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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

  • This seems to be a problem for every one at the moment.  But what is an enormous irritation to most non-autistic people can be very traumatising to us.  Many of us find the phone too difficult to deal with and like you not being able to predict any closer than 10 hours is also a huge deal.  I do much the same; find myself unable to do anything other than sit there fretting about the call and scripting out what to say.

    Yes, indeed you most certainly can ask for "reasonable adjustments" to the procedure in view of your autism.  Legally, the practice must make them.  Autism effects us all differently, of course and often practices do not just magically know which adjustments you personally need.  I would have a good think about which aspects of accessing your health care are causing you a problem in view of your autism and then write them a letter setting them out.

    I would have thought it quite reasonable for you to e-mail the day before describing your symptoms and requesting an appointment for the next day with a time slot narrower than 10 hours.

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  • This seems to be a problem for every one at the moment.  But what is an enormous irritation to most non-autistic people can be very traumatising to us.  Many of us find the phone too difficult to deal with and like you not being able to predict any closer than 10 hours is also a huge deal.  I do much the same; find myself unable to do anything other than sit there fretting about the call and scripting out what to say.

    Yes, indeed you most certainly can ask for "reasonable adjustments" to the procedure in view of your autism.  Legally, the practice must make them.  Autism effects us all differently, of course and often practices do not just magically know which adjustments you personally need.  I would have a good think about which aspects of accessing your health care are causing you a problem in view of your autism and then write them a letter setting them out.

    I would have thought it quite reasonable for you to e-mail the day before describing your symptoms and requesting an appointment for the next day with a time slot narrower than 10 hours.

Children
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