[News] Doctor surgery wait times

[AmexRuislip]

That sounds so much better. My surgery has Blinx, it’s right there on the NHS app and their website, but it’s permanently disabled. It’s like everything at my surgery is designed to be as difficult as possible

Sorry to hear that.
I'm only surmising here, does it depend on what the surgeries can afford, as I know they're all businesses after all, competing for trade!

 

[Harry Wilson's tackle]

The appointments process here fell through the floor pre-Covid, very steeply, when we the government was dicking about with Brexit.

I recently needed an appointment so rocked up at the surgery and managed to sweet talk the front desk into getting me a nurse practitioner appointment a week later. That went well. She told me I should not be taking colchicine ad libitem for gout and needed to tackle the underlying issue with allopurinol.

Oddly I saw a nurse practitioner 6 months earlier who told me I should not be put on allopurinol and should treat the gout ad libitem with colchicine.

I'm a pharmacologist. My left eyebrow is doing raising overtime.

In my lay capacity as a member of the public I am persuaded that the evidence of my experience suggests the GP system is f***ed.

Another tory mess for labour to clear up. Surprised labour haven't already been blamed for it. Something something militant doctors' union.

Oh....hang on

 

[Brovion]

Last time was two years ago and it was the same day. But then a few days earlier I had been bitten by a dog (not one of mine) and it had gone septic. I'd 'played the game' and had been to a pharmacist first - who said ring your GP and say your pharmacist says you need to be seen now.

An hour after seeing the GP I was on an IV drip in A&E ...

Prior to that would have been 2019 when my heart first started playing up. It was a day or two wait - but I did say it wasn't urgent and it was only my bloody wife making me go. (Turns out it was good she did, but that's irrelevant to this thread).

 

[Thunder Bolt]

There are two local surgeries, one excellent and the other quite bad. I am very fortunate to be registered with the excellent one. There is also the drop in centre/minor injuries unit at Victoria hospital in Lewes, which is open 8-8. I’ve been there a few times and always seen within the hour.

 

[Cheeky Monkey]

Seaford Medical Practice is an absolute shitemare. In much-derided Newhaven you can get same day appointments. I recently queued up outside at 8am, doors opened at 0830, receptionist said "Do you want an 0830?" Doctor came straight out and called me in with my jacket still on.

 

[Thunder Bolt]

Seaford Medical Practice is an absolute shitemare. In much-derided Newhaven you can get same day appointments. I recently queued up outside at 8am, doors opened at 0830, receptionist said "Do you want an 0830?" Doctor came straight out and called me in with my jacket still on.

That must be Quayside, my doctors.

 

[chaileyjem]

In my local medical centre - if i turn up there and wait outside and be prepared to queue for about 15 mins (7.45am wait for 8am) - then you get appointments normally that morning within the hour. If you call at 8am its a bit of a lottery but some same day appointments are available. As with @Bozza i've also had a fair bit of remote stuff in recent years including a similar - upload images to website, and also upload blood pressure readings , follow up phone calls. I've also had a few A&E experiences in the past couple of years for myself and my father - Brighton was especially exhausting. 30 hours in corridors for the old man this time last year. Horrible. Outside of Brighton - a lot better.
PS: The care for all of this by GPS , Specialists , Nurses has been exemplary. Really good.