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Doctors Appointments
Former Member
Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
Right If I want an appointment at my local health centre I have to ring up after 7.45am THE DAY I WANT THE APPOINTMENT. So if i wanted my appointment on monday I couldnt ring up now, would have to on Monday morning.
Is this everybodys health centre/GPs like this or do some GPs not have really stupid unpractical appointment systems?
Is this everybodys health centre/GPs like this or do some GPs not have really stupid unpractical appointment systems?
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Morning appointments you ring between 7 and 1030 - afternoons 230 - 4.
God knows how but there's always only 1 or 2 appointments left by 236!
I find it useful if I'm really ill as I can see someone on that say.
Ours is the same, have to ring first thing in the morning and get an appointment that day. It's alot better. 7.45 is early but it's not too bad.
I can't make any appointment in advance for anything. Even if you are due for a smear or something you have to ring on that day. Bloody rediculous!
Isn't there some government guideline that says you have to have an appoinment within 3 days of phoning up, or something simialr. By doing what they do at your clinic they're getting round this, a well known practice.
Mine's not too bad i'm usually seen that day or the next.
Suppose when I am ill I would be mad if they told me I had to wait till the day after or the day after to see a doctor.
Works both way!
They'd tell you to ring after 8, so you'd phone at 7.58, when it would ringandringandring. Phone at 8.01 and it would be engaged, and stay engaged until about 8.40, when you'd get through and be told all the appointments had gone, and you should ring the next morning at 8. And so on for the next 4 or 5 days. :mad:
My current practice is fab. They have a percentage of pre-bookable slots which you might have to wait a few days for, but are perfect for when you know you'll need to see someone soon (like pill checkups). But then if you want to be seen on the day, you can ring in the morning and leave a contact number, then at some point the doctor will ring you, decide if you need to be seen and then give you an appointment then and there, or decide you don't need to be seen and give you advice over the phone. :thumb:
You have to ring on the dot of 0845 for an urgent appointment that morning (and persuade the dragon that you're dying and deserve one), and if you don't get one then and need one then you can try for an urgent afternoon one at 1430.
You can also book in advance, but you can only book a max of 6 weeks in advance, and you'll have to wait about 3 weeks for a 'routine' appointment.
It's a very very annoying system, and there's no provision in it for something you'd like checking out in the next couple of days, and if you don't lie to the receptionist then there's no way you'll see a doctor the same day.
My GP at uni is awesome, you can book up to 3 months in advance, or ring up anytime and if it's urgent they'll see you that session, if it's less urgent they'll see you in the next couple of days. They've got a common ailments nurse too, who deals with loads of simple stuff and will get a doctor if needed. They are quite simply fantastic.
You need to book for bloods or asthma clinc thou, but that is usually within a few days and you can ring up any time.
i prefer it that way!
Do what I eventually did - go to a walk in centre. They will deal with you if they can and if not they will phone and make an appointment for you, even if 'there are no pre-bookable appointments'.
Not a guideline, a rule. Information here
You have the "right" to book an appointment 48 hours in advance, with a GP of your choice, or within 24 with any health professional.
People, your practice is being paid to make sure this happens - £1.37 per patient and the average number of patient at a practice is about 5,500 - average of £7.5k per practice.
My new surgery does advance booking with isnt so good, if you want to see a named doctor it's a 7 day wait.
1. Ask them if they will put in writing that you need to wait 7 days
2. Inform your PCT, anyway.
Seriously, they are getting paid taxpayers money for doing this. If they aren't doing it then it's theft IMHO.
My doctor is excellent too, if I don't make it up there in the morning(I have big problems sleeping), he'll squeeze me between patients or let me take an emergency evening appointment.
Can't think of a better system. They should all be like this
Yeah, it's "a" GP only for the 48 hour rule. You have to accept tha tthe GP may not actually be on duty within that timeframe (they are allowed holidays apparently :no: )
However I will get to my point - I didn't have to see a doctor for my smear - one of the practice nurse's did it - did you tell them why you were phoning - maybe you don't need to see a nurse at all.
otherwise you could try your local familly planning clinic - though these now have a different name and i've no idea what they are called - that's where I had all my other ones done and you could get an appoitnment there or just walk in and they were alwasy in the evening as well.
I work mon-fri 9-5.30. The doctor i see only works tues and fri and u have to book on the morning. But more often than not its engaged then fully booked. Work need an appointment card as proof of why you're having time off. So i cant tell work ill be at a certain time because i have no choice and if i use my holiday entitlement, i may end up wasting it because theres no appointment available.
I have to go to the doctors at least every 2 months aswell.
They shouldn't.
It's up to them to prove that you are lying, not the other way around.