Hi wonder if anyone can help I been having trouble getting a doctors appointment the receptionist tells me only emergancy appointments to ring again in the morning but I get told the same thing, they only have a small amount of pre-bookable appointments and I can never seam to get one, are we able to insist to be seen have they got a duty of care.
Hope someone can help before I ring in the morning and rant at the receptionist
.
Sue
There is no point ranting at the receptionist - they are 'following orders' and can't change what they are supposed to do.
Try and keep calm on the phone - yup, if I knew how to do that I'd be a very rich and happy woman! - and phone as early as you can, or actually go to the doctor's surgery to be ready when they open the doors. That's what I do with my GP's surgery. There is usually a group of people waiting to book appointments when the doors open.
Explain why you need to see the doctor and ask what you should do to make sure you can get an appointment. I think crying not shouting makes people want to help you more. Being asked for advice is always an ego boost...
Does NHS Direct still operate? They'd probably get a nurse to ring you back but it may be useful.
I hope you can get an appointment tomorrow.
take care,
Ellen
Is it a emergency?
If not can you book an appointment in a few days or next week? That's how our surgery works...
I have the same problem with my surgery, I have to redial again and again from 8am. If I can't get an appointment and I NEED one then I explain the problem and usually get a phone consultation. Otherwise if it was more urgent I would phone NHS24 and they would refer me to the hospital usually.
I explained this problem to my GP and he now makes follow up appointments for me while I am at the initial docs appointment which is handy, no phoning up the reception.
Hi
My Doctors say ring at 8am, If I ring after 5past no appointments available. Try ring ing early.
Hope this helps Sue
I know it's not an option for everyone but have you looked into joining a different surgery? I had this problem with one of my old ones and I was sick of it!
Luckily I moved house at this point and had my choice of 5 in the local area, went for the largest surgery I could so there was a chance I would find a nice GP and though there are times when I do the ring back 20 times thing and still don't get to see a doc that day, usually if I explain the problem, I'll either get a call back or at least to see a nurse who if she thinks it's bad enough gets me in to see a doctor.
They should allow you to prebook appointments and if it's a case of too many people doing this that means you can't, then they really need to change their system. Have a word with the practise manager (calmly) about the problems your having and worst comes to worst put in a complaint with your local NHS trust.
Hope you get it sorted
Mel xx
Hi Sue,
Tried to reply to you last night - right before the forum had a brainfart, and "mislaid" about a week's worth of posts (now recovered).
Anyway, the gist was that I have a v. similar situation locally.
I still have over a week to go 'til my GP appointment, even though I requested it last Wednesday. The soonest they could offer me was a fortnight!
If you stick to your guns, will they let you book, but a long way away (weeks)? If so, I'd accept, as it's better than having to ring every day, to be told you're still unlucky.
Have you kept count of how many times you've been unsuccessful? I would stress this, next time, and say that due to the delay, it is becoming urgent, and you really can't keep putting it off indefinitely.
I'm never sure exactly what consitutes a GP emergency, anyway. I mean, if I had a REAL emergency (difficulty breathing, bleeding that won't stop, suspected heart attack etc.) I'd go to the hospital anyway, not join the queue for the doctor.
I tend to regard most MS-related stuff as serious, but not an emergency, for the simple reason it's unlikely to be life-threatening.
However, I do suspect there are people booking "emergency" appointments for coughs and colds, and wonder whether, because I have a chronic condition I'm relatively patient about, I'm too placid when it comes to trying to book. I never think it's an emergency, because I know I won't keel over and die.
But on the other hand, is untreated pain (the problem I'm waiting to see them about at the moment) an "emergency" or not? It's not agony. And it won't kill me or cause lasting damage. But it's not really OK, is it?
Tina
Tina, pain I would class an emergency! As you say it won't kill you but you wouldn't go to your GP for something that is immediately life threatening....get onto them and tell them your in pain and want to see a doctor NOW calmly of course but as someone also said a few tears always help. Mel xx
IF it is a genuine urgent need, then ask for the duty doctor to call you if they have one- most (though sadly not all) practices will have one doctor who is on standby to deal with urgent cases or same day requests that cannot wait. If they do not have a duty doctor system, make an appointment for the next available slot then at least you have one in prospect. IF you really feel you need attention sooner than that, call NHS Direct. they will assess you over the phone and will confirm if they feel you need to be seen urgently. Whilst I would not advocate playing the system, so again only if you really genuinely need urgent attention, call your surgery after closed and you will either be transferred to or given the number of the primary care out of hours service that all practices will be covered by out of hours - again they will assess you over the phone and arrange to see you if they feel it is clinically necessary.
I have MS (for 13 years). Right now I am waiting for a 'call back' from an MS nurse (for a leaky catheter). From NHS FIFE. Yes Doctors can be longer but (hopefully) an MS nurse 'might' be quicker? (but that might not be 'suitable' for you?) Good luck!
Marcus.
Just had a call back from an MS nurse and she's (coming to see me!) at 2.30 this afternoon - boy, that's quick! - All done in a morning, pretty cool, eh?
Marcus. (you might want to see a Dr. though?)
Remember you don't have to see your doctor, usualy a surgery has a few and if you ask to see any doctor you might have more luck. I agree it's a crap system but unfortunately it's the result of free health care, everybody thinks they need to see a doctor regardless of how ill they actually are.
Some surgeries have online booking too, If you need to see a doctor urgently, then you qualify for an emergency appointment as far as I'm concerned, if you just need to see a doctor "at some point" then ask to book in advance, if they then refuse, explain you are disabled and need assistance getting to the hospital so need to know beforehand.
I did have the same problem getting an appointment with my Doctor. The receptionist tried to tell me off for asking for an emergency appointment for a repeat prescription until I explained that I have MS I couldn't move to get to the surgery til that day and I needed the prescription. I also explained that I couldn't book an appointment in advance as I can't always get out of the house. She was very apologetic and told me to let them know when I needed an appointment in future and they would slot me in. I haven't put this to the test yet, but I am hoping that now they realise they may be slightly more helpful.
My doctor is helpful, even if the reception staff aren't always!
Isobel x
This could be a promising thread - maybe someone should collect all the posts and send them to our Dear Leader at No 10.
(Sub-text: sort this before you start on the hospitals)
"Sorry, you can only make an appointment for xxxxxxx on the day" - but a different receptionist gave a different answer and an appointment the following day.
"Sorry, you cannot book an appointment for next month" - but someone calls me, to book an appointment for me to visit next month just for a BP check. I assume that this will count as my anual cardiac check-up.
"That will have to be sent away for testing - say, about five days" when I wanted a container for a urine sample to be tested before starting on oral steroids. When I took the sample in the next morning, it was "Come back about 2pm - one of the nurses will have done it at lunchtime".
I found that two things work better, sometimes:
- Ask to see one of the nurses - quite often that is all you need if one of them is licensed to prescribe and to refer,
- Go in to book an appointment, don't phone. It is harder for someone to say "No" when they are looking you in the eye. Then, if there is a problem, tale a good look at their name badge, smile sweetly, and ask "What do you suggest, then?". That puts the onus on them to come up with a solution to getting you seen.
Oh, for just a little consistency.
Geoff
10 years ago, when we moved to our current home, some poor folk 'next door' in Bradley Stoke couldn't get an appointment for 3 weeks. Emergencies were as you would hoope, but if you didn't need an emergency appointment you had to book one for 3 weeks time.
The joys of living somewhere that was a farm 30 years ago but is now a town, but the infrastructure hadn't anywhere near caught up with the huge increase in people living in the area. It's not so bad now - more doctor's surgerys, a proper library, a health centre and even schools!
Try signing up with a vet!!!
Animals seem to be better treated than humans in our country at the moment.
Try signing up with a vet!!!
Animals seem to be better treated than humans in our country at the moment.
Im dont know if im lucky or what but i manage to see my doc about every 6 vweek and she always makes the next appointment for me there and then
but if i have to see a doc urgently i always have to tell the receptionist i am worried about something to do with my ms its wrong and it should not be that way but it is
I am always amazed at how long people have to wait for things. Our surgery is brilliant, you always see the same one unless they're off for any reason and then you see their "partner". We always get appointments the same day and on Tuesday I got through at 08.40, after ringing since 08.30 and was aked if I could get there for 09.05; and that's not unusual.
What is unusual, is my particular doctor is something of a workaholic and if I make an appointment for the afternoon surgery, he turns up in his lunch hour to save me the journey. He often rings people up with bood test results etc in the evening or at weekends. He's the same with all his patients and is loved by them all.
At one point we were considering moving and discounted certain areas as we'd have had to change practices. I don't think we have any less patients than other places so I don't know why we can always get appointments the same day.
I live in Teesside by the way if anyone wants to come!
Sarah x
I am always amazed at how long people have to wait for things. Our surgery is brilliant, you always see the same one unless they're off for any reason and then you see their "partner". We always get appointments the same day and on Tuesday I got through at 08.40, after ringing since 08.30 and was aked if I could get there for 09.05; and that's not unusual.
What is unusual, is my particular doctor is something of a workaholic and if I make an appointment for the afternoon surgery, he turns up in his lunch hour to save me the journey. He often rings people up with bood test results etc in the evening or at weekends. He's the same with all his patients and is loved by them all.
At one point we were considering moving and discounted certain areas as we'd have had to change practices. I don't think we have any less patients than other places so I don't know why we can always get appointments the same day.
I live in Teesside by the way if anyone wants to come!
Sarah x
Hi Sarah,
"Same day" appointments are all very well, and no doubt appreciated if the matter is urgent, but they are not suitable for everyone either.
I am a working person, so all I want to do, for a non-urgent matter, is to book a "reasonable" appointment for a few days time, so I can plan around it. Not in half-an-hour's time (which would be completely crazy for me - I don't drive, and couldn't even get there in time), and not next month! But my doctor's surgery only seem to do these two extremes.
You are occasionally offered "same day", but if not, you're offered something weeks away. You can't ring up Tuesday, and say you would like to come in Thursday or Friday - a reasonable compromise. I can't understand why this is impossible. There must be many people with work, school-run or whatever, who don't want to wait weeks, but equally can't cope with "OK, come round now!"
Tina
Hi Tina,
Sorry to say this ...but that wouldn't be a problem either. If I'd said I couldn't make it then I would have been asked when I wanted to come. They want to maximise the GPs time, there was obviously a gap and I said I could get there. If I'd wanted to make an appointment for some other time that week, that would have been okay too.
I genuinely feel sorry for people who can't get appointments when they need them. If one practice can sort it, why can't they all?
Sarah x
Sarah
My surgery is similar to yours-FANTASTIC!
Ellie x
My doctor's surgery has wised up over the last couple of years. They now do late surgerys at least once a week and a Saturday morning one each weekend. They are designed for people working during the day, so if you are in a postition to be able to get to middle of the day appointments you are 'discouraged' from taking up one of those appointments.
We can also have phone call appointments, and can order repeat prescriptions without seeing a doctor. Which can make things a lot easier! They may be doing online repeat prescription ordering soon.
If it's not easy physically easy to get to the surgery due to medical issues you may well get a home visit.
Like everyone else I moan about my surgery but reading your posts I think they are pretty good. They do get a bit stroppy if you miss or are late for an appointment without a good reason but will shunt appointments up to fit you in if you ring and explain the bus is late or whatever, if they can and you have let them know.
We have 1 surgery in town... 10+ GPs... you can't make an appointment more than 14 days in advance... You can ring in the morning at 8 or in the afternoon at 2 and get an appointment with a nurse practitioner (there are 2) - when the appointments are gone they are gone but you can ring at the next half day (it can be difficult to get through on the phone some days) .. if you see the nurse and she feels you need to see a doctor she gets you in to see the emergency doctor (or your GP if they are available). You can also make an appointment to see the emergency doctor on the same basis (8 or 2) but they don't have so many appointments. The practice also runs two surgeries in outlying villages and if the nurse really feels you need to see your GP she can check the other surgeries and make an appointment for you in one of those if that is where they have a free slot, on another occasion she arranged for my GP to ring me and then the community nurse collected and brought me a prescription! And I have had NHS Direct make me an appointment at the surgery or the out-of-hours service which is run from our local hospital (5+ miles) if they felt I needed to see a doctor sooner rather than later.
My MS Nurse (based at another more distant hospital) also has good liason with my GP surgery and my local community nurses, and can usually arrange to see me herself within a few days if I feel I am having a relapse. There is also a neurophysiotherapist and the local wheelchair service that I can self-refer to now that I have been introduced by the MS team, and if I don't call on them in a 12 month period they give me a ring!
Carol
I am able to book appointments online - and can sort appointments by male/female doctor, a specific doctor, minor injuries nurse etc, so haven't tried phoning the surgery for a while. I can also ask for a call back from my GP, and because I work I asked to speak to her at a specific time and sure enough when I called (as was the arrangement) I was put through to her straight away. I also order repeat prescriptions online, which is handy, and request the prescription is sent to a specific pharmacy - as there is one in town that orders LDN for myself and another MSer.
In answer to your original question though, whether a doctor must give you an appointment if you need one, I imagin the answer must be 'yes' as this is what they are paid to do - surely?
I hope you have managed to get an appointment by now!
B
I've moved from somewhere with a fantastic surgery and group of doctors (Wotton Bassett in Wiltshire) even offering to help me get to work when a locum doctor ticked the wrong part of my driving license medical and I lost my license to the wilds of Gloucestershire where I often have to wait more than 10 days for an appointment and actually had to go to the Minor Injuries Unit to be seen to have documentary evidence to get an urgent appointment. I never regard my MS as an emergency, but I think it needs to be seen a little more promptly that 10 days, especially when being ever hopeful I usually sit on symptoms for a few days with the hope they will go away on their own. Unfortunately I sat on them too long in August (waiting until October to be seen) and am now suffocating the consequences (as my 7 year old tells me).
Multiple Sclerosis Society. Registered charity nos 1139257 / SC041990. Registered as a limited company in England and Wales 07451571
