Baswich Community Group.

Jonah

Spouting nonsense since the day I learned to talk
The last time I booked an appointment at WXHC it ended up being a 3 week wait.

And what's that crap about "pre-bookable" appointments. Appointments by their very nature are all "pre-booked".
 

wildwood

Well-Known Forumite
The walk in clinic as always been a nightmare.

Quite often you'd get in there at 8.00 and still be sitting there at 9.30 having watched other people who came in after you come and go in half the time. :grr:
 

Jonah

Spouting nonsense since the day I learned to talk
Lots of people at the walk in clinics are there to see the Nurses rather than the Doctors so may be in and out quicker. It also helps to get seen quickly if you aren't worried about which Doctor you see or you ask the receptionist who has the shortest queue.
 

proactive

Enjoying a drop of red.
The walk in clinic as always been a nightmare.

Quite often you'd get in there at 8.00 and still be sitting there at 9.30 having watched other people who came in after you come and go in half the time. :grr:
Depends how popular your doctor is.
 

wildwood

Well-Known Forumite
Depends how popular your doctor is.

Apart from Dr Lloyd who I've seen since about 3 years old - I don't mind seeing any of them. My request along with many others is "whoever's got the fewest waiting." What I find is when they tell you, you can see Dr So and so" they fail to tell you he isn't actually here yet, he starts at 8.30! :haw:
 

proactive

Enjoying a drop of red.
Apart from Dr Lloyd who I've seen since about 3 years old - I don't mind seeing any of them. My request along with many others is "whoever's got the fewest waiting." What I find is when they tell you, you can see Dr So and so" they fail to tell you he isn't actually here yet, he starts at 8.30! :haw:
Yes, that is annoying when they do that.

What really annoys me is the general assumption, throughout the NHS, not just at the doctor's, that their time is so precious but mine can be trampled over at a whim.
 

Jonah

Spouting nonsense since the day I learned to talk
None of the Doctors at WXHC are supposed to start until 8.30am. Some do start early, some do start on time and some arrive after that time.
 

Gramaisc

Forum O. G.
Yes, that is annoying when they do that.

What really annoys me is the general assumption, throughout the NHS, not just at the doctor's, that their time is so precious but mine can be trampled over at a whim.
I took a 98-year-old to a surgery once, to find that he had a two hour wait in a room full of screaming kids* - a simple phone call and we could have attended at a suitable time - for the whole of the two hours, there was a scrolling message that x-number of people had failed to turn up for appointments in the previous month, thus wasting y-hours of valuable time, as if they sat there twiddling their thumbs for the 'wasted' consultation time, rather than just having those who had actually attended wait for less extended periods.

* he did have the benefit of being able to turn his hearing aid off.
 

staffordjas

Well-Known Forumite
My request along with many others is "whoever's got the fewest waiting." What I find is when they tell you, you can see Dr So and so" they fail to tell you he isn't actually here yet, he starts at 8.30! :haw:

I always ask for the one who's got the least waiting, and usually end up with the longest wait ! Others walking in afterwards come and go with other doctors, and I end up checking with reception after an hour or so whether my name is actually on the list.

A few times I've got there at 7.30am to queue in the massive line outside for the doors to open at 8am, and reached the entrance lobby to see a sign saying they are short of GP's so only the first 20 patients to book in for each of the 2 doctors on duty that day will be seen . Just about got to be seen on those occassions. One time I arrived at 9am , to be told "Sorry, both GP's and nurses books are full...you will have to either come back tomorrow, or go 'to this place' " and handed a leaflet informing me of a walk-in centre to phone somewhere up north-end of town.

Everytime I go though, and pass my time sitting in the waiting room listening to addresses as people book in, there are a hell of a lot of them living miles away and no-where near the surgery. One woman I was talking to while we waited said that she actually lived next door to the John Amery Drive Surgery...but she likes our Weeping Cross receptionists better , so gets a taxi there instead .

Maybe when it does go to appointments only, some might change to surgeries nearer to their home and there will be fewer chasing the elusive appointment slots....
 

proactive

Enjoying a drop of red.
I always ask for the one who's got the least waiting, and usually end up with the longest wait ! Others walking in afterwards come and go with other doctors, and I end up checking with reception after an hour or so whether my name is actually on the list.

A few times I've got there at 7.30am to queue in the massive line outside for the doors to open at 8am, and reached the entrance lobby to see a sign saying they are short of GP's so only the first 20 patients to book in for each of the 2 doctors on duty that day will be seen . Just about got to be seen on those occassions. One time I arrived at 9am , to be told "Sorry, both GP's and nurses books are full...you will have to either come back tomorrow, or go 'to this place' " and handed a leaflet informing me of a walk-in centre to phone somewhere up north-end of town.

Everytime I go though, and pass my time sitting in the waiting room listening to addresses as people book in, there are a hell of a lot of them living miles away and no-where near the surgery. One woman I was talking to while we waited said that she actually lived next door to the John Amery Drive Surgery...but she likes our Weeping Cross receptionists better , so gets a taxi there instead .

Maybe when it does go to appointments only, some might change to surgeries nearer to their home and there will be fewer chasing the elusive appointment slots....
Totally understand where you are coming from but the 'closed shop' system Stafford surgeries have means that unless you are kicked off a doctor's list you have to stay with the doctor you are currently with, even if you move right next door to another doctor the other side of town.
 

Jonah

Spouting nonsense since the day I learned to talk
@proactive I used to be with the doctors on Mill Bank but changed to Weeping Cross Health Centre about 10 years ago. Just went into WXHC and asked to register, they asked who my current doctor was and then requested my records from them. Took about two months for the records to move but I was able to use WXHC once I registered.

It was a very easy process.
 

proactive

Enjoying a drop of red.
@proactive I used to be with the doctors on Mill Bank but changed to Weeping Cross Health Centre about 10 years ago. Just went into WXHC and asked to register, they asked who my current doctor was and then requested my records from them. Took about two months for the records to move but I was able to use WXHC once I registered.

It was a very easy process.
What I posted earlier has been the policy for the past two or three years, I believe.
 

Jonah

Spouting nonsense since the day I learned to talk
If that is the policy then it goes against the 'free choice' we are supposed to have.
 

proactive

Enjoying a drop of red.
If that is the policy then it goes against the 'free choice' we are supposed to have.
Well yes, just a bit.

I think we have the former practice manager at Weeping Cross and his ambition, to thank for it.

As ever, I'm more than happy to be proved wrong though.
 

wildwood

Well-Known Forumite
The biggest problem with Weeping Cross is they've outgrown the catchment area. When Wildwood doctors closed down it all went to pot.

I remember going to a lovely quiet doctors attached to Dr Raby's house on the corner of Stockton Lane
 
Last edited:

proactive

Enjoying a drop of red.
The biggest problem with Weeping Cross is they've ourgrown the catchment area. When Wildwood doctors closed down it all went to pot.

I remember going to a lovely quiet doctors attached to Dr Raby's house on the corner of Stockton Lane
Ditto. Dr Raby was a really top bloke who would have had today's NHS micro-managers having multiple seizures.
 

Jonah

Spouting nonsense since the day I learned to talk
It's all down to lack of funding. The NHS is under funded. End of story.
 

staffordjas

Well-Known Forumite
Hubby just rang to say found out the surgery no longer open at 8am ( after him queuing outside from 7.30 ) as it used to be. Now open 8.30am .
I've just had to ring his boss with the great news...he doesn't yet realise how long it takes to be seen after checking in.....

We wouldn't have known about walk-_in surgery stopping in March if it wasn't for this forum! Would have thought a letter or text would have been sent out to patients.. Can see quite a few disappointed people turning up when the appointment only system starts.
 
Last edited:

Jonah

Spouting nonsense since the day I learned to talk
The surgery has only ever been officially open from 8.30am. It's only because people queue up outside that the doors were opened earlier to let people sit inside.

Edit. I'm wrong. I've just checked their website and it's listed as 8.00am opening. The news about the drop-in clinic is on there and well.
 
Top