[user104658]

Booking appointments weeks in advance? I... I don't understand...

"Hello, doctor? Yes, I'm feeling great right now, but I was planning on being ill in roughly 10 days time, would I be able to make an appointment to see you then?"

[Vicky.]

Originally Posted by Toy Soldier

Booking appointments weeks in advance? I... I don't understand...

"Hello, doctor? Yes, I'm feeling great right now, but I was planning on being ill in roughly 10 days time, would I be able to make an appointment to see you then?"

Unless its an emergency (and they decide if its an emergency, not you..doesn't seem to matter how much pain you are in from my experience..) its extremely rare to get an appointment before about 2 weeks time.

Also when you ring you are CONSTANTLY in a queue. Its usually 'there are 5 people ahead of you' so you have not much chance of getting a cancellation either.

I think the main problem here is that I live in an area thats massively populated by OAPs..who tend to use the doctors a lot. Theres an old lady in my street who goes to the GPs to get her toenails cut?

[user104658]

Originally Posted by Vicky.

Also when you ring you are CONSTANTLY in a queue. Its usually 'there are 5 people ahead of you' so you have not much chance of getting a cancellation either.

I've noticed this, but it's some sort of conspiracy! Every time I phone the doctors, it's engaged... takes ages to get through. And yet, I've sat waiting in the waiting area for over half an hour several times, right next to the same reception that answers the phone calls, and... they're never on the phone???

What's that all about? It can't be coincidence... that they just HAPPEN to be busy every time I call and yet, not busy every time I'm there...

[Vicky.]

Originally Posted by Toy Soldier

I've noticed this, but it's some sort of conspiracy! Every time I phone the doctors, it's engaged... takes ages to get through. And yet, I've sat waiting in the waiting area for over half an hour several times, right next to the same reception that answers the phone calls, and... they're never on the phone???

What's that all about? It can't be coincidence... that they just HAPPEN to be busy every time I call and yet, not busy every time I'm there...

LOL, yeah I have noticed this too. I might question it at some point in the future.

[Withano]

Originally Posted by Vicky.

Unless its an emergency (and they decide if its an emergency, not you..doesn't seem to matter how much pain you are in from my experience..) its extremely rare to get an appointment before about 2 weeks time.

Also when you ring you are CONSTANTLY in a queue. Its usually 'there are 5 people ahead of you' so you have not much chance of getting a cancellation either.

I think the main problem here is that I live in an area thats massively populated by OAPs..who tend to use the doctors a lot. Theres an old lady in my street who goes to the GPs to get her toenails cut?

You called the idea piss poor in your OP but don't you think if the idea was to go through none of the above would happen and you would be able to see your GP in a few days or less every time you feel as if you're in an emergency situation.

You can't complain over the current state of the NHS and the possible future state if it will instantly change the current state! You should pick a side, otherwise you're just saying "damned if you do, damned if you don't"

[Vicky.]

Originally Posted by Withano

You called the idea piss poor in your OP but don't you think if the idea was to go through none of the above would happen and you would be able to see your GP in a few days or less every time you feel as if you're in an emergency situation.

You can't complain over the current state of the NHS and the possible future state if it will instantly change the current state! You should pick a side, otherwise you're just saying "damned if you do, damned if you don't"

Considering there were 14 missed appointments in a month at our surgery I doubt that would make much difference...

Plus I would wager that OAPs would be exempt from this IF it were to happen (like everything else) so it wouldnt affect my surgery at all

Even so, charging for NHS when we already pay for it is ****ing ridiculous.

[Withano]

Originally Posted by Vicky.

Considering there were 14 missed appointments in a month at our surgery I doubt that would make much difference...

Maybe your local surgery is overrun. 2 weeks waiting time sounds a little over the average to me... But service users knowing the exact amount of missed appointments in any given month doesn't sound realistic to me either so what do I know hey?

People that want to both be seen by their doctors quickly anytime they're sick and not to pay for this luxury under any circumstance are asking too much.

[Vicky.]

Originally Posted by Withano

Maybe your local surgery is overrun. 2 weeks waiting time sounds a little over the average to me... But service users knowing the exact amount of missed appointments in any given month doesn't sound realistic to me either so what do I know hey?

People that want to both be seen by their doctors quickly anytime they're sick and not to pay for this luxury under any circumstance are asking too much.

Theres a big sign up in reception that changes every month to reflect the numbers

Also its hardly 'not paying under any circumstance' tbh, given that the huge majority of us pay NI or stuff like this, so in effect have already paid. Charging again comes across a bit like someone buying their shopping, then being charged if they want to eat it