Difficulty in contacting my local GP?

SheffieldMan1976
SheffieldMan1976 Posts: 2,319 Connected
in Everyday life

Above.

I can almost never get through to my local GP on the phone, every time I ring, I'm placed in a fairly long queue.

Would there be a way to resolve this other than ringing at stupid o'clock before all the old dears with every possible ailment ring up?

I don't think they have emails.

Comments

  • Kimi87
    Kimi87 Community Member Posts: 8,798 Championing

    Do they have an online service such as Amina, AskmyGP, e consult etc?

    My surgery turns it off outside working hours and if they don't have staff capacity to deal with online requests, but generally it's really good they get back to you no later than the end of next working day.

  • Bluebell21
    Bluebell21 Community Member Posts: 3,810 Championing

    Hi @SheffieldMan1976 If you have the NHS app you can make your own appointments on line.

    It will show what appointments they have that day and which GP the appointment will be with.

    If they have no appointments for that day it will show when the next available appointment is.

    It is not just old dears that ring at 8.00am it is everyone that wants an appointment that does not use the NHS app or any online service as mentioned above.

  • WhatThe
    WhatThe Community Member, Scope Member Posts: 5,880 Championing
    edited June 14
    https://forum.scope.org.uk/discussion/147015/difficulty-in-contacting-my-local-gp

    You just need to ring at stupid o'clock with all your ailments and wait patiently. If it's not urgent then book ahead, simple.

  • vikingqueen
    vikingqueen Scope Member Posts: 2,043 Championing
    https://forum.scope.org.uk/discussion/comment/1131823#Comment_1131823

    Not all doctors have appointments you can make online, my doctors doesn't support this option.

  • Bluebell21
    Bluebell21 Community Member Posts: 3,810 Championing
    https://www.nhs.uk/nhs-services/gps/gp-appointments-and-bookings/
  • vikingqueen
    vikingqueen Scope Member Posts: 2,043 Championing

    No appointments available to book online at this time

    You'll need to contact your GP surgery to book an appointment.

    For urgent medical advice, go to 111.nhs.uk or call 111.

    This is what my NHS app tells me, @Bluebell21 as far as I know my doctors has never supported this.

  • Adrian_Scope
    Adrian_Scope Posts: 14,541 Online Community Programme Lead
    https://forum.scope.org.uk/discussion/comment/1131847#Comment_1131847

    Mine says the same through the NHS app and website @vikingqueen.

    Although my surgery did launch their own app earlier this year, it allows you to request an appointment online which is handy. Non-urgent requests are usually triaged within 5 working days, although from recent experience it took 5 days to review the request and then I was sent an appointment for 4 weeks time.

    I think lots of surgeries are following suit with their own app so hopefully there will be online options for everyone soon.

    @SheffieldMan1976, most surgeries should have an email or postal address but it's not often the best way to arrange an appointment. Could someone else call for you?

  • Bluebell21
    Bluebell21 Community Member Posts: 3,810 Championing
    https://forum.scope.org.uk/discussion/comment/1131847#Comment_1131847

    Could I just ask how you request a repeat prescription? I used to ring the GP surgery, but that was stopped and you had to ring the pharmacy direct, then six months ago they stopped taking repeat prescriptions over the phone. We were told we had to use the NHS app or take the repeat prescriptions form to the GP surgery they would issue the prescription within 3 days to be collected and taken to the pharmacy to wait another 3 days and then picked up.

    I was not prepared to do all this messing about so used the NHS app for prescriptions and appointments.

    I did not realise it was not the same for everyone. Especially as per the link it suggests it is.

    Before the NHS app I used to have to ring at 8am for a same day appointment or could book if not urgent for the following week by phone.

    Even if I rang at 8am I was usually number 23 in the queue. It was always a waiting game.

  • WhatThe
    WhatThe Community Member, Scope Member Posts: 5,880 Championing
    https://forum.scope.org.uk/discussion/comment/1131858#Comment_1131858

    Same changes to repeat prescriptions where I live @Bluebell21

  • vikingqueen
    vikingqueen Scope Member Posts: 2,043 Championing
    https://forum.scope.org.uk/discussion/comment/1131858#Comment_1131858

    I have a patient access app to order my prescriptions but cannot get an appointment on it, same as NHS app. I order it and it is usually sorted within 24 hours and sent to the chemist for me to pick up. As for making an appointment its the same as most..the 8am scramble.

  • SheffieldMan1976
    SheffieldMan1976 Posts: 2,319 Connected

    I got a text from my Surgery last Thursday, they want me to book in ASAP for a health check up, even though it was only the week before last that I had a Diabetic health screening!

    I'll get the Office to ring up tomorrow, they seem to have better success than I do getting through.

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