2 weeks is standard at our docs I think. It’s a routine appointment, so can be scheduled.

“Emergencies”, they will see you same day. I assume it’s because they schedule fewer routine slots in the day that they can do this.

I called for an appointment last week, explained the problem to the receptionist and was given a slot that afternoon.

While I was there I made an appointment for a less urgent problem and was offered one 3 days later.

YMMV

If I want to see my registered doctor that can take up to two weeks ..a locum doctor can be the same day if I ring early enough ..but then I do live in a fairly small rural village

The best thing about ‘free’ state health care is that it makes private healthcare incredibly cheap.

Check out the various app/skype type GP services.

Yeah 2 weeks is pretty normal, often longer if you want a time outside of 9-5 weekdays. My local surgery does keep some time slots free each day and allocate them FCFS on the day (via the Internet or phone – used to be queuing outside to but I think they finally realised having 30 people stood outside coughing, sneezing etc. wasn’t the best idea).

Outside of maybe the dentist the other examples you list involve you handing over money, I guess you could look at a private GP if you wanted…

But yeah the system is a bit crap

I think it depends on where you live. Around my way 2 weeks is pretty normal, sometimes it is even 3 weeks (and then it will be a locum)

Urban practise here and I’ve never waited more than 3 days for an appointment. Friends that live in the same area but use a different doctor regularly have a two week wait.

5 weeks in my hood.

How you finding the Bronx, CG?

IF you call before 8:30am you might get one that day if they consider it urgent.
If not then its at least 2 weeks here.
Thats with whoever has their list free – a specific doctor is usually 3 weeks.

As a fully paid up member of the great unwashed I keep smiling. 😀

Is it a medium-sized illness?

Pretty normal here for routine non-urgent stuff although there’s a morning a week they keep free and you can just walk in and wait to be seen, and a certain amount each day for if you ring first thing.

I used pushdoctor last time I was properly ill with a throat infection and just couldn’t face trying to sort out an appointment or leaving the house. Video chat within 15 mins, prescription via email to local pharmacy.

4 weeks at mine, you can try ringing at 8am for a slot but it’s near on impossible and then they grill you on how urgent it is

You are all going to hate me. It’s open surgery for urgent everyday – but strict triage. But getting to see nurse or GP for non-urgent is pretty much like booking in for any other service. Speak to nice receptionist, how about Friday because I work from home – no problem morning or afternoon. We even have an in-practice physio which is about week or so referral from GP.

Local MIU is really good too.

I think it’s partly because there are loads of healthy, wealthy oldsters where we live and it’s a really big practice that covers several sites so efficiency of scale

…I think my general point is that it is possible to get GP services to work as we’d like with proper funding, organisation and wider infrastructure – esp good MIU – in place

2 to 3 weeks is fairly normal for my practice and that’s fairly large. I’ve heard similar for others in the area. Big town though.

That said, often a slot will pop up on retrying. Phone back or retry on the online system and something turns up and might be lucky with something the same week. There’s zero chance of seeing my actual doctor and the one I get may not be that interested in the thing I’m there for. I find ones with an interest in certain conditions are far better in providing advice or referrals and others are just dismissive and trying to get you out the door before the next patient in 5 minutes.

My place does weekend appointments too now, but I avoid them. Usually a locum and has been useless for me with no real understanding or empathy of the condition.

Emergency appointment slots are reserved for the day, but you need to be calling at 7am or whenever they open and wait in the queue. Far worse on a Monday as you hit the backlog from the weekend.

I have an ongoing medical situation so get to have the joy of booking appointments on a pretty regular basis, about 4-5 a year.

It can usually take a 2-3 weeks to see any doctor in my practise and that’s making an appointment immediately after the current one! Not helpful when the doctor says make an appointment for next week. I have the online booking system but they get released Evey day for 2 weeks in advance at 8am so get booked up near-instantly by the mums and elderly, same situation with the phone option. The receptionists and the doctors know it’s a nightmare but there’s very little they can do about it. For my current 6 weeks of investigative treatment requiring an appointment every 2 weeks we’re up to 11 weeks already due to delays getting seen.

The system is at breaking point.