GP appointments

We can either book online , which are usually for about 3 to 4 weeks ahead but only a few ever available or it's pot luck on the day. When you phone for same day you're always asked 'is it urgent?' to which I recently replied that I had no idea as I wasn't medically qualified! We then have to tell the receptionist what's wrong so she can see if we're allowed to see the gp. Just wrong on so many counts grrrr. Oh and we're only allowed to discuss one problem / symptom per appointment. No wonder they haven't a clue what's wrong with anyone and we all end up at death's door in A&E!. Rant over...

Luckygirl Don't get me started on the cross- refer thing. It's complete madness, and that's from a consultant who knew what was wrong but couldn't refer me himself.
As for Dr appointments: the only way I can be certain of getting an appointment is to be outside the surgery at 8 in the morning. But the queue is getting longer as lots of people have realised this.

We can book on line but often it can be 3 or 4 weeks to get one of the partners.

There are always appointments available on the day and we are given a specific time and told it will be with one of two specified doctors. To get a follow up with a specified doctor in, say, a weeks time is more of a problem.

Thanks Nina she was kept in overnight but is home with medication, though still in a lot of pain.

We can usually get an appointment on the same day, or, a day or two for a specific doctor, or if I get DH to ring, he's a regular, through no fault of his own, he doesn't need to mention his name, they know him well, he can 8 times out of 10 get an appointment to order.

It takes a minimum of two weeks to get an appointment at our surgery. The GP I saw today gave me 13 minutes of his time and I was able to get all my questions answered in that time.

Our GP surgery is normally able to offer an appointment with a couple of days , twice recently have been offered one on the same day - no complaints at all. I am currently on a 12 Week waiting list for a heart scan at the local hospital not sure if this is a long wait but it certainly seems like it.

Our appointments are OK if you don't mind which doctor you see. All work part time, quite usual to wait a month for a named doctor or even be told to phone the morning they are working. luckygirl our on line booking system allows us to book ahead but each appointment comes with a reminder that repeat cancellations will mean being banned from the on line system. Not sure how that would work though, fortunately neither of us need to attend too regularly at the moment - long may that last.

The reason for that is that it would count as NOT being an appointment within their target waiting time, so would count against them in league tables. Quite ridiculous as it wouldn't be for a visit needed soon, but for one that was planned for a month ahead, or whatever.

That's what I don't get. They don't do routine advance appointments at all and they have no walk in. It's phone on the day and cross your fingers.
My surgery makes a routine appointment within a week -ten days.
I hope your friend has now recovered. Anya D has been to A&E, once in Scotland and again here.

It is quite slow getting an appointment with our GPs as most of them are part time, so if you want to see a particular GP inevitably it will take a while. But there are always appointments for anything urgent the same day - but obviously no choice of doctor. TBH I make an online appointment for my GP several weeks in advance in case I need it, then cancel it a week before if all is well. A bit naughty really but I do get continuity of care - I have a number of problems and am on an assortment of medication that needs monitoring.

The bit about the OP that makes me so cross is the fact that consultants (or other hospital doctors) can no longer cross-refer within the same hospital or health trust - it is totally bonkers, makes more work for GPs in an unnecessary visit to request the referral, and slows the whole process down. When I first worked in hospitals it was very common for one consultant to chat to another over lunch and organise an appointment for a patient: speedy, free and a chance to communicate what is needed properly.

It seems it really is a postcode lottery. We have no problems where we live, but a friend up north has tried to get through to get an appointment for days and she's just put on hold, then the phone goes dead or no one answers at all.

She ended up at A & E reluctantly and was diagnosed with pleurisy.

We can get one within a week if we aren't fussy about the doctor they also run a walk in triage every day.
Wobblybits you can join me on the 'we're waiting for a THR' list this will be my second THR.

We can normally get a GP appointment within a few days, unless you wish to see a specific GP. We have a walk in clinic every morning for which there is no appointment required. They are also running early and late surgeries for those working. Trying to get through on the phone can be difficult at times, but most of the time I make appointments, re-order drugs etc online.

Had a late afternoon appointment today, it was running about 10 minutes late, but as the doctors will spend all the time you need, I am happy to accept that. Plus The Dr referred me foe hip replacement, so I am a happy bunny.