Appointments again!

JdotJ

No one thinks things through anymore.
I waited 7 weeks for a Cardiology appt at our local hosp (not complaining about the time waited).
When I arrived I had BP/weight taken.
Saw Cardiologist who had read my GP letter and I just reiterated to him what had already been conveyed by letter.
He then said I needed an Echocardiogram which would be about a month's wait as it's done by a different dept.

No one can join the dots anymore and think 'ooh, let's do all the scans/diagnostics first when pt arrives and have all results ready for when seen by the Dr's, like a one stop shop.

After the Echo I'll probably then wait another 6+ weeks to see the Cardiologist again.
All at the same hosp.

You are lucky with those short waits. The wait for a cardiologist here near Bristol (which has a dense population) is nearly a year unless you're blue-lighted to hospital.

I couldn't get a diagnosis and ended up paying for a consultation with a cardio plus an echocardiogram in order to save my life. I couldn't afford it and had to dip into my meagre savings, but when I saw the cardio, she said I could have had a stroke within 3 months.

My GP gave me no treatment until I'd seen a cardio, so I was just left waiting. The NHS in my area is in a complete mess. Too many patients, not enough GPs and consultants, too many strikes, my doctors' practice has been "working to rule." Sometimes I get a text message saying they have had to completely close that day and to go to A&E.

A couple of years ago I was being treated for unexplained breathlessness, and the consultant mentioned that he wondered if it could be an endocrine problem. I was also being treated for Graves and suggested he speak to my endocrinologist, but it seems the system wouldn't allow that. My GP had to wait for a letter from the pulmonologist then contact the endocrinologist with his interpretation of how the pulmonologist thought the endo guy could help. He (the GP) said himself that he wasn't an expert so would have to do his best to explain. How much simpler it would have been for the consultants to speak on the phone, but it was not to be.

OTOH, I do know people who save up ailments on an 'I'll just mention it next time I'm at the doctor's' basis. They seem to think that doing it that way will save the doctor time, when appointments are so rare these days that there just isn't time to let appointments overrun. The same people are likely to moan if they are kept waiting for their own appointments, too. It must be very difficult to find a system that works for everyone.

I had an appointment for a chronic illness review, it was at a time that I could not manage. Rang the surgery and asked them to rearrange the time but they said no and just cancelled the appointment. I was told to ring every week and book another appointment, I have spent ages on hold and eventually getting through only to be told the same thing.
On Monday I tried to explain that my DD was in the UK for 10 days to help me and could they please fit in the appointment then, I was told no and I would have to keep ringing up.
I have lost all faith in the NHS, they let me down when DH was dying four gears on I am still traumatised.

That's awful, harrigran. You could involve PALS in something like that, as it is unnecessarily obstructive. If you ring the surgery (not always easy, I realise) they will give you the number, and it should be on display in the surgery and on their website if they have one. If you google PALS in your area (eg PALS Bristol) there will be a regional number too.

Was going to start a new thread, but this one would seem appropriate.
I am currently undergoing blood tests plus other lab tests also waiting for a scan. One of my (many) meds has already been reduced.
A couple of days ago I received a text message from the Practice pharmacist asking me to make a telephone appointment to discuss meds. I didn't respond then today I received another text message asking me to contact the practice to arrange my annual review!
I rang the practice to try to explain and the receptionist first said she saw no trace of the second message re the review. She said ''I'll just put a note on to say you don't want your review.''
I said NO that's not what I'm saying, tried to explain it would be doubling up .
I thought there were staff shortages, that would be 3 people doing what 1 person is already doing.
She somewhat dismissively said Yeah will do, no problem.(No problem must be the most overworked phrase in use nowadays!)
Can't help feeling that's not the end of it - have I gone against procedure, will I be on the naughty list?
I find it quite frightening that we are at the mercy of medical receptionists

Luckygirl3

I am always grateful for the NHS but it is hard not to be exasperated sometimes. My surgery is a 35 minute drive away down country lanes so every time I go that is 70 minutes driving.
Last Thursday I had a phone appointment with my GP. We discussed my heart meds and also statins. He made me an appointment for this coming Thursday to review it all. All good.
My cholesterol results have returned and the surgery just rang me to make me an appointment with a nurse to discuss these. I explained about my upcoming appointment with the GP and that this would be part of the conversation. Oh no ... it says you are coming to discuss your heart problem. I explained that it is all interconnected and would come up at my upcoming GP appointment. Oh no ... I could only discuss my heart ...... and must make an appointment with the nurse ....
Sigh
Eventually a compromise was reached when I agreed that I would make an appointment with the nurse if atatins weren't discussed.
How silly it all is .....

This was my original post.

Saw GP yesterday and discussed everything including cholesterol. IN the course of this he said that my blood results were fine.

Fast forward to today .... call from the surgery .... wait for it ....
The receptionist has been asked to ring me as some of my blood tests are abnormal and I need to make an appointment for another test. I explained that the GP I saw yesterday said they were fine, but she insisted that I must make an appointment - which I have done - earliest is over 2 weeks away. So that's another 70 minutes driving .......!

And secondly, she says, I have to make an appointment with the nurse to discuss my cholesterol results .... head in hands!! I eventually convinced her that yesterday's GP had discussed this with me and there was no need for an appointment. It took some doing, but I succeeded!

A lot of this would be solved by being able to see the same GP every time.

My GP (group practice but almost always see my preferred GP) always leads the conversation on from what I originally attended for so 2 or 3 things are frequently discussed. She also checks on hubby (and vice versa when hubby attends) and how our dog is doing. She's fabulous.

You are a lucky lady WelshPoppy - I am glad you are getting a good service.

I think Streeting has been slippery about promising online appointments.

He told the public that “from October, you’ll be able to book your GP appointment online, as easily as ordering a takeaway.”
He said this would “end the 8 am scramble” and implied universal, instant digital booking access.

That language evokes a real-time, patient-facing booking system — you choose a time slot, confirm, and receive your appointment instantly. It’s what people recognise from airline or restaurant booking apps.

But the NHS contractual requirement (the legal reality) is far narrower: From 1 October 2025, GP practices must keep an online request form open during working hours. Patients can submit a request for an appointment or advice online. The practice then triages those requests and contacts the patient later — often by phone — to decide if and when they’ll be seen.

That’s not an online booking system; it’s a digital front door for making contact.

So far my local GP practice has not implemented it - one still has to phone and get a call back later in the day. There's no online form.

Streeting’s rhetoric oversold the reform. The underlying technology and triage systems aren’t standardised or funded for live scheduling. The 'reform' doesn’t increase appointment supply — it only changes how requests arrive.

Typical politician!