NHS Appointments : Good News!

[PK99]

10:45 went to local Pharmacy for Ear Wax suction. (£70)

11:15 went upstairs to Doctors' surgery reception, and reported that pharmacist had found ear infection.

Appointment booked for 12:05.

Currently in the pub across the road rather than waiting room.

We need to acknowledge good service when we receive it.

 

[Drago]

I've never had a problem getting an appointment.

 

[Bonefish Blues]

I have - our local practice is rather falling apart, I'm afraid, and appointments are a particular bugbear. As it happens I was there this morning and saw some patient rage in the flesh. Fault on both sides, sadly

 

[figbat]

I've never had a problem getting an appointment.

The biggest issue I have is getting through on the phone - you have to be trying from the moment they open. If you get through then appointments are generally easy to come by in the first 10 minutes or so. After that it’s urgent appointments only or try tomorrow.

That said, a while ago I made an appointment for my son, took him along at the agreed time and was told that I had missed the appointment. I was adamant that the time I arrived was the time we had agreed. The receptionist disappeared and apparently replayed the phone call, then came back and agreed that I was right about the time and they had made a mistake. We were able to wait a few minutes and see the doctor as required.

 

[MontyVeda]

up here it's easier using the GP's online booking than trying to get them on the phone. Fill out a form describing symptoms and depending on their perceived urgency you'll get an appointment sooner or later. My last two attempts have resulted in me being seen the very same day, so the forms are being checked promptly. I still have faith in the system.

 

[PeteXXX]

No problems here in getting the occasional appointment..
Didn't Daktari once do ear-flushing rather than having to pay for it privately?

 

[wiggydiggy]

10:45 went to local Pharmacy for Ear Wax suction. (£70)

11:15 went upstairs to Doctors' surgery reception, and reported that pharmacist had found ear infection.

Appointment booked for 12:05.

Currently in the pub across the road rather than waiting room.

We need to acknowledge good service when we receive it.

Appointment booking at my local is generally very good. You do need to be online early (before 0800) but I think most people can do that, or have someone do it for you. It is just a login and choose appointment system - you'll get referred to a GP on the day if you need one as most appointments are with the Nurse-Practioners or similar. I've not phoned for a long time, but I have previous walked in and got one.

But at a relatives it is very much more difficult, although there is a online systems it involves a bespoke app on your phone and a triage before an appointment is booked. The last time they tried it crashed 3 times during the process and they missed booking an appointment for that day. The last appointment they actually booked they did as a walk in, where they gave the receptionist their phone and they did it for them I've told my relative now if they need an appointment I'll install and login on the app myself and they can tell me what to enter.

 

[fossyant]

Absolutely shocking where I live. Different GP not helping us with adult ADHD diagnosis for son. Nothing, farmed out to Psychology UK who are useless.

Me, phone my GP. Hi I could do with seeing the GP. Fell off my bike 6 weeks ago and I'm still in pain. Seen a private physio that says I have a suspected fractured pelvis. I think I need a CT scan but don't want to turn up in A&E and sit there hours wasting their time.

Receptionist said 'what do you expect us to do, you can't see a GP and they can't authorise a scan. You can see a physio in a month who can then book you in for a scan. Me I've been told by a physio (four actually) that I have a suspected fractured pelvis. Receptionist 'carry on then'. Phone put down.

Phoned 111. Got a call back from a GP as I was being dropped into A&E. Spent over 30 hours in there, yes you've smashed up your pelvis, you could have been dead. Never mind organ damage etc, blood clots.

Not bothering going back to the GP here again. I have apparently got to go to the healthy bones clinic referred through the GP. Don't start me on no dentists either. I at least can go see my brother. My adult kids are in the same situation as are alot of the family.

Oh and I don't get to see a specialist orthopedic team about my pelvis for another six weeks. Plod on with a non union pelvis.

It's truly broken up here.

 

[Bonefish Blues]

It's truly broken up here.

Thing is, it's as individual as the Practice, it seems to me. There's so many 'why would you do that, it's daft and will just upset people' moments*. Different processes, different systems, hard-pressed staff without the skills to deal with issues, particularly people who either are already upset, or will become upset if they hear a variant of 'computer says no'

*Like booking my blood test. No problem with this, albeit I had to wait a while - shortened by my being prepared to travel and get up early at the weekend. However now having the blood test appt in the bag I then tried to book the required doctor follow-up appointment, to be met with 'no, you can't do that because you can't book that far ahead, you can only book that once you've had your blood test' It makes no sense, and just infuriates people because it's so unnecessary - and drives extra contacts, and 'traffic' to an already overloaded system.

 

[Psamathe]

GP Practice I'm registered with is a good sized one. If you call for a routine appointment then invariably "no free appointments in next 3 weeks, call back next week when they'll be releasing more appointments" ad-infinitum. If you call early for an appointment for a condition they class as "urgent" then often seen same day (or call back tomorrow), but often seen by a nurse practitioner.

My suspicion is that "routine" GP appointments are virtually all taken by GPs themselves when the "urgent" (same day) appointment needs a follow-up in 2 weeks so they book it during the "urgent" appointment.

But, if physiotherapy related, call reception "I don't think I need to see a GP but your decision" then describe a physiotherapy issue then you'll get to see a physio practitioner that week - who will generally diagnose and give you exercises appropriate or refer you on to a more specialist physiotherapist outside the practice. I think the practice reception loves you if you start with "I don't think I need to see a GP ..." so become really helpful (they must get a lot of people getting upset/angry when they can't see the GP of their choice that day or want a GP rather than nurse practitioner.

Ian

 

[Ming the Merciless]

I tried to get an appointment for my ears. The doctors surgery claimed they called me back, but I didn’t hear the phone ring.

 

[presta]

Fell off my bike 6 weeks ago and I'm still in pain. Seen a private physio that says I have a suspected fractured pelvis. I think I need a CT scan but don't want to turn up in A&E and sit there hours wasting their time.

Receptionist said 'what do you expect us to do, you can't see a GP and they can't authorise a scan. You can see a physio in a month who can then book you in for a scan. Me I've been told by a physio (four actually) that I have a suspected fractured pelvis. Receptionist 'carry on then'. Phone put down.

Phoned 111. Got a call back from a GP as I was being dropped into A&E. Spent over 30 hours in there, yes you've smashed up your pelvis, you could have been dead.

When I fell over and hurt my fingers I saw the GP within 48 hours, but it wasn't until after I'd spent another 9 weeks following his advice to exercise them that they did an x-ray and found that they were both broken. That must be why I'd gone back complaining about all the pain the exercise was causing.

GP Practice I'm registered with is a good sized one. If you call for a routine appointment then invariably "no free appointments in next 3 weeks, call back next week when they'll be releasing more appointments" ad-infinitum. If you call early for an appointment for a condition they class as "urgent" then often seen same day (or call back tomorrow), but often seen by a nurse practitioner.

When I asked a GP a question he didn't want to answer he told me to see my own doctor.
"That's who I tried to book an appointment with, but she's on holiday this week" I said.
"Nonsense" he said, as he turned to the computer and booked me an appointment with her for the following day.