Trying to book an appointment with doctor - not easy!

[technodup]

toddler said:

Where in Scotland are you? I'm in Glasgow, phoned this morning for an appointment, 2 week wait. It was 3 weeks last time.

Dr is in Shawlands.

It's never busy. Maybe that's because it genuinely isn't busy, or it's because I get the good appointments right after lunch, who knows. I know the main GP has another practice in Kings Park and only took this one over a couple of years back.

I guess ultimately it depends on what you've got. If appointments are limited they're naturally going to see the cancer guys before the man flu guys.

[condor]

My GP practice is another that insists on a morning phone call for a walk in appointment. Starting at 0800 when it's still a recorded message telling you to call the out of hours service. It's normally 0803 before they start to answer the phones - the line is constantly engaged and I use the redial option on the phone till I get through. Once the phone is answered, I've been able to get a slot that morning - but now the receptionist is asking what you'll be visiting the doctor about before you're given a slot.

[dragonflyjade]

I work in a GP practice (pharmacist) and agree with the frustration described in this thread. Some of it is due to the way GP practice is run.

I see a potential 60 patients a week for a range of different clinical issues. This week I had 10 non-attendance. I filled the time with other clinical tasks but means that 10 other patients missed out. Telephone consultations can be difficult and fraught with error.

Also, patients have a number of diseases so 10 minutes is not long enough to meet, greet, listen, diagnose, prescribe and safety-net. Consultations can be complex affairs.

GP practice is a tough, stressed and litigious sector of medicine and healthcare. Many new GPs prefer hospital as it is detailed and a consultant expertise can be quickly built up. Other healthcare professionals can help support but never replace the full diagnostic capabilities of a doctor.

[sjc]

Went to the recent all singing all dancing new doctors “medical centre” today after waiting two weeks for the appointment.
Told the doctor I felt like I might have a problem with my sinuses again ( I had the op twice previously 10 and 25 years ago)as I had severe headaches,was bunged up, struggling to hear and was wheezy in the chest and had a permanent cough... it had gone on for months after being given an anti allergy spray on the last visit in April.
I was asked ...”did I want to be referred for another op,and did I want anti-biotics in the meanwhile?”!!
Not at any time did she look up my nose, in my ears, listen to my chest ... nothing.Yet she wanted to refer me for surgery and load me with anti-biotics.

Then showed her two scabby marks on my leg that haven’t ever cleared up three months or so, and I asked what could she recommend. Was told I needed to make another appointment for that ...another two weeks time.
Walked out there in disbelief having apparently become my very own self diagnosing doctor and then walked across to the chemist .... who then proceeded to give me 40 tablets instead of 28....
Utter shambles.

Edited by sjc on Friday 21st September 22:19

[kowalski655]

Regiment said:

Me: "can i make an appointment to see the doctor please, really feeling unwell"
Surgery: "we can fit you in in about 3 weeks hours if that's ok?"

well that was the old surgery,not tried the new one yet...fingers crossed

[Cupramax]

condor said:

My GP practice is another that insists on a morning phone call for a walk in appointment. Starting at 0800 when it's still a recorded message telling you to call the out of hours service. It's normally 0803 before they start to answer the phones - the line is constantly engaged and I use the redial option on the phone till I get through. Once the phone is answered, I've been able to get a slot that morning - but now the receptionist is asking what you'll be visiting the doctor about before you're given a slot.

You’ve no need to tell the receptionists anything, just tell them it is important but you don’t wish to openly discuss it. I’ve had exactly the same with mine.

[Vipers]

Not too bad up near Aberdeen, we can make an appointment on line, or just call in first thing in the morning, although getting an appointment on line isnt easy, usually fully booked for a week or two, it amazes me when I visit the practice, there are never than a few waiting to be seen.

Back in the 50/60's we just went around to the surgery, sat down, and as one went in to see the doctor, we all moved up one chair.

[227bhp]

The NHS loses £350m per 6 months due to missed appointments, that could be something to do with it.

https://www.express.co.uk/news/uk/1020140/NHS-stri...

[RicksAlfas]

227bhp said:

The NHS loses £350m per 6 months due to missed appointments, that could be something to do with it.

https://www.express.co.uk/news/uk/1020140/NHS-stri...

My grandmother receives snotty letters saying she has missed appointments at the local hospital, despite being in a home where the doctor visits her. She isn't capable of going to the hospital. Every time she receives a letter, my parents ring the hospital to explain she needs to be taken off the list as she will never be attending. The hospital is incapable of updating it's list, so in four months time another letter arrives. I fully expect they are sending them to dead people as well.

[kev1974]

227bhp said:

The NHS loses £350m per 6 months due to missed appointments, that could be something to do with it.

https://www.express.co.uk/news/uk/1020140/NHS-stri...

A lot of that will be due to the way certain NHS clinics and appointment types are only booked by letter in the post, like it is still the 1970s. So you get the letter and then have to jump through hoops trying to get someone to answer the phone and wait for more letters if their randomly chosen appointment is not convenient (because you dare to go to work or are out of the country then or whatever). Letters which a certain proportion of will also go missing in the post. I've come close to giving up with it all myself.

My GP has online appointment booking, but it seems to be down to the GP practice initiative to get that in place, not something offered by the NHS in general, there are a few systems out there, all run by private companies that the GPs can contract. Doesn't seem to be one central online (or even phone based) NHS booking system, which would seem to be an obvious step for them to make.

Some of the missed appointments will also be people who've checked in at their GP or hospital, but then find they're still waiting to be seen hours later, because the surgery is running that far behind, so they give up and walk out, because they've got to go to work or to pick up the kids or something.

There definitely is a category of feckless patients who simply turn up late or not at all, certainly at my GP though they are strict on it, I've seen my GP give someone a dressing down in the waiting room for being 10 mins late!

[rscott]

My GP has online booking and repeat prescription requests (via the PatientAccess app) which work really well - never had more than a 2 day wait for an appointment.
They now have a separate app for messaging me (can't reply) even though PatientAccess supports it.

However, there are some pretty abysmal processes in place - I'd been seeing their physio for an elbow issue and she decided I need nerve conduction tests, so passed that back to the GP.
I then had a call telling me to make an appointment to see the GP about it. Went in, he listened, looked confused as to why I was there, then read my notes. Confirmed I needed a referral, so printed out a PDF form which he had to complete by hand and fax (!) to the relevant department. No need for me to be there at all - it could have been done by phone.

[kurt535]

Local surgery wouldn't answer phone so went down there; waiting room packed full of greys. Greys in the queue all had a go in turn at the receptionist for waiting so long in a queue to book in when there s a ruddy great big screen to type in your DOB and last name so you don't have to queue.

first appointment I could get was October 15th - and that was after fair bit of horse trading too.

Left the surgery via the staff carpark and saw a very nice Tesla in there plus other premium machinery. Cant be all bad for doctors. I then contrasted this getting some kit from the ambulance station carpark down the road - no expensive machinery in the staff car park there !

[kurt535]

dragonflyjade said:

I work in a GP practice (pharmacist) and agree with the frustration described in this thread. Some of it is due to the way GP practice is run.

I see a potential 60 patients a week for a range of different clinical issues. This week I had 10 non-attendance. I filled the time with other clinical tasks but means that 10 other patients missed out. Telephone consultations can be difficult and fraught with error.

Also, patients have a number of diseases so 10 minutes is not long enough to meet, greet, listen, diagnose, prescribe and safety-net. Consultations can be complex affairs.

GP practice is a tough, stressed and litigious sector of medicine and healthcare. Many new GPs prefer hospital as it is detailed and a consultant expertise can be quickly built up. Other healthcare professionals can help support but never replace the full diagnostic capabilities of a doctor.

You guys need to have your own HALO in the waiting room and get another practice nurse in. I really feel, the doctor waiting times are ending up transferring the strain onto 999 services as people give up waiting weeks to see someone. Something needs to change.