GP Appointments.

Thank you for all the replies, I’ve looked at the surgery website, there is something called System Connect, I’ve managed to log in and send a message to the office manager. Appointments can be booked through the system, a separate area exists for urgent or ongoing appointments. The window opens at 7am and closes when at capacity each day. I tried to book an appointment for about 2 weeks time, a message comes up to contact the surgery by phone as this facility isn’t available at the moment.

Hopefully the office manager will be able to help via my message.

The people I've seen having a bad time with it are people trying to pick up repeat prescription and pharmacy staff, prescription don't arrive in time and people are left without their meds.

A lot of elderly people struggle with it and some surgeries want everything done via the app, I'm lucky mine dosen't.

Our GP now has a separate online system, but before that I had been provided an email address to message instead as I also severely struggle with phone calls.

It may be worth messaging them separately to ask about this. They can often be accommodating when you ask. 

I would ask them - preferably by email or letter - if they can accommodate you in this way. You can only ask ultimately - and hopefully they’ll try to be helpful. Good luck! 

It might be worth checking your GP Practice website to see if there is a Patient Participation Group (PPG).  Since 2016 they are supposed to do so (but they vary in their operation from one Practice to the next one). 

A PPG should offer another route to e.g.:

- support the practice through raising understanding of patients’ needs,
- identify ways of improving how surgeries are run,
- lobby to improve local health services,
- monitor how changes to the NHS are impacting on patients, and
ensuring patients are aware of their rights

Some PPGs have a physical feedback box in the waiting room, others can have an email address to aid contact by patients.

The PPG usually would meet e.g. quarterly with the Practice Manager and other Practice representatives.

TheCatWoman said:

I've never used the app or whatever it is, because all I see are people for whom it's not worked for.

Have to be careful of bias. If something doesn't work right people are likely to complain about it, especially online. To get positive comments, thing tend to have to be exceptionally good.

I've found some of the navigation a bit confusing, but otherwise had generally positive experiences with NHS app. I wish more things were available (but not exclusively) through it. I know they're adding more and more services to it.

It's not for everyone, but it's been good for me.

Maybe you need to write to the practice manager, I think a lot of these things are set by them rather than the GP's themselves, they maybe unaware of the difficulties you and other patients face. 

I agree its a stupid system where no shows take up all the slots whilst there's people such as yourself needing an appointment.

Roy said:

The booking function has now been removed. Apparently people were abusing it by  constantly booking appointments.

That is a poor solution. Everything is linked to NHS number. If people have been abusing the system, it seems they should be able to separate those into phone appointment only. Punishing everyone rather than individuals doesn't seem to make sense.

Sounds like your GP isn't being accessible tbh. Is there any email address on the website? Even if not for making an appointment, you should be able to get in touch to raise concerns about accessibility. 

My GP's have the 8am lottery for urgent, on the day appointments and afternoons are for less urgent things and are longer so as you have time to discuss things properly.

I've never used the app or whatever it is, because all I see are people for whom it's not worked for.

Could you write a letter to them explaining your problems and that you need to see a doctor for more than 5 mins to discuss your report?

I called mine in the afternoon. I thought the 8:30 nonsense is only if you want an appointment quickly.

I got an appointment although I had to wait a few weeks.

I think mine does a callback, so you get a place in the queue, then can hang up and they call you.

My surgery also has a form that opens at 7am but you have to be really quick so I type out beforehand so I can copy and paste. Check their website to see if they have similar?
I didn't have any special appointment post diagnosis, however, at my next appointment I was asked if there were any adjustments they could make for me.  Interestingly they already had a note that going to the doctors made me anxious.  One of the things we added to that is to message me before ringing where possible, another was that I might need time to consider options.  They will also offer me a phone appointment rather than in person,  although for reasons like you've mentioned above that's kind of swings and roundabouts.