Late appointment! Not!

My gp practise has a screen for you to tap in to so they know you've arrived. And heaven forbid you should need to speak to a real person because you don't understand the system.

Hope70

I have only just joined Gransnet and the email always comes around lunchtime so I enjoy reading them while having lunch. But today I was mortified with the reply from coolestgran who was so rude and offhand to a lady who had arrived a minute late at the doctors. I was ready to unsubscribe. I don't think I could cope with that sort of person.

to a lady

To Hope70 - Welcome to Gransnet. Please continue to read, and to post too.

Coolestgran is no longer a member of Gransnet.

petra - I loved our old GP but he was always SO late at the end of an evening clinic... his wife must have had the patience of a saint!

and then you get people like me given an appointment and spend 50 mins in with the doctor.....I'm glad I wasn't behind me. but yes I have been turned away for being 6 mins late in the past after getting stuck in the tail back from an accident.

MiniMoon

At our surgery we don't need to see the receptionist at all. We have a touch screen in the entrance hall and book in using that. Take a seat in the waiting room and watch another screen for our name and the room we have to go to.
The receptionist is usually shuffling files in the back room. If you actually need her you ring the bell on the desk.

That’s the same as in ours MiniMoon it’s a good system you can’t argue with it.

Baggs

* It does seem that doctors, dentists etc always think their time is more important than anyone else's.*

I think this is a mistaken interpretation. There will be things - like emergencies or complications in the patient - outwith their control.

Old GP system, when we all had a family GP, of just turning up at the surgery and waiting your turn has much to recommend it.

I’m sure it was often problematic to both doctors and patients as well.

Waiting at dentist yesterday at 8.55 for 9.00 appt. Dentist arrives at 9.05. Had to wait another 10 minutes while she got organised. Can’t complain as no other NHS dentist for 50 miles.