposed to save staff time, but I must have spent at least half an hour (or more) speaking to people to get a 10 minute appointment.

They did it last time, so let’s hope given the extraordinary mess they will be left with, they can do it again.
At least there is willingness to try to make things better but it’s a deep hole that been dug over the last 14years.

I just hope when this government is booted out the next one will work as quick as they possibly can to sort this as people are suffering and dying when there is no need, it really frightens me as OH has heart problems and I have numerous health conditions.

Our surgery doesnt permit booking appointments. The econsult switches on at 8am and by 8.02am switched off with “all allocations taken. Please try again tomorrow”. Yes you can phone but “ you are number x in queue and no appts for today are available”. No walk in within 20miles. Ringing 111 is the advice. Only one full time doctor out of 8 and i wouldnt recognise or know any of their names. Saddened at the state of general health care.

Can you go to a different one ? Or a walk in clinic or something ?

In contrast my GP practice is constantly pestering me with blood tests, blood pressure, GP phone appointments etc. I wish they would go and bother the really sick people. Ibe cancelled 2 appointments so far this year.

The only way we can get a gp appointment is either to try ringing at 8am (and we can never manage to get one) or book ahead and wait 6-8 weeks (and even then be limited to apts between 8am and 9.15am). The 6-8 weeks wait applies to both in person and telephone appts.

We are seriously considering moving to another practice but issues getting appointments are becoming more widespread.

I am currently having to wait three weeks for a telephone appt with the practice pharmacist to try to change new blood pressure medication which causes unacceptable side effects. So unacceptable that I’ve now stopped taking it. So my blood pressure is currently uncontrolled. Argh!

I’ve never had a problem - really, on the occasions that I have needed anything Ive phoned up reception and a phone appointment booked, spoke to the doctor. I’ve often been given a prescription over the phone, on the occasions that I have needed to see someone it’s been quick.

I dont ask to see any particular doctor,

We can't get to see a GP. We can get to see a nurse or a 'practice something or other' but there is usually a two week wait. My husband goes there for B12 injections and says the waiting room is always empty.

I am beginning to feel rather fortunate with my GP practice.

The care navigators or as they used to be called receptionists are helpful and understanding, and usually have appointments on the day either face-to-face or telephone.

I googled them around here. None for many miles.

Yes Redhead, I went to the walk in clinic.
Hardly anyone there and I was seen straight away by a doctor. Couldn’t have asked for better.

Signed up to NHS online using this link
www.nhs.uk/nhs-services/gps/online-health-and-prescription-services/

Log in just after midnight to book a GP appointment through services and it will show the dates available to book your GP appointment for that week.

So far, I managed to book two telephone appointments with my GP who worked part time to discuss my blood test results within a day or two using this method.

If I follow the normal route, it takes 3 weeks to see my GP.

We are told to go to the walk in surgery and wait. It is 30 miles away.

All I can order online are repeat prescriptions. The e-consult has been disabled.

When I ring, I am told I am x in the queue but when I reach no.1 the phone just rings. I can drive there and speak with a receptionist but when my car is sold shortly I have no idea what I will do. It was bad before Covid but it is 10 times worse now. This is London suburbia.

Are you registered with a doctor?
If not, you have to do that.
I do not know why you cannot get an appointment.
Were you given an explanation?
If your condition is serious, call 111
If not the pharmacy (what we used to call the Chemist) is supposed to be qualified to advise.

E-consult
Minor injuries
Walk-in-centre
111
999
Advice from a Pharmacist