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Appointments not running to time |
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We make routine appointments every 10 minutes approximately for morning and evening surgeries and naturally we do not know in advance the reason somebody is consulting us. Some things can be dealt with in less than 10 minutes and some things take a lot more time. As well as booked patients the doctors often have to deal with other matters urgently between patients. Sometimes a doctor has to go immediately to visit a patient who has suddenly collapses, for instance. If this happens the all subsequent appointments run late. Urgent phone calls about hospitalised patient, taken to liaise fully with the doctors there can delay things; similarly calls from pharmacists. Then there is the inevitable fact that some problems need a long time to sort out. An example would be somebody who has just been diagnosed as having cancer, or somebody who feels so depressed they are considering suicide. We have to give such patients more time when they need it and the unfortunate consequence is that patients waiting have to wait longer. We hope you understand this and reason that if ever YOU need extra time you will get it yourself. How can you get seen promptly? The best way is to book as early as you can in a surgery. The first appointments are likely to run to time. Is it possible you are abusing the system?........ NOT knowingly, we are certain. But some things can be a problem, particularly if you come expecting a lot of different problems to be dealt with at once. Some people come literally with a long list of things. We have no problem with lists, it is a good idea, but because we work with 10 minute slots can only give that amount of time. You can have as many 10 minute slots as you need, but not on the same day! Tell the doctor as soon as you go in that you have a list, the items can be prioritised and dealt with adequately, over several appointments probably. Thank you for reading this. |
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