>>> Couldn't believe one of the Abers (can't remember her name) her husband got an appointment next day at her surgery
Our surgery guarantees same day appointments are always available as long as you don't mind which of the 6 GPs you see. I walked in at 10.00am recently to ask for an appointment and the receptionist was extremely apologetic that all of the morning slots had gone, so she offered me an appointment at 4.50pm. I arrived at 4.48pm and by 5.02pm, I'd checked in via the electronic system, been called into the doctor's surgery, had my prescription sent electronically to the pharmacy, left the surgery, visited the loo to provide a sample and handed it in at reception, visited the pharmacy and collected my prescription. That seems like a very efficient system to me.
To answer the original question though, I just turn up at the docs 'as I am'.