"millions Of Patients 'unable To See Gps'"

[Eve]

Does this issue affect you, do you have issues being able to see a GP when you need to?

I'm very lucky with my practice who have a great system but I'm interested to see how others are affected and how you cope when you can't make an appointment. Do you try other services such as pharmacies, walk in centres or A&E.

http://news.sky.com/story/1215829/millions-of-patients-unable-to-see-gps

There is an interesting system coming up locally to prevent people using A&E when they don't need to:

http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/greater-manchester-news/ae-staff-send-patients-gps-6734768

[Zacs-Master]

I'm always sceptical when 'millions' are mentioned in a headline. They claim up to 34million patients will fail to get an appointment but then go on to say its 1 in 10. There aren't 340 million people in the country so there must be an awful lot of people failing more than once.

"And with general practice now offering 340 million appointments a year, the Royal College estimates that 34 million will miss out." Sorry but I just don't believe that. I think the researcher has muddled up 'people' with 'appointments'.

I would also like to know the stats for people failing the first time but succeeding the second.

[mushroom25]

it's a bit hit and miss around here. the local practice abandoned their appointment system so they wouldn't fall foul of the then labour government's "length of time" target. so you have to ring the surgery first thing. If you're lucky to get through you may be allocated a time slot later that day. if not you can't make an appointment, you have to repeat the process the next day.

[Buenchico]

I've only needed to consult a doctor about just one very minor condition in the past 30 years, so I'm hardly an expert on how well our local surgery works. However my understanding, from others in the area, is that their system (which allows patients to book online or phone for a guaranteed 'same day' appointment) works extremely well:
http://www.easygp.net/site9339/index.php?section=2199&page_id=14734

[murraymints]

Dire here...often well again before appt !

[rockyracoon]

Touch wood it's not too bad here, our surgery operates a mixture of appointments, on the day, prebooked and also has a minor illness drop in 3 days a week which I think takes a lot of pressure off the GP's.

[Sqad]

No problem here....one can see the GP of your choice within 2 days or ANY GP, the same day.
24 hour service with minor casualties seen by GP on casualty call in the clinic.

Clinic is a Polyclinic run by 15 GP.s with haematology, X-Rays , physiotherapy and well baby clinic.

No GP home visits at all.

[pixie373]

Ours is horrendous. They do a phone- race at 8:30 and 2pm. You're placed about 24th in the queue and told the appointments have gone- good luck next time. You could spend weeks trying to get an appointment. It was easier to wait until after hours and then get one in the evening- however they've now changed that to 111, so it's more of a hassle now.

[kjn2]

Phone for an appointment and its usually in three to four weeks time, say I could be dead by then to which they reply ok will get one of the doctors to phone you back. Then ask will that be this morning or afternoon, reply dont know could be any time today. Doctor rings asks whats wrong they then decide either prescribe drugs overthe phone or make appointment to see you usually in three days time. Not good. Never been offered an appointment on the same day.

[tiggerblue10]

When calling for an appointment I'd sometimes have to wait 2 weeks for one. My surgery has recently changed its appointment system. You have to call as soon as the phone lines open and they will give you an appointment on the same day so its first come first serve. Haven't tried it yet.

I went to A&E for the first time in over 10 years last year and I was nearly in tears. I waited around 5 hours to be seen and I couldn't wait to get out of there. Don't like hospitals at the best of times.

My first port of call is usually Boots near where I work.

[emmie]

same here, you have to be at deaths door, and if that's the case better to take your carcass to A&E. They have a strange system in essence, you can get emergency appointments if you say it is, what do they consider an emergency, if its that serious you wouldn't stand in front of a frosty faced receptionist, or hang on to the phone for half an hour. If i had waited to see the GP when i had chronic stomach pains, i may not have lived to tell the tale.

[China Doll]

I have to ring the GP surgery on the day to make an appt either 8am or 2pm as others have said, it's a lottery and 9/10 I don't think I've got through in time (although we are talking really quite small numbers in terms of me actually needing to go to the GP). However if I was really poorly, I could rock up at 8am and I will get seen; I had to do this just after christmas when I really wasn't feeling great and the doc did see me so I guess I can't complain too much.