How long does it take to get an appointment at your doctor's surgery? (1 Viewer)

[Southdowners]

I've just tried to make an appointment at my doctor's surgery. I've been calling all morning since 8am without being able to get through until now (11.30). The first available appointment is 28th December!

I find this incredible but maybe I'm out of touch and that this is normal. Does it vary in different regions. What is your experience of being able to get an appointment at your surgery and where are you in the country?

 

[Howard H]

That seems to be the norm. In my my home town of Garstang but if it’s an emergency or life threatening they will see you that day , I am sure they hope you get better before they see you .

 

[Glandwr]

Tell them it's routine and it's a big wait for us to. Especially if you want to see a named doctor. Tell them that you NEED to see a doctor and I've never failed to get one the same day if I ring first thing in the morning

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[The Old Man]

I think it varies surgery to surgery and how they are individually administered.

With mine.

If I want an appointment with my favourite doctor, I call, find out when he is working and ask for an appointment. As he is part time and very popular, it can often be four weeks or more except they don't take bookings for more than four weeks in advance.

If I don't mind seeing any of the doctors, it's usually two to three days.

Of I can go to the surgery, get in the queue to see the 'emergency' doctor who takes walk in appointments.

The 'Emergency' doctor is often a Locum or a newly qualified doctor, when I've seen one they are often more interested and up to date than the time served doctors.

The surgery also makes good use of the three or four Practice Nurses to deal with minor and routine issues. As backup the Practice Nurse can call in one of the doctors for supplimental help.

I don't understand why more practices aren't organised in the same way?

 

[Jim]

I've just tried to make an appointment at my doctor's surgery. I've been calling all morning since 8am without being able to get through until now (11.30). The first available appointment is 28th December!

I find this incredible but maybe I'm out of touch and that this is normal. Does it vary in different regions. What is your experience of being able to get an appointment at your surgery and where are you in the country?

Thats why so many use A&E as a first call. You might have to wait 6 hours but you will eventually see a doctor

 

[Southdowners]

Yes, I can see why some folk would go the A&E route... I wouldn't feel it acceptable to do so though

We can't stipulate which doctor we see - its just pot luck. There seems to be a quick turnover of doctors and there are often locums. In all honesty I couldn't say my appointment was needed urgently but I needed to see someone before Christmas!

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[nicholsong]

Special case here. We could probably be seen either before or just after normal surgery today - but she is often round for dinner and we motorhomed in Brittany with them this year.

But even without that connection the average wait in Poland for a GP appointment is about 2 days.

Geoff

 

[The Dudess]

We have nothing but praise for our doctors surgery in Uttoxeter. So far we have found that you can get an appointment for non-urgent problem within a couple of days and everything seems very organised and professional.
On a slightly different subject, MIL aged 89 had a fall last week and banged her head. Although she didn't want to make a fuss she was a bit nauseous and had headache. As we are 2.1/2 hours drive away we insisted that she called 111. This was at 18:30. Within an hour or so a nurse had called round to see her and she was taken into hospital as a precaution (probably because of her age). They did all the checks and declared her OK and she was back home by 01:00 a.m. Excellent service.

 

[arto stu]

depends... if you are an "emergency" next day... if its not then a few days... much better to book on line than phone. get on at 08:30 and u can see all available slots... I am in Farnborough hants

my only criticism is u dont get to see same doc every time so its hard to have a "relationship" with him / her... but all in all I would say its a good service

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[pappajohn]

I book all mine online.
If I'm not fussy who I see it could be same or next day.
If I want my own doc, up to a week.

 

[The Wino]

They recon about a third of people take appointments for things that would get better on less than 3 days if treated by a pharmacist blame those who go down the gp surgery if they have a normal cold rather than sort it out themselves I recon £20 an appointment would halve the appointment requests.

 

[The Old Man]

They recon about a third of people take appointments for things that would get better on less than 3 days if treated by a pharmacist blame those who go down the gp surgery if they have a normal cold rather than sort it out themselves I recon £20 an appointment would halve the appointment requests.

I can see where you're coming from but I doubt anyone would be brave enough to put forward such a proposal.

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[Handy Sue]

I simply need a referral to see a specialist, I have a basal cell carcinoma, which has already been diagnosed by the consultant at the hospital, when I went with my husband for his appointment. I have been trying for a month to get a doctors appointment I dont even need. ring at 8am, or queue up outside. Not even an appointment within the 3 weeks that they are allowed to do, nor a telephone appointment because the receptionist says he needs to see me. This has been the case at our surgery for the last 3 years. To say I am annoyed is an understatement. I think the situation is pathetic. I want to change doctors, but not sure if any of the local ones are administered any better. In the end I got my dentist to refer me.

 

[rb62]

We can book online for our own doctor and his 'alternative' usually
3-4 days or any doctor same day if you phone early enough.
Sometimes the best option

 

[spitfire]

Today if urgent tomorrow if not

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[Dorset Diver]

About three weeks if we are lucky . Then we can be seen by a "health care professional" and believe it or not that includes the receptionist .

 

[Rapido925M]

Ours has gone downhill over the last couple of years
We used to have 6 doctors and a call before 10am would get you seen, often by your named doctor, by 11.30am. Similarly, ring before 3.30pm, get seen by 5.30pm.

Now there are only 4 doctors so if we ring before 10am we sometimes don't get seen until 3pm, unless we are prepared to accept "anyone". [I'm sure some of you are green with envy ]

We also have the option of Practice Nurses, who can usually be seen, more or less, at the drop of a hat .

The downside is, we live in the country and only have 3 buses per day which could get us there, and the last one back leaves the doctor's at 2.15pm.
On the other hand, should we lose our independence, there is a Community Car Scheme which will take us to the docs or the hospital (20miles away) for a return trip of £2.50.

The best option is not to get ill - Gordon

 

[chaser]

We have nothing but praise for our doctors surgery in Uttoxeter. So far we have found that you can get an appointment for non-urgent problem within a couple of days and everything seems very organised and professional.
On a slightly different subject, MIL aged 89 had a fall last week and banged her head. Although she didn't want to make a fuss she was a bit nauseous and had headache. As we are 2.1/2 hours drive away we insisted that she called 111. This was at 18:30. Within an hour or so a nurse had called round to see her and she was taken into hospital as a precaution (probably because of her age). They did all the checks and declared her OK and she was back home by 01:00 a.m. Excellent service.

We really do live in a different England round here, don't we we can't believe these story's of waiting lists and stuff, Julie goes to uttoxeter, and I go to tean but we can more or less both get in when we like.

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[LadyBea]

We're very lucky here we don't have appointments we just go during surgery hours & check in with the receptionist & sit in the waiting room for the doctor.

 

[chaser]

We really do live in a different England round here, don't we we can't believe these story's of waiting lists and stuff, Julie goes to uttoxeter, and I go to tean but we can more or less both get in when we like.

But saying that , it might go downhill a bit when they fill all these houses they are building

 

[Larrynwin]

Same day here

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[DJA]

I have to say that our Doctors are very well organised and arranging urgent or normal appointments is quite straight forward. They have 3 busy practices in the group within about 12 miles of where we live.

Each day our doctors allocate a number of That Day appointments which you can book as follows. If you have registered for the service you can go on the internet and see what That Day urgent appointments or normal appointments over the next 2 months are available and book them. They keep available some That Day urgent appointments which are only available if you ring after 8-30am. If however they have non available then you have the backup option to go to the small country practice any weekday before 10-30am and they guarantee you will be seen by a doctor. They do not run an appointment service for this practice. I have seen at least 2 doctors at this practice.

As an example last month I went to our Doctors on an internet booked That Day appointment and been put onto Antibiotics which started working on the problem. Unfortunately 5 days later the situation had got much worse and I booked a That Day appointment via the internet at 4am. When I got to him at 10am he immediately sent me to A & E. I, as were others, was accessed by a specialist nurse within 15 minutes of arrival and after about another hour action started. I won't go into details as it would probably make you wince, especially the males amongst you.

I cannot fault the service from our doctors or the A & E who were run off their feet whilst I was there for 6 hours.

Doug

 

[The Dudess]

We really do live in a different England round here, don't we we can't believe these story's of waiting lists and stuff, Julie goes to uttoxeter, and I go to tean but we can more or less both get in when we like.

Yes, however things might be a lot different once all the new houses are built and occupied!!
Ooops just seen your other post - we're obviously thinking along the same lines.

 

[mikebeaches]

I've just tried to make an appointment at my doctor's surgery. I've been calling all morning since 8am without being able to get through until now (11.30). The first available appointment is 28th December!

I find this incredible but maybe I'm out of touch and that this is normal. Does it vary in different regions. What is your experience of being able to get an appointment at your surgery and where are you in the country?

I am genuinely shocked by the long wait you have to see a GP!

We ring at 8am and normally have an appointment between 9am and 10.30am with our own doctor (if she is available, or an alternative one in the practice) on the same day.

We are further fortunate that the surgery is 400 yards from our house! And the dentist - who we can also see on the same day if we need to - is next door to the doctor.

And finally, the village chemist is 500 yards from home - so all pretty much sorted.

We are very lucky I think.

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[Cat53]

Ours run a sit and wait surgery every morning and for routine, appointments the wait is approx 2 weeks if you want to see a particular doctor. However, it is possible to get in the next day if you don't mind who you see. I think the way our surgery is run is the best possible way.

 

[nicholsong]

I should have added to my post above that our Doctor friend opened a new clinical block here in Katowice about a year ago which really is state of the art; it has about 6 consulting rooms, physio room, practice nurses rooms for blood, x-ray etc., 3 receptionists and generous and pleasant waiting areas, and an on-site pharmacy. They also have visiting Consultants at certain times of the week.

I should point out that the Practice is conducting clinical trials for pharmaceutical companies so probably that provided a source of income for the development. I make no judgement.

Before I finally retired I was doing part-time driving including several rounds for the NHS and saw a multitude of surgeries/clinics in S. London, Surrey, Berkshire anf Hampshire(maybe 150) but none of them came close to this one.

Geoff

 

[simsy56]

I know we live in the back of beyond here, but, I went to the doctors at 0800h last monday to book an appointment for my missus, and and she got one for 1030h. our doctor, same day.

Craig

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[obanvanman]

We are very lucky, we live on an island south of Oban, (there is a bridge) and can see a doctor almost whenever we like during the day.
One day, after having some stents fitted, I was walking past the surgery a few weeks later when the window opened and the Dr. shouted....
Kevin. Blood pressure. Now!
Didnt have the bottle to tell him I was going to the pub.

 

[Northernraider]

It can be up to two weeks at mine unless you phone at 8am and then you've a chance of getting one of the few slots they keep open for urgent or emergency appointments
Dentist is much the same although if your in pain you can often go wait in the surgery and they will slot you in when there's a gap
The amount of online paperwork a doctor has to do after seeing each patient really slows down the process

 

[Rob e Lee]

Always same day appointments, never had to wait but if you need/prefer a certain doctor you might have wait.

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