How bad are our GP's ?

[jezebel69]

I just attempted to book an appointment with the GP who arranged my blood tests and who magnanimously agreed to read any info on B12 and vit D and how they affect the thyroid. The earliest appointment available for him is the 30th April......and no - hes not on holiday!! Are they all this bad? Would love to hear praise or moans........

[fixit]

My Practice is worse! If you wish to book with a specific GP the normal wait is at least a month.

[anbuma]

it sometimes depends on the receptionist.some go out of their way to be helpful.my dr even said to me(when seeing him) "I will come with you to make an appointment or they will tell you there s nothing for a month"

[jezebel69]

So much for 'continuity of care' :/

[Tweetypie28]

Mine is about 3-4 weeks too but I remember once going to see my doctor for my blood results on a Friday only to be disappointed as they weren't in, she then pulled up her diary and made me an appt with her for Monday hoping the tests would be back! I think the doctors have lots of spaces but block off a great deal so they can do paperwork, make phone calls and have space for emergencies.

[Hidden]

Many seem to work part-time these days. I wonder what the number of hours worked on a weekly basis by all doctors equates to, could it be less than it used to be? Is that why we have to wait so long for an appointment?

My surgery has a 3 week wait but fortunately I avoid GPs like the plague!

[Hidden]

That's one thing I have no complaints about. I can usually get an appointment with the GP of my choice if I phone first thing on the day. Booking in advance is more problematic though, and can involve a 2-3 week wait.

[sarahstevenson]

My GP wait in Somerset is 3 -4 weeks too but we can book phone appointments - this time in same week - not nearly as satisfactory but at least some contact.

[crimple]

My GP wait is 3-4 weeks. Even to speak/ have telephone appointment you have to wait 4 days. I now book appointments even if I don't need them and cancel a week before if I am not going to use them!! The reception manager called me yesterday as I had asked why I could never find a female GP on appointment system.3 male and 2 female docs. She told me they use locums and have 27 names on their list. Locums aren't given a name! so you don't know who you are seeing until you are in the waiting room! My approach now is DIY whilst I can afford to and use NHS as little as possible. I do get NHS leveo scrips so have to be reviewed.

[jezebel69 in reply to crimple]

Thanks Crimple - you make some good points. I might try your 'book it and cancel' technique. Our practice now has many more female docs than male but they dont have an ounce of empathy between them. I can also see me taking the DIY route too

[Hidden]

It's always at least a 4 week wait at my GPs despite 8 doctors full time. Telephone appointments at least a 10 day wait. It's really bad. I make a monthly appointment and cancel if I don't need if.

[Hidden]

Same day appointment if I need it. A couple of days with any doctor but if one is specific and goes for the most popular a bit longer. No problems in my area - practice is highly efficient despite lengthy patient lists. If tests taken - GP will ring in evening if medication needs to be changed etc. Cannot complain at all.

[Hidden in reply to Hidden]

My old surgery before I moved was like that. You could be seen on the day, 70% of the time by the GP of your choice. There was no such thing as a telephone appointment. If you needed to talk to your GP, you phoned and left a message with reception, and the Dr would call back the same day. It was a really big practice with a huge area to cover. I can hardly get over the difference in efficiency between them and the surgery I have sadly had to join up with now.

[Kitten-whiskers]

Hello Jezebel69,

I am afraid I have nothing good to say about any GP in regards to Thyroid, Adrenals etc.

In fact I can't stand going to c my doctor - it just ends up causing me lots of stress. I am not in the least bit surprised that you have to wait til the 30th - that seems fairly common this days, when I wanted to see an endro I waited over 7 months and he was equally useless. I ask the question, why can they get away with being no help at all and not even showing any slight concern over how ill the patient actually is.

[jezebel69 in reply to Kitten-whiskers]

Hi Kitten-whiskers

At least you got to see an endo - I have requested 3 times even offering to pay privately. The last time my gp turned the computer screen to me with immense irritation saying 'Look! Your blood results are in range. You dont need to see a consultant' I gave up - but probably have missed nothing lol

[Hidden in reply to jezebel69]

GPs are so hard of thinking and know very little. Why not write a formal complaint to Practice Manager?

[Kitten-whiskers in reply to jezebel69]

Hello Jezebel69,

You have not missed anything, when I finally saw the endro, he was arrogant, Ignored what I was saying and told me it was Levo with Betablockers or nothing, when I started to put my case across he got really defensive, then started shouting and waving his arms at me - believe me he knew actually how i felt by the time I left - arrrrh so ignorant. No help at all and wrote a letter that docs took note of, and as it stands I could loose the T3 prescription because of it.

I would personally put your efforts into becoming an expert at your condition via books, this site and stop the thyroid madness. I hate Doctors and avoid them at all costs - how we are being treated is disgraceful and peoples lives & health is being ruined, send you for a blood test and the results always reflect nothing "the computer says no" attitude that gets my back up.

I do hope you get better treatment, maybe a change of doctor or even surgeries - occasionally you will come across a good one x

[anbuma]

I t seems to be the norm these days.they tell you that the doctors release appointments in the morning at 8am but when you eventually manage to get thru-theyre gone.i go online and book an appointment for a few weeks ahead and cancel if I don't need it but end up seeing my dr at least once a month

[BeansMummy]

If I want to see my own GP, there is often a wait of at least 2 weeks, usually longer. It's possible to see a different one a little sooner, but it is pointless going with anything vaguely thyroid-related because they don't like trying to deal with an ongoing problem that someone else is dealing with.

More recently, receptionists have asked the GP to call me, which they have done on the same day. It's usually only a couple of minutes, but enough to sort out something quickly, and saves wasting time. I don't know if telephone consultations are the norm, or if they are slotted into part of the GP's normal working day.