GP Appointments

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
  • When I received my ASC diagnosis documents I went straight to my gp surgery and asked to speak to the practice manager about reasonable adjustments. She happily met me f2f that morning and agreed to my request to communicate in ways which work for me as an autistic person, plus some other matters around admin. So …

    I no longer have to participate in the ridiculous 8am telephone circus, they allow me to correspond by email, I can request appointments this way and repeat prescriptions, I can discuss administrative matters but occasionally clinical too. She put an alert flag on my records so that all staff, admin and clinical, are aware of my needs. I can book appointments in advance at any point of the day either at reception or by email, (I’m not aware of others at my practice allowed to do this), I can get same day appointments without entering the competition with other patients on the phone and I can chose who I see. I have developed an excellent working relationship with the senior nurse practitioner so am getting continuity of care, she on average gives me 20 minute appointments but they flex as per my needs, the latest one was 35 minutes. She can do everything a gp can do, she prescribes serious medication without the approval of a dr and refers on to any clinic or specialist I need  

    The benefits are huge and I’m getting treatment for conditions Id been unable to get help for for years. 

    So my advice is take your diagnosis documents to your practice and request the reasonable adjustments which work for you. They are required by law to help us as autism is a protected characteristic. 

    Good luck xxx

  • That's exactly what I'm going to need to do.

    I need to send a letter to the practice manager and drop the terms "Equality Act" and "Public Sector Equality Duty".

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