calling the doctor

[joshieboyo]

why is that when you call up the doctors to make an appointment, they say that you have to book two weeks in advance?? how was i supposed to know i would be ill in advance?? is the answer to book an appointment every week just in case??

[ummmm1]

Emergency appointment?

[joshieboyo]

i dont like to do that, i am ill but i am sure there are people who are more in need of the emergency doctor than me, its frustrating tho when the receptionist tells u in an almost accusing voice that you should have know you were going to be ill :)

[ummmm1]

You book appointments for non emergency things....you get emergency appointments for unforseen illness!

Have you got a runny nose?

[redcrx]

Is the 2 week wait with your own GP. Ask to see another GP at the surgery.
Its often 2 weeks here unless you can make allowances with who you see.

[joshieboyo]

no i wouldnt do that, if they could have squeezed me in then maybe but not emergency, i have a head cold and am very achey, i was just hoping to get something to ease the leg pains

[ummmm1]

Chemist?

Doctors cannot do anything for the flu!

[joshieboyo]

i have the flu but i also have pain in my legs. see above :)

[ummmm1]

That's part of having the flu I think.....

[joshieboyo]

no i have suffered with it for many years. one of the disadvantages of getting old i think

[sunflower71]

joshieboyo, this really really annoys me too.
What makes me even more madder is my colleauges mum works in the doctors and oh she always gets an appointment the next day.
My mum & dads doctors are exactly the same (which I left due to moving)
They should go back to the good old fashion first come first served!

[makemesmile]

joshieboyo - something tells me you don't really need an answer to your dilemma, just someone to acknowledge how really annoying it is and to sympathise with you.

I know exactly how you feel - it's awful to feel so ill and feel like they (the receps) aren't taking any notice of how you. They're like ruddy rottweilers! Get yourself to the chemist for some cold/flu remedies and wrap up warm. Maybe you could ring them each morning to see if they have any cancellations or could 'squeeze' you in. Hope you feel better very soon : )

[joshieboyo]

i totally agree sunflower71. things were much simpler!

[joshieboyo]

thank you very much makesmesmile. im sure i am just making a mountain out of a molehill and like you said its more to aknowledge how irritating it is.

[joko]

try co codamol.


most doctors do have and open surgery in the mornings. about 2 hours of first come first serve.

[Im a BusyBee]

try some Benylin Day & NIght Tablets from the chemist they are brilliant and REALLY do work.

Also we are able to book appointments online now which saves a lot of hassle. You can see at a glance which doctors are on and when the free appointments are, also can do it evening or first thing in morning before they get booked up from telephone appoints. is that available to you for future??

[makemesmile]

I didn't say you were making a mountain out of a molehill - I totally agree with you! I need less notice to book a hair appointment than to get someone to take a look at me when I'm ill! It's just that sometimes, when I have a moan, I know I'm not really looking for a solution, I just want someone to agree with me and make me feel better. Sorry if I got it wrong! Take care of yourself and drink plenty of fluids : )

[joko]

i agree by the way, and would also point out that urgent appointments to gps are diferent from a&e.

basically if you are suffering, you should be able to get an appointment sooner.

[enigma]

Are you able to call first thing in the morning for a first come first served appointment ? At my doctor's surgery , if you call at 8 am they will give you an appointment for that day , otherwise you have to wait two weeks approximately. This type of appointment is different from the emergency appointments where they squeeze you in.

I sympathise with you about having trouble with the receptionists though as no matter what surgery it is , they do seem to be like Pit Bulls and I wonder if this is a pre requisite for the job :- )

In saying that though , I suppose you can see their point. They have a difficult job trying to weed out the hypochondriacs from the genuine patients to try to ease the workload of the often over stretched GPs. Although it is so damn annoying when they try to diagnose you over the telephone and tell you that it doesn't seem serious. I never bother a doctor from one day to the next and almost have to be dragged kicking and screaming but when it comes to my kids , that's a different matter. I had this problem last year with my three year old daughter whom I knew was ill and it wasn't just a bug. I had to haggle with the receptionist to even be seen and when she refused I took my daughter to the surgery and demanded that she be seen. I was told that I would have to wait as I didn't have an appointment and after my daughter had rushed to the toilet to be sick four times , a doctor who was passing told me to bring her straight through. She collapsed in the room and had to be taken to hospital. Thankfully she is okay but it just goes to show you that receptionists should be wary when trying to diagnose - especially when it comes to children - and you should never underestimate the knowledge a parent has when knowing when their child is ill. As has been said , drink plenty of fluids , wrap up warmly and I hope that you are better soon x

[alijangra]

I generally have empathy with others who work in the medical service as I know how hard it can be but I really hate it when you say your need to see a doctor is private and they get really shirty with you. I can understand why they might need to know if you request an emergency appointment, but not for a routine one.

[Athley]

We have a single manned GP surgery (I typed simple first by mistake). When you pitch up you take a ticket like the deli counter in Sainsbury's then you wait for your number.

Works really well and no appointments necessary.

It does mean you sometimes have to sit in the waiting room for a bit though getting everyone elses germs!!