An appointment with the doctor.

I collected my medicines from the chemist and found a note which asked me to make an appointment with the doctor for a medication review prior to my next prescription.

I had wanted to speak about changing my medication so this was a good excuse.
I rung the surgery and asked for an appointment to which the woman replied saying they had no vacancies.

"I'm in no hurry. I don't mind when it is only the Doctor wants to see me about my medication"

Assistant...."Sorry we have nothing for two weeks. We only book two weeks at a time."

ME...."But the doctor wants to see me, how do I go about seeing her?"

Assistant. "You can ring before eight oclock in the morning then you will be able to get booked in."

So the next three mornings I rung and each time I was told by the automated system after my tapping my name and date of birth etc that there were no vacancies.

Next day I went to the surgery and asked if I could speak to a doctor. She looked in her book and told me I would have to wait for a week before the doctor could talk to me.

How frustrating.

Re: An appointment with the doctor.

Very frustrating Maureen, but very common in lots of surgeries. The gp tells you one thing, the receptionist the other.

Re: An appointment with the doctor.

Yes this is on my annoyance list of things we had a few weeks ago...

It happen's all the time and it's so infuriating! I would go back and say you need to speak to a doctor urgently as you need advise over your medication and need to see him? It's the only way to do it, ok it might be a white lie but they may get you in sooner..

Re: An appointment with the doctor.

Tell the receptionist you need a house call. It's amazing how they manage to fit you at the surgery when you say that.......

Re: An appointment with the doctor.

Receptionists are employed to keep patients from seeing their GP. It makes them feel important.

Re: An appointment with the doctor.

I may do that..

Re: An appointment with the doctor.

What a strange and inaccurate statement.

Re: An appointment with the doctor.

I do sometimes wonder if they even like their jobs, because a happy, welcoming receptionist is almost as rare as hens teeth.

No doubt some patients get on their wick, but if that is so, why do that sort of work in the first place?

Re: An appointment with the doctor.

Seems reasonably correct statement to me, husband was supposed to have several appointments after his op with his GP surgery they finally managed to fit him in to remove the stitches then discovered he didn't have any. Well if they had seen him as requested they would have known that wouldn't they. Receptionist only reacted when I said if he falls and hurts himself I will personally hold you responsible last week when she finally found him an appointment his BP was so low they sent him to A & E who sent him back to the GP - he has finally got an appointment tomorrow since I sat in reception and refused to move unless they gave him one tonight.

Re: An appointment with the doctor.

Yep I have a receptionist who regularly decides that the patient doesnt need a doctor and tells people to take asprin or just go to bed..

I wont tell her why I want an appointment anymore I just say its private and a standard appointment is long enough.

She has messed up so often with referral letters sent out weeks late and is so rude I just wonder what joy she gets from her work..

On the other end of the scale my dentists have a wonderful team who give great advice and will try their very best to get an appointment that suits the patient.