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GP Appointments

DrewDoug

Silly question I suppose because I already know the answer. But I'll pose it as a question because it doesn't seem so much of a rant.

Who else finds the new standard normal for making a GP appointment an absolutely horrendous experience, with zero consideration for Autism?

I get up at 07:30. Which by itself makes me ill. I go along only to find out the walk-in clinic is now permanently closed. I thought, well I'm here now, I'll make an appointment. No, I have to phone in. I'm standing in the GP surgery speaking to the receptionist who's telling me they can't make an appointment. I need to phone in to make an appointment.

I ran out of credit that very morning. So I have to walk back home, top up my phone and call back. I'm waiting for 35 minutes to get through only for them to tell me there are no appointments.

I say, well what about tomorrow, next week, next month? Anything? I'm not fussy!

No. Only same day appointments are available!

I have to call in at 8am every morning in the hope they might have an appointment that same day. If they don't. Tough titty. Phone in again tomorrow.

Better yet, even if I do get an appointment. I say, great, when will someone call me back? Oh any time in the next 10 hours.... ANY RANDOM TIME IN THE NEXT 10 HOURS!!!

Okay so I have to sit and stare at my phone, not eat, not drink, soil my pants, not answer the door, not watch tv, not listen to music. Not do anything else whatsoever, for the next 10 hours!  (Because that's called "AUTISM"!)

What the hell am I supposed to do?

I feel like I can't, and I do mean CAN'T deal with that system at all!

Can I request special adjustments given Autism? Is there any point? I find it difficult to believe that there is absolutely no possible way they can book me a GP appointment in advance.

I feel like I'd be better off calling the out of hours GP at night than dealing with that crap!

Parents

  • My GP surgery used to be the same. One had to phone up at 8am, to then be placed in a queue. Unless one was lucky enough to be first in the queue (rare), by the time one got to speak to the receptionist, all the appointments for that day would have already been snapped up.

    When Covid came along, my surgery introduced an online triage system for patients able to access the internet. Via my surgery's website, the patient provides details of their symptoms. If it's decided the patient requires an appointment or treatment (i.e. a course of antibiotics), the receptionist will then e-mail the patient within 48 hours.

    Patients unable to access the internet have no alternative other than to phone at 8am.

    It has to be said that the receptionists at my surgery aren't always the most helpful. Previously, I have resorted to sending letters in the post to my "named" GP, as a way of bypassing the receptionists.

Reply

  • My GP surgery used to be the same. One had to phone up at 8am, to then be placed in a queue. Unless one was lucky enough to be first in the queue (rare), by the time one got to speak to the receptionist, all the appointments for that day would have already been snapped up.

    When Covid came along, my surgery introduced an online triage system for patients able to access the internet. Via my surgery's website, the patient provides details of their symptoms. If it's decided the patient requires an appointment or treatment (i.e. a course of antibiotics), the receptionist will then e-mail the patient within 48 hours.

    Patients unable to access the internet have no alternative other than to phone at 8am.

    It has to be said that the receptionists at my surgery aren't always the most helpful. Previously, I have resorted to sending letters in the post to my "named" GP, as a way of bypassing the receptionists.

Children
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