3week wait

[MeganN]

Is it just me that thinks it is unacceptable to have to wait 3 weeks to see a doctor??

I have suspected carpal tunnel which is uncomfortable and irritating. I would want it sorted before we start a family which we wanted to do in the next few months. Feel like all the waiting keeps pushing us back a step all of the time!!

 

[Northerner]

Is it just me that thinks it is unacceptable to have to wait 3 weeks to see a doctor??

I have suspected carpal tunnel which is uncomfortable and irritating. I would want it sorted before we start a family which we wanted to do in the next few months. Feel like all the waiting keeps pushing us back a step all of the time!!

I do think it sounds unreasonable if it's just to see a doctor at your surgery. With my practice you can usually get an appointment more quickly if you don't want to see a specific doctor, otherwise it can take up to a couple of weeks. They also have 'open' surgeries where you can just come in on the day and wait - you might see someone within an hour, or might have to wait two or more hours (but rarely that long).

 

[MeganN]

We don't have open surgery. That appointment was just the next available without asking for a specific doc

 

[Caroline]

I too think three weeks is too long to wait to see a doctor, even if you know what it is.

If you don't have an open surgery or a drop in centre near you, have you thought about going to A&E? If what you have is stopping you doing all the things you would normally do you need quick help.

 

[everydayupsanddowns]

2-3 weeks is pretty standard at my surgery unless it's an 'emergency'. I guess they are pretty stretched with the number of people on their books, and if there is no particular time pressure to it, just something 'low level' you want to have looked at you have to fit in around people that need to be seen urgently.

 

[Northerner]

We don't have open surgery. That appointment was just the next available without asking for a specific doc

Is there a walk-in centre near you? What do people do if they have an illness that may (or may not!) last only a week? How would someone like myself have got on, given that I went from 'bad stomach bug' to DKA in 4 days?

That is a very poor service, especially with no alternative

 

[SimplesL]

3 weeks seems a bit long to me, especially if you are in some discomfort. I have to wait if I want to see a specific GP, not normally more than 10 days.

Can you call them & say if they have a cancellation you may be able to attend at short notice?

Since my GP practise moved to a new building they no longer offer open clinics so no point turning up to wait without an appointment.

We don't have a drop in centre, but if you do it may be a worthwhile trip especially to confirm you do have carpel tunnel syndrome (a friend of mine had a small op as a day case, thankfully it worked for her)

Would speaking to somoene at NHS direct help? They may be able to outline possible treatments etc and whether you need to wait before you want to start your family.

 

[Caroline]

Atthe begining of last year when I had the bells palsy I went to the drop in centre who gave me stuff for it and advised I see my own GP ASAP, I managed to get an appointment on the Monnday only because I had told them it was an emergency.

NHS direct is an option so do give them a call too. They tell your GP you have been in contact with them which may speed an appointment up for you.

 

[MeganN]

My surgery have a phone service where a doctor rings you back and determines how important you are. She deemed me not important and booked the next appointment which was 3 weeks time.

My dad had the same symptoms and had day surgery. I don't want to wait until I'm pregnant to get it sorted because then I imagine they wouldn't do they surgery until after the baby was born? Pregnancy is also suppost to make any existing carpal tunnel worse.

I just know that once I've seen the doc I will have to wait again for specialist or tests etc before they sort it which keeps pushing us back. Everytime we get sorted enough to try something else comes up

 

[Mark T]

I think it's unreasonable - but sadly par for the course.

With my surgery it seems impossible to get a GP at short notice (and they don't allow bookings more then 4 weeks ahead) and there only suggesting is to phone each morning to see if there was a cancellation.

I suppose at least we have a drop-in-centre, so better then nothing.

 

[Steff]

3 weeks is a short wait for my surgery, ridoculous unless of course i say its an emercency,example i have an appt tomorrow which i made on 9th

 

[Northerner]

3 weeks is a short wait for my surgery, ridoculous unless of course i say its an emercency,example i have an appt tomorrow which i made on 9th

This really is very poor Makes me realise how lucky I am with my surgery.

Hope your appt goes well Steff 🙂

 

[PattiEvans]

Gosh, if I rang up tomorrow morning I would have a call back from a Dr who would ask what it's about and in all likelyhood if I needed seeing I would have an appointment that day. If I wanted to see my own Dr I may have to wait 2 days maximum as she only works 3 days a week. I don't know how they do it, but they are really terrific. In fact I am so impressed I volunteered to be on their Patient panel because I knew that they would take on board the suggestions made - and they do.