Doctors appointments

Please note this is a public doctors on the nhs in england i am talking about here:::

we have a surgery where i am that every time we ring up there is either no appointments till 2 weeks time .

but if we walk down there we go in and there is never any more people in there than 4 at a time .

so how can we people be waiting for a week or so .

Could you elaborate on this. Your question isn't clear.

Gynoslave said:

we have a surgery where i am that every time we ring up there is either no appointments till 2 weeks time .

but if we walk down there we go in and there is never any more people in there than 4 at a time .

so how can we people be waiting for a week or so .

is that a public or a private surgery?

Gynoslave I expect you are talking about an NHS doctor's surgery in the UK.

You can blame Government meddling for this, particularly our former leader Mr Tony Blair. The idea is anyone can request an appointment the same day. They have same day appointments available until they run out, or 48 hour appointments until they run out. You just have to ring up first thing in the morning and keep trying until you get through. If you want to see a particular doc you might have to wait two weeks, but the receptionist could tell you what days they are on and you can ring up for a same day and get them. The trouble with all these 'good' ideas is making them work in practice

NHS staff are very committed and dedicated, but they are trying their best with a bad job.

Dr Philip.

Tell them it is an emergency and they have to see you then.

Dr Philip & gynoslave et al

I guess I'm quite unique (well near unique) in the UK in having a medical practice where, providing you are in before 10.30 am, you will be seen. For those who, for work or other reasons, can't make a 'work hours' visit an appointment is usually possible at least on the next surgery day.

Same applies with the nursing staff at the surgery too for blood tests etc.

We also have a 'Go to Doc' service, out of hours till midnight, which is also 'walk in' and are well provided with late opening pharmacies at supermarkets and some independents.

But, I concede, it is unusual. For those not so well provided for I'd suggest that in emergencies, you go to your surgery and be prepared to be bolshie, standing there till someone sees you so they can at some time close the doors!

..or just go to A&E and clog up their like half the rest of the country!

I once entered a bizarre and almost philosophical debate with a GP about appointments. He said if he opened up more then they would just fill up so there would be no point! I'm not sure I ever got my head around that but unfortunately most are not as accommodating as Big K. Suggest either switching practice or kicking up a stink as others have suggested.

Just to clear up a possible misapprehension I did not mean that it was MY practice that was open as I described. I meant the medical practice I am registered with was like that. I am of course not a qualified doctor - just a plain old playdoc.

Sorry Big K - you're more convincing then you realise!

I no exactly what u mean!! NHS is rubbish!

On the whole, the NHS is not bad at all, I think it’s more mismanagement in some areas of the country.

I for one have had more than my fare share of NHS treatment & they have done a pretty good job of patching me up.

Easy for me to say because I know im in one of the better PCT areas & I am always able to see my GP. 😃

I once entered a bizarre and almost philosophical debate with a GP about appointments. He said if he opened up more then they would just fill up so there would be no point! I'm not sure I ever got my head around that but unfortunately most are not as accommodating as Big K. Suggest either switching practice or kicking up a stink as others have suggested.

bestinbreed: It is actually rather simple to explain, at least in the US. If we were to open more appointments in our books, they would be filled with pre-called in patients. That means, even if I opened the appointments so that I could see same-day patients, people would book in weeks in advance around their schedule. This is why I have an office policy that I will see X amounts of call-ins per day and, therefore, there aren't any extra slots on my schedule to fill. I see emergencies in hospital where I am usually on call.

Janet

Go to an NHS walk in centre; totally superb and usually open 08:00 - 20:00 and appointments always available.