03-07-2017, 08:30 AM
1
GP appointments
How does the system work at your surgery?Can you get an appointment easily?
My surgery have long since stopped making advance appointments, we have to ring at 8 am on the day to get in.
The problem with this is, ALL their patients are doing the same so you can rarely get through. By the time you do, all the appointments re gone, so they tell you to ring back tomorrow at 8 a.m. and the whole process repeats again.
Take this morning for example. I have rung the surgery constantly but it is continually engaged.
After ringing 39 times, the phone was answered and I managed to get an appointment to see a Nurse Practitioner this afternoon.
It is the most frustrating booking system ever, and I just wondered how other surgeries work?
03-07-2017, 08:47 AM
3
Re: GP appointments
That's really bad , how on earth can a surgery not make future appointments , I don't understand at all . 39 times is unbelievable .My surgery is good , future apps can be booked by calling in or ringing , I may not get to see my own doctor but I could see any other .
03-07-2017, 08:50 AM
4
Re: GP appointments
I've got a recurring appointment with one doctor once a month, she personally books me in before I leave her surgery. My complaints worked
I also have hot line to nurse for grace and if she says she needs a GP she goes and fetches one into her room while we are there. Again complaints have worked.
But that's just us after complaining to right person at the surgery. Ujs spirit has come upon me
But it's a scrum to get any other appointments. I've been ringing since 8.30am now 20 calls so far. Engaged constantly.
03-07-2017, 09:05 AM
5
Re: GP appointments
Advance appointments with the doctor of choice takes about 2 weeks.With any doctor a few days.
Our surgery has a brilliant online booking system. Every night at midnight the names of several doctors comes up with appointments for the next day. This sure beats continuously phoning the surgery at 7.30 am!
I do all my appointments this way. My favourite doctor has to do her turn on this rota so I can usually get to see her within 2 days.
Not so good for patients who haven't got a computer as the receptionist remarked to me....
03-07-2017, 10:12 AM
8
Re: GP appointments
Originally Posted by myrtle
->
I'm the same as Carol and use the online booking system for appointments and repeat prescriptions .... easy peasy 
I always used to do that system Myrtle, but they have done something to that as well, and it usually says there are no appointments available now.
Sometimes there are some with a Nurse Practitioner, but rarely a doctor. They do occasionally have appointments a month or more ahead on the EMIS system, but you will never get in within a few days, you have to ring up on the day instead.
P.S.
Just checked Emis, and there are no appointments for 5 weeks!
03-07-2017, 11:34 AM
9
Re: GP appointments
Appointment with my own GP may mean a wait, call early morning for chance of same day appointment with whoever.BUT if it's urgent you will always be seen on the day, either after 11.30 or around 4.30.
When I found a lump in my breast a few weeks ago I called the surgery straight away, and my doctor called me back within half an hour.
She saw me that afternoon and fast tracked me to the big maternity hospital where they do all the female tests...5 days later I had double mammogram, ultrasound scan, and two biopsies with stitches.
Results came just over a week later...luckily it was benign but the surgeon said he'd have operated "immediately" if it had been malignant.
No complaints here.
|
|
