Doctor shares best way to get a GP appointment without joining 8am telephone queue

By Ewan Gleadow, Social Hub Reporter

It tin beryllium hard to get a GP assignment (stock image) (Image: Getty)

A doc has shared his apical tips for bypassing the dreaded 8am telephone queue and unafraid a GP appointment.

It's ever a hassle to aftermath up aboriginal lone to find yourself stuck successful a virtual enactment to marque an assignment with your doctor. Even if you telephone bang connected 8am, sometimes each the slots are taken earlier you get done and you person to telephone backmost different day.

However, TikTok doc Tim Mercer has present revealed immoderate useful proposal to boost your chances of seeing your GP. His hacks person garnered much than 1,000 likes arsenic helium wished those trying to publication an assignment the champion of luck.

Sharing these "insider secrets," Dr Mercer explained determination is simply a amended mode to scope retired to the country to "maximise" your likelihood of securing a slot.

It's worthy noting that these tips are based connected Dr Mercer's experience, and disagree betwixt GP surgeries nationwide. His archetypal portion of proposal was to marque usage of e-consultations connected your surgery's website, and helium said earlier slots mightiness beryllium disposable which could pb to a face-to-face appointment.

Dr Mercer stated: "E-consultations astatine my country unfastened astatine six successful the morning, truthful it whitethorn beryllium that if you're up that aboriginal and prepared you tin acceptable an alarm for six, bash an e-consultation and I volition springiness you an assignment oregon springiness you attraction for your aesculapian interest that aforesaid day."

He besides said physically going to your country astatine 8am could beryllium effective, alternatively than picking up the phone. "Many patients are present queuing up extracurricular the country astatine 8 o'clock successful the greeting to get an appointment, arsenic I ideate they whitethorn person done 20 years ago," helium said. "This seems to person a reasonably precocious complaint of success."

Flexibility tin besides assistance you spot a nonrecreational earlier. Dr Mercer pointed retired that determination are "PCN (Primary Care Network) Extended Access" slots disposable erstwhile your section GP can't acceptable you in.

"This won't beryllium with the doc that you want," helium admits, but "it volition beryllium with a GP and that mightiness good beryllium what you need."

Simply asking your GP receptionist to pencil you successful for a imaginable call-back slot aboriginal successful the time tin besides work, though occurrence isn't assured. Seeking assistance from your pharmacist – who whitethorn propulsion the country for enactment – oregon taking absorption from receptionists who connection guidance towards due attraction is besides advised.

The diligent TikTok doc summed up his advice, insisting connected the merits of staying unfastened to assorted paths to aesculapian assistance: "It whitethorn good beryllium worthy pursuing that way of enquiry due to the fact that galore squad members are much susceptible present and if there's ever immoderate conflict they tin ever get successful interaction with me."