GP appointment

My doctor's surgery has a system where you go online. You briefly state your problem and someone calls you back...usually within an hour to make your appointment...often the same day. Has been same day in the 3 times I have used it in the past two years. It is an excellent system. If you don't have internet access you can call in normal way.

Lippyqueen, I would let the Doctor know all 3 of your symptoms, he will tell you if he does not have the time and ask you to make a further appointment. I worked as a Drs receptionist for 10 years so know the frustration from the other side. You would be amazed at how many patients fail to make their appointment and don't bother ringing to cancel it so nurses and Doctors time are wasted.

Ours has a system now where you must not phone before 10am unless it's urgent. When you do phone a doctor's voice explains that the next person you will speak to will be the receptionist who will ask you a few things and then direct you to the best appointment for you!

Having listened to the spiel, I asked to see a named doctor as it isn't urgent a bit of a shopping list like yours and have been given an appt this week because I agreed to allow a student to sit in. Of course I want all the students we can get!!!

At my local practice I find one of the nurses can see me much sooner than a doctor.Many of these nurses have been in the 'business' much longer than some of the young doctors but should they and rarely do I find it impossible, to accommodate me then I will get an early appointment to see a doctor.

You could email your health concerns and draw the dr's attention to it when you go - he/she should be able to access the email on their computer.

Your situation with the GP surgery is nationwide seemingly! Generally, the GP will only discuss one health issue at the set appointment so if you have 2 or 3 things to discuss you will certainly need a multiple appointment.

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Our surgery operates a one problem per appointment system. It says to book another appointment to discuss an additional issue but how is the patient supposed to know whether the problems are related or not?
My uncle was a GP and said that often the most important information the patient gave him was just as they were about to leave the room and added "also doctor I get this ...... "

I agree with Wildswan16, write the issues down and hand them to him saying they're all things you're concerned about but you know he can probably only discuss one with you at the moment. I always think if you have more than one symptom it's good the gp knows about all of them in case they're all connected in some way.

I feel we need to train some doctors for far less than the time taken now in order to specialise in certain areas. Does someone who say, specialises in the digestive tract really need to know in intricate detail all the workings of the bones in the foot and ankle? And some candidates who just miss out on the required grades for a medical degree may have turned out to be far better doctors if they had good emotional skills and empathy.

I've got to wait until January to see a dentist at my practice lve been waiting several month already then it only a locom there only 2 locoms there at the moment been told there a shortage of nhs dentists I'm worried that when it comes to January they mite of left to I've lost 4 stone in weight through an operation going wrong I can't eat solid food and am waiting for a further operation to put things right my false teeth are flapping around in my mouth through loss of weight this has been going on since last March I'm attending a private hospital that takes nhs paitent which is over an hour away because my local hospital rant operating at present because there got no doctor come on his get things together or should I say goverment

Oh lippyqueen I think you must live near me. We have exactly the same problems at our surgery.

As far as bringing up several worries, I think it best that you book a double appointment, and don’t let the receptionist try to prevent this. If you feel you need to see a doctor, then you must.

A GP is supposed to be general and able to deal with most things. One of ours is known to be used to diabetes, another bad backs etc and they seem to share the clinics accordingly. The nurses work closely with the GPs.

I think by the sounds of it we are extremely lucky.
However, it took persuasion to be referred to the specialist at the hospital when the local team had run out of ideas. I think they get a row if they refer people unnecessarily.

Your situation sounds awful Jillhacker Can you write and ask for a cancellation?

We can book a telephone appointment which we have found really useful for more minor things. A follow up appointment can then be made if necessary.

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Our GP retired and we had to move to another one. This new surgery is very busy. I rang for an appointment for my husband as he had a problem with his medication and was 40th in the queue on the phone. When I finally got through to speak to someone after over half an hour she said "you don't need an appointment for that". We have been told if we register online we can book appointments that way but online there are no non urgent appointments for over 2 months. If it is urgent someone will ring you back or give you an appointment with a nurse. There are no walk in surgeries or clinics. Also a new housing estate and many flats have been built nearby so extra pressure on the GP and the local pharmacy. Dire.

I too have just moved to a new practice (having moved a long way from where I lived before !) (not in the UK) My old doctor gave me a complete list of all the medical conditions I have treatment for since I moved to her. I translated this and gave it to the new practice. Subsequently my new doctor had only a few questions to ask me as he had a comprehensive list of all my ops, medical problems, treatments etc ...so he referred me to hospitals for various up to date examinations and scans and so far all is well ! Might be a good idea for you to write out a list of any conditions, medications, latest test results, etc and let your surgery have it. Mine was scanned into the system and my new doc refers to it when I see him. Saves you both time

I would love to know who approved this 'one consultation, one problem' per appointment. I do not recall ever seeing anything about it, it just suddenly came out of the blue and all surgeries have complied. Ten years ago we didn't have to wait 3/4 weeks for an appointment to see the GP. Double appointments are ok, but then you start to feel that the next patient doesn't know you have a double, and that you are in with the GP for a long time.....can't win x

Recently I had a couple of health concerns. I told the GP straightaway about both, briefly, and let him decide. They both turned out to be trivial, and unconnected, though one needed a prescription, and I was done in about 6 minutes. Job done. What would I have gained by sticking to one thing only? Pointless.
My husband, on the other hand, has a number of health conditions, including diabetes and heart disease, so it is vital that he reports all symptoms. They could relate to either or both conditions,

GabriellaG54 I would love to call you some really choice descriptive names after your post of 18.43.31, but I have just reported it.

You should be ashamed.

Write the problems on a piece of paper. When you see the GP tell them you have X number off issues you would like to discus and basically give a very brief outline and it must be brief almost just a heading only of what you have on list. They will be able to say if they want to address all of them, or that you will need to make another appointment. Given that 2 or 3 could be addressed at once that could free up another appointment late. Be upfront at the beginning of appointment and leave it to GP to decide.
ddress 3 quick

My doctor once told me that they could discuss a maximum of three things on one visit but I would still think a double appointment would be best if the matters are complex and need time to be discussed properly. Our doctor is very good at chatting about a major issue face to face but then giving a call at his convenience later in the day on other things that concern me.

Lucky you Nicolaed. Sounds like one to hold on to!

Reading through the comments, it appears there are so many difference between surgeries.

Some have on line bookings
Some can't ring before certain times unless emergencies.
Some have double appointments ...

Different area but my daughter (age 49) was really ill last week. GP gave her antibiotics - not sure what the symptoms were the result of. GP rang my daughter twice next day to check how she was.

Really pleased with the surgery I've now been with for 6 years.

- ring at 8:30 for appointment that day. All slots for that day are usual gone by 10:00
BUT
- if you wait in the queue you always get an appointment
OR
- If you can't make the time given, you can request a call back that day from the GP to discuss your symptoms. They give you a time slot so you have an idea when they will ring (usually 2 hour slot).