I’ve mentioned before how useless our GP surgery is, but there are times when we have to bite the bullet and abide by the system.
After one cock-up too many, Hubby took the auto renewal procedure out of the prescription office’s hands last year, and re-orders his meds on-line.
However, the time has come now for the official review of his medication, for which he needs to see the doctor.
So here we go.
The surgery opens at 8am, though no appointments will be until 9am.
OK, you might think that shouldn’t be a problem until you arrive at five to 8 and there are thirty to fifty people already queueing outside. The last time Hubby had to use this service (for a blood test as requested by the hospital), by ten past 8 all appointments were gone and patients were being advised to ring 111 or go to the A&E out of hours GP service some 17 miles away.
This morning, Hubby left me in bed and went up to the surgery early.
I admit I was groggy, but this was just after 7 o’clock!
I got up at 8 to let the dog out, and was going to take her for a walk at half past, but her front leg failed so we came home. She’s curled up on her cushion and I’ve given her a small dose of metacam. She had a little run after a crow on the beach yesterday so could easily have over extended herself, but she was so happy!
Getting breakfast, I noticed that the little collapsible stool we keep our water filter on has gone, so Hubby has used his noggin so that he can sit down while he waits in the queue. Thank goodness it isn’t raining nor is it too cold.
However, it is 9.45 now and he still isn’t back. No good me phoning him as his phone is in the pocket of his yellow jacket which is hanging in the hall.
He’ll be spitting feathers when he gets home………… partly in frustration but mostly because of pain for having to hang around so long.
pensitivity101 
One often wonders if the people who run the doctors surgery have heard of the word logic, from my experience I think not.
Logic is a totally different language here.
Oh yes. The dreaded 8am scramble for an appointment. If you phone a minute early you get put to a out of hours recorded message. A minute late and you are 45th in the caller line. If you miss out need to phone back tomorrow.
Your surgery must be related. It’s a farce here.
I can’t believe you have to line up for hours to get an appointment to see a doctor in his office. Is there no such thing as making an appointment in advance for situations like this when you know you have to have meds reviewed?
Nope. That’s the whole point, you can’t. Even for on going treatment, you cannot make appointments in advance. Hubby is taking it up with the health service as the situation is getting out of control. We really need an alternative practice here in the town. The GP Hubby eventually saw today at 10.20 for an appointment given him for 8,40 (!) had cancelled him off her list as a No Show along with three others. Hubby went up to reception having waited until 10am without being seen, and this is what she discovered. The GP said that she had called their names and they hadn’t responded, but all 4 were sitting directly outside her room. I despair sometimes.
WOW! That is outrageous. If the lack of a proper system and unreasonable wait times aren’t enough, she lied. Your hubby is absolutely right to take it up with the health service. I’d also submit a letter to the editor of your local newspaper. Sometimes bad publicity works wonders. Do you have online rating services for doctors in the UK? We have them here. If you do I’d post a review there as well.
Our surgery is something like tenth from the bottom of the charts. Had we known how bad they were, we would have thought twice about moving here. Hopefully though we will be able to change surgeries officially and will definitely let our reasons be known.
I hope you can change surgeries, this is truly unacceptable. Good luck!!!
Thanks.
🤞 fingers crossed for you
Always remember that the early bird may well get the worm, but it’s the second mouse that gets the cheese! 🙂
Best wishes for a change that works for you all
Hopefully!
This is wrong on so many counts. I had to take my cat to an emergency vet recently and they don’t take appointments either. I sat with a sick cat for well over an hour before they took us in. It was all stupid. I could have gotten an appointment and even if I waited a little bit, it would have been so much better. Can’t believe they do it for people too. Sick people do not wait well. Uncomfortable seating, too many people, all bad. Hope you can get reassigned and I like the idea of a letter to the newspaper.
Hubby is letting his temper cool and will address it all tomorrow.