Telephone conversations

I had a frustrating phone experience recently. Very few GP appointments see available in advance of the day, so I had to call first thing. After numerous engaged tones, I was then on hold for couple of minutes or so (with frequent messages that explain they're busy etc, each time being unsure if the stopping of the holding music meant a human was answering my call, and a sensation in my stomach - anxiety?). I was then taken by surprise when a real person did answer my call. Then the pressure was on to decide on an appointment with yet another GP, with the warning given twice that there were very few appointments remaining I.e. hurry up and make up your mind or you might get nothing. I'm not good at quick decisions (except perhaps when following a familiar process), so I actually put it back to the receptionist to say which of the 2 GPS would be better for the nature of the issue I want to discuss. An avoidance strategy, or a coping strategy? Maybe depends on the perspective of who you ask.

So I think I'm going to a GP who I spoke to, not very successfully, a year ago, but this time armed with a friend to help explain. If I had realised in the moment it was this doctor I would have gone for the other one, but it may even be a positive to go back and hopefully this time (with the support of my friends) be able to convey what is needed.

I much prefer setting up appointments in advance, but had to do it by phone so I could get a time when my friend could accompany me. I think the balance of advanced: on the day appointment times is wrong. It probably did the office to reduce missed appointments, but makes it hard for me and others who are better planning ahead. If I hadn't needed someone to come with me I would have foregone the phone call race for an on the day appointment.

So that's a long and tangential way of saying I also dislike being on hold and the difficulty getting through in the first place. However, it does bring out my perseverance on a single task!

I had a frustrating phone experience recently. Very few GP appointments see available in advance of the day, so I had to call first thing. After numerous engaged tones, I was then on hold for couple of minutes or so (with frequent messages that explain they're busy etc, each time being unsure if the stopping of the holding music meant a human was answering my call, and a sensation in my stomach - anxiety?). I was then taken by surprise when a real person did answer my call. Then the pressure was on to decide on an appointment with yet another GP, with the warning given twice that there were very few appointments remaining I.e. hurry up and make up your mind or you might get nothing. I'm not good at quick decisions (except perhaps when following a familiar process), so I actually put it back to the receptionist to say which of the 2 GPS would be better for the nature of the issue I want to discuss. An avoidance strategy, or a coping strategy? Maybe depends on the perspective of who you ask.

So I think I'm going to a GP who I spoke to, not very successfully, a year ago, but this time armed with a friend to help explain. If I had realised in the moment it was this doctor I would have gone for the other one, but it may even be a positive to go back and hopefully this time (with the support of my friends) be able to convey what is needed.

I much prefer setting up appointments in advance, but had to do it by phone so I could get a time when my friend could accompany me. I think the balance of advanced: on the day appointment times is wrong. It probably did the office to reduce missed appointments, but makes it hard for me and others who are better planning ahead. If I hadn't needed someone to come with me I would have foregone the phone call race for an on the day appointment.

So that's a long and tangential way of saying I also dislike being on hold and the difficulty getting through in the first place. However, it does bring out my perseverance on a single task!