Getting a Doctors appointment is impossible

Nannyme you have my sympathy. Our surgery adopted this system of 'ring in the morning' but very quickly realised that it was not working and have since gone back to a more 'normal' system where we can book appts in advance both by phone and online. The only thing I can say is tell them it is an emergency (lay it on a bit thick!!). Usually they have some appts for such occasions.
Good luck. Let us know how you get on

We are lucky to have a Walk in centre here where you can go if you can't get a GP appointment.

We have the same problem here.
We can go online to check if any appointments are available. I usually do this really early in the morning or my DH does it after midnight.

My friend went to her doctors, dragged a chair over so she could sit near reception, and told them she needed to see a doctor and would be waiting until they sorted an appointment out for her.

In these circumstances, I'd be inclined to phone on Monday and say it was worse. Who knows? Ridiculous state of affairs.

Nanny me have you tried asking a pharmacist? They can often help. Or ring NHS direct or there is an app ask NHS.My surgery releases on the day appointments at 8.00 am so I usually check late the night before, sometimes get cancellations,or get online and ready early as the on the day go very quickly.

What have you tried already?

Have you tried over the counter remedies such as nose sprays that will help clear mucous from your nose, ears and sinuses or a decongestant from the chemist?

Perhaps ask the pharmacist for advice

The current advice is to try to cure these things yourself first, then talk to a pharmacist and then if you can't get into the gp's ring 111.

When we do that, if it's deemed appropriate, we get an appointment at the Ucc! It's a brilliant system. I have been seen within an hour.

I have given up trying to ring my surgery at 8.30 when I need an urgent appointment. I just drive to the surgery arriving at 8.00am and join the queue of other patients in need of urgent appointments.

The reason all appointments are gone by 8.10 is because they have gone to all those so desperate for an appointment they are prepared to stand in the cold and wet for half an hour or more to get one.

Ucc, kitty?

Yes, I was wondering what UCC was too.

It doesn't sound urgent though. It's a buzzy feeling and has been going on for weeks. What is expected of a GP? A referral to a practice nurse to remove wax build up? A check for an ear infection although things would have come to a head by now? A referral to ENT for an audiology appointment?
Phone on Monday.

Here, you ring up at any time ( after 8.30) until 11, tell reception that you would like to speak to a doctor, and a doctor will call you within two hours to discuss if he needs to see you.I have been seen that day, on occasions, on others he will give advice or even a prescription.

I agree, phone on Monday.Could be gone by then!

I've just been googling UCC, but unless it's the United Church of Christ I'm no wiser!

Our surgery tried this way of booking appointments about a year ago, and had to drop it after a few months. Sometimes you want to book a non-urgent appointment for a few days hence and it just wasn't possible under this scheme. Though our surgery always had a daily "sit and wait" clinic in the late afternoon as well.

There are so many ways of getting medical advice these days - sometimes too many, imho, and it's hard to know which to choose. This sounds to me like one for the pharmacist, or if it gets worse before Monday you could google local walk in clinics. You can see their online reviews, and there's nothing to stop you going to any of them. When I fell and my hand was giving me gyp, I bypassed the two nearest (with the dreadful and so-so reviews) and went to one near where my DD lives. It lived up to all the hype and I was seen and treated straightaway.

The only time I've managed to get a virtually immediate appointment was when my leg swelled and felt it was about to burst. I was dead against going but the injuries specialist I attend told me I MUST. I was seen within an hour and then it was all bells and whistles!! All under control now thankfully - it was a large DVT!!

We have a system where you can fill out a form online giving all your symptoms and how long you have been suffering etc I have had to use this system twice in the last week once for a bad chest infection after a dose of flu and again this week as I now have cystitis which will not clear up don't know if the two are related! Both times the surgery has come back to me within 24 hours I find this much more efficient than ringing at 8am to try to get an emergency appointment

You have my sympathy - but our surgery don't even answer the phone for up to half an hour even though you have already got through and are paying for the call.

Some pharmacists do consultations - could you call in to a local pharmacy and asked for advice; they are well-qualified. They could perhaps advise if you just need a de-congestant, if it is wax or needs further investigation.

I don't call the surgery getting back to you in 24 hours an emergency appointment. If I am at the surgery at 8.30. I will be seen that morning.

On one occasion, when in a lot of pain, I was at the surgery at 8.00 and when the doors opened at 8.30 I was sent straight through to a doctor and was in hospital (not A&E) by 9.15.

UCC - University College Cork (Medical School) - a long way to go for an urgent appointment unless you live there, of course.

Urgent Care Centre - like a walkin centre but with extra facilities like xrays which our old walk in centre didn't have.

It's basically a Local Accident and Emergency Dept (though not as comprehensive) that you can just turn up for but also with appointments via 111. it's a brilliant system although I have always been able to see a gp or nurse on the day and have only used them at weekends for UTIs etc. This is Leicestershire but I know Derbyshire so the same and I understood that it is, or will be nationwide.

There are lots of people to try before seeing the gp. The Op could try steam inhalations, or ask the pharmacist. Bunged up ears are a pretty minor thing.

Thanks, kitty.

I wonder if the role of the GP needs to be reviewed. If people can't get an appointment for love or money, with alternatives such as Pharmacies, Drop In Centres and A&E, do we actually need GPs? What use are they?

I went to the surgery in person and asked to see a dr, who rang the hospital and I got an appointment for Monday morning, Thanks for all your very useful suggestions though x