Frustrated

[Catmeow]

Hi again all, a massive thankyou to all your help and support. I am sooo frustrated today as my hubby had a text message from his doctors saying that he needs to make an appointment ASAP to discuss his recent blood test results. He phoned the GP surgery to make an appointment and was told that there was no appointments for 2 weeks. He explained to them about the message that they had sent and they still wouldn't help. He even asked for a telephone appointment but that was denied too. What's the point!!

[Brett11]

Getting a doctor appointment in the UK is sooo bad. I can usually see my gp or another one in the same practice the same day or the next day at the latest.

[Hidden in reply to Brett11]

So do I Brett - and I’m in UK!

Guess it so much depends on where you live 👎🏻

Miles

[davianne in reply to Brett11]

Hi Brett, that used to be the case for me as well, and I’m in South Bucks, UK as Miles is. The problem now is that there is a new practice manager who has changed the appt system, and the whole way the practice works.The receptionists are promoted to "care navigators"

Whatever that is 🤣

[Hidden]

It is so utterly frustrating. I was told by my Heptologist to see my GP urgently. I explained that to the receptionist to be told that it was ‘ongoing treatment’, I am post transplant. Next appointment was in 5 weeks 👎. Off to A&E and join the queues.

[Catmeow in reply to Hidden]

Good luck, I wouldn't have the patience to wait at A&E our waiting times there is at least 5 hours. Lol

[Hidden in reply to Catmeow]

Same where I live, it is very frustrating. 4 hour target????

[Nictesla in reply to Hidden]

Not to sound like a git but in Cornwall the NHS is awesome compared to East Sussex. and yet the locals complain about waiting 10 minutes. This is when my sarcasm comes in handy ?

[Hidden in reply to Hidden]

Haven’t they given up on 4 hour target - thought I read that somewhere?

[Hidden]

Good morning,

It might be worth speaking to the practice manager at your husbands surgery, perhaps they could over ride what the receptionist says with regard to appointment availability.

regards and good luck

[Catmeow]

That's a good idea, but I don't know how to get on touch with them without going through the arrogant receptionist lol

[alfredthegreat in reply to Catmeow]

At most surgeries there is an emergency appointment system and I have had no trouble using this if I think it necessary, Usually if you ring at about 8.30 (or just after) in the morning you will find that there are appointment slots allocated for emergencies that day. Now some people use these appointments when they have a cold or other relatively minor issues. If you think that your husband needs to see a doctor quickly to find out what the problem with the bloods is then I would say take an emergency appointment. The doctor certainly won't question you doing that. Good luck with it all. Alf

[Hidden in reply to alfredthegreat]

We have same freddy but its at 0800 and despite trying my best I often find myself 10th in queue or something like that lol. But if you have a real problem they will always fit you in on or get the doctor to ring! Preey good doctors ours!

However I find the simplest and best way is to wait outside surgery doors and be first in queue at 0800 - never failed yet!

Mipo

[Owlie]

Could you go in and ask to see them?

[Catmeow]

I'm not sure and I'm not sure that they would be there.

[Supportinghubby in reply to Catmeow]

I'm sure if you rang/went in and asked to speak to the Practice Manager the receptionist would be obliged to let you. I would feel the same as you, two weeks of worry is not acceptable (even though the not knowing will hopefully be more worrying than the actual results). The receptionists at mine & hubby's GPs are always hostile & defensive - I would think it a requirement of the job if I didn't have a friend who does this job and is lovely! Hope you get it sorted.

[Catmeow]

Thankyou I think I will have to try that cus we have no other option x

[monikoki]

What if he just go there at the first hour in the morning? I used to do the same, as I could never find appointment online or by phone..

[jazzjam in reply to monikoki]

This is what I would do. Go together for when they open their doors first thing in the morning. Explain and sit down and wait. If they refuse ask them to print a copy of your results, you have every right to get a copy of your results and just tell them you are going to take them to a walk in centre or A&E, they won’t want that.

[Catmeow in reply to jazzjam]

Great idea! Many many thanks

[Darsmum100 in reply to jazzjam]

Yes!

[Hidden]

I do that and it always works!

Mind you you have to be fit enough to get there!!

Miles

[Grank]

Unknown to patients, the majority of GP’s operate a red card system for urgent cases. What this means is that each doctor has reserved slots for emergencies/for seeing red card cases.

When you call to make an appointment insist that your case is an emergency, and then you must be allocated a space.

We had an issue last year with the receptionist refusing my wife urgent appointments and she wrote to the practice manager explaining her situation. We haven’t had problems since.

[Roy1955]

Yes! turning up early and being first through the door for one of those emergancy slots usually works.

It wont be long before we see a line of tents and sleeping bags outside the Drs door when we have to camp out the night before to get an appointment!

[Popel]

Within a week of leaving the hospital after transplant I was told there’s no appointments either by phone. so had to go and line up outside the surgery with other patients waiting to get to see a doctor at eight in the morning as we are told to see your doctor within a week.

[CarpeDiem11 in reply to Popel]

I am so sorry to hear this and shocked too. I hope you were seen and not dismissed. It's very frustrating, especially when some people could really have seen a specialist nurse or even the pharmacist. I hope you are doing well after your transplant. All the very best

[Radnor]

It may be worth contacting his consultant's secretary. Would be a very dumb receptionist who didnt sort you an immediate appointment. I recently discovered no one appears to read consultants letters , just copied onto your notes. It said that he wanted my GP to arrange further bloods. Eventually I got a copy of said letter, went in and asked for blood forms and advising what tests were needed. I already had an outpatient appt in a centre that does bloods ,ticket no issued as you enter. I got no where last wek, the hone was constantly engaged! I decided to put pen to paer They inore imortant requests but wanted me to see a harmacist to review my meds. % days previous I saw my consultant and he did just that! Also wanted me to go to another apt re being on HRT! Less than 18 months ago my gynaecologist wrote I can stay on it for a further 10 years! Monitoring people is good, but not when you are under a specialist who has covered the same ground. I addressed it to my GP, who happens to be the bossman. Its his money they are wasting! The trick is to never lose it but be assertive. GP's dont have a clue about power crazy receptionists they employ. If a consultant says its urgent, it should not be questioned at all. Hope you dig in your heels . Your man has had very major surgery, not a paper cut ! Put it in writing if you dont feel comfortable battling. Hazelx