Doctors appointments

[Marion_63]

Hi everyone, I tried to get an appointment to see my gp this morning and was told I need to ring back tomorrow at 8am. I had tried getting through a few times for pain I have had in my hip over the last few months. It is affecting my walking and my every day activities. I suffer from osteoarthritis and suspect it is affecting my hip now.

After all this time not being able to get to a doctor for anything I was very upset. I also have an under active thyroid and of course haven't had any of my regular blood tests during this time. Just feeling very deflated.

[roseabi]

Hi there!

I'm sorry that you are feeling down about this. These days many GP surgeries only offer same-day appointments. To get an appointment with a GP where I live I have to start ringing from 8:15 am, and just keep trying until I get through. To be fair it is usually possible to get an appointment this way, although it is frustrating having to wait!

I hope you will try your surgery tomorrow at 8 am as they suggested? It sounds as though you will need to book a couple of appointments because you are overdue care for both your arthritis and your thyroid. Keep trying to get through and you will do eventually! You are not alone in this xxx

[slipstick]

That's the way my GP surgery works too. In fact they will only initially give a phone appointment and the doctor or a nurse practitioner will phone you to "triage" you i.e. see if they think it's worth seeing you. I agree it's annoying and upsetting but at the same time I understand that they are trying to protect everyone - including themselves.

[Marion_63 in reply to slipstick]

Thank you!

Will try again tomorrow. I suspect it may be my osteoarthritis and will have to just try and manage the pain.

[Hidden]

You could try the NHS 111 service. Hope you get sorted asap!

[Marion_63 in reply to Hidden]

Thank you!

Not life or death situation, so will just try again in the morning. Just trying to manage my pain and it is affecting my walking and can't do my every day things.

[Hidden in reply to Marion_63]

The online system is for any health concerns. You answer the questions and it tells you if you need to ring your GP, or if you need a call from the 111 team etc. It's worth having a look I think

[CH951]

Hi keep trying, I had slot of pain in bum,got referred 2 outpatient,going to get hip replacement, never knowen 2 be so quick,go 4 pre op Thursday wow

[springersrule]

Hi Marion_63. I think GP practices are the same across the country. We too have to ring after 8 but the lines are so busy the appointments have quite often already been taken by the time you get to speak to someone. I finally got to speak to a gp on friday after trying for 4 weeks!! (we have the added complication of a glitch on their phone system as when you are in the "queue" it can randomly cut you off between 20th and 18th!! Grrr). They were good enough to let me cover several issues on one call though so everything they haven't followed up on is now caught up or tests booked to get the answers. Just keep trying or as already suggested go through 111, that's what they are there for. Xx

[linda9389]

Ahh, it's very frustrating isn't it. Do call again though, you will get the appointment you need if you persist. Good luck.

[Marion_63 in reply to linda9389]

Hi linda9389I got a phone appointment this morning and gp is going to call some time this morning. Hopefully I can get things sorted.

[linda9389 in reply to Marion_63]

Excellent. It can be so easy to be put off when you're feeling low, but it's always worth that second call. Hope they have a solution for you