Please someone tell me im doing the right thing *GP appointments systems*

[Sleepless123]

Please someone tell me if id be doing the right thing by changing GP surgery?

Right heres my situation.........

I am in a very complex situation with my mental health often proving to be a danger to myself. Despite this I have only managed to go to my GP surgery two to three times in the past two and a bit years.

Going to the GP is something i find extremely difficult.And it is not helped by the appointments system for my surgery.It is all advance appointment only and you usually have to wait about two weeks and if you need a doctor urgently you have to speak to them on the phone and not get an appointment to see them on the day like you used to - i have done this once or twice but suffer chronic anxiety and really struggle with speaking on the phone.

Aside from being concerned about seeing the GP anyway as the problems im suffering are very complex,serious and sensitive I find it hard if i have to book so far ahead cos i then literally spend hours each day running upto it worrying even more about the appointment and getting more and more anxious.

This puts me off making the appointment in the first place [as well as worrying about what they will say about my issues].

But now ive discovered another surgery along my road who is willing to take me [i enquired today] who run open surgery for part of each day.I used to have a similar service in my old area where most appointments were booked on the day and i still struggled to get to my GP then [it was still a battle for me] but not so much as it is now with this appointments system and i dont know now if changing surgery to the one which has open surgery some of the day would actually be of more benefit to me.As if [and it is an if] i can get myself there then at least i wouldnt have to struggle with making the appointment and the weeks of anxiety.

But another part of me feels bad for considering changing!i dont have any relationship really with any of the doctors at my current surgery at all but feel i would be a bit of a traitor to change.And also though i wasnt happy that she did this at the time about a year or so ago someone else went to my surgery with concerns about my mental health and the surgery involved the police on that occasion - though i wasnt happy at the time it does make me think that perhaps that means i should stay there cos at least on that occasion and others when she spoke to them she has probably managed to explain my situation better than i ever could so therefore even if the information is a year or so old at least they have some idea what is going on and i dont know how i would explain my situation to the new surgery.

I am kind of hoping my notes would do that when they get there though [well at least explain some of it].

I have nothing against my current surgery except finding their appointments system hard.i know having a doctors with open surgery wont resolve my difficulties with attending the doctors but i am hoping it may allow me to do better with it.But i dont know.

Any thoughts anyone?Anyone else changed GP surgery cos of the appointment system?How did you find it all worked out for you if you did or didnt?

Thanks sorry to bother you all but i am in a tis!

Take care
sleepless123

[Animad]

If you're not happy about your own, change, it's as simple as that. I've been in a few different ones recently due to moving house several times because of uni and out of the ones I've been in I've found the one at home really good. You book in advance but you can usually get one within the next 2 working days so that is quite good compared to one where I had a 3week late and another where I had to ring first thing in the morning which I HATE!

You can ask when you go to register what the appointment system is and you can ask there and ask at all the other local ones and see which one you prefer, thats definately the best solution.

[xbeckyx]

I think it's a good idea to change, sounds like it will help.
The appointment system at the new place sounds like it would suit you a lot better.
Take care.

[Tig]

You have to do what is best for you and it sounds as if the other surgery would work better for you because of the appointment system. I'm sure your previous Doctors' will be very understanding, they also would just want the best for any patient.
Take care x

[Sleepless123]

Hi.Just wanted to say to everyone thank you very much for the support and suggestions.i will be re-reading your responses and trying to think about things carefully.i think i will end up changing but am still scared and worried about the whole thing and what to do here [not just cos of this but my entire situation relating to why i need to go to the doctors in the first place though having these additional issues and dilema to resolve isnt helping also.]

All i know is somehow i really need to manage to get myself to a doctor.i really havent been well.But right now i am struggling to get there never mind let in any physical treatment that may be offered.

Its weird.i dont really feel comfortable writing this but i almost feel like two different people.One is looking in on my situation and knows i need help.But i cannot act on the feelings of the outer person looking in.They can be there in my mind,in my life but i cant act on their feelings for some reason.The other is me resisting.

How can i have the feelings of two different people,two such different things?i need to get myself to the doctor.

[Life and Lies]

I know exactly what you mean about the two people with conflicting opinions sweetie, it can be really hard at times to cope with

I hope you manage to get to the doctor, it sounds to me like changing surgery would be a good idea. Don't feel bad, the doctors just want you to get the treatment you need, they wont take it personally.

Let us know how you get on

Kate and Chloe xxx

[Aidee]

I' have moved this to GSA since I think people will be able to offer better answers here.

[Sleepless123]

Thanks Aidey for moving the thread and thanks everyone for the replies.

im really not safe anytime at all at the moment and i really dont know what to do.

[Sleepless123]

Hey i finally did it!!

Sorry for posting this but i cant believe i finally did it!! i managed to finally take the completed form back to the new surgery and so now am registered with a surgery who do have pre booked appointments but also have open surgery from Monday to Friday for two hours each morning!i dont know how much this will impact on my mental health or make it easier for me to go in any situation but im hoping it is a small step forward and now i might,just might, get to the surgery occasionally when i need to.

Well put it this way im gonna have to or im gonna be dead.

im thinking of trying to wait before going down there though [if i can get myself there at all that is] mainly cos it may help if they could have my records before seeing me.Though im not sure on that as part of me is concerned that they may not want me as a patient anyway when they see my history too.

So im kinda scared.But at least i got there!!For now.

[Strict Machine]

Hey, well done for making that step forward. I really hope it helps.

[88shelz]

if your are not happy with your doctors and it is preventing you getting the help you need then off course you should change.
you are number one and the most important/
put your self first

[Sleepless123]

Hi everyone thanks for the support.Please keep talking to me though i know its probably pointless and im worthless.i just know i need to get help cos of what ive been doing.But i also know its unlikely to happen that i will be able to seek it properly as i really struggle with doing this.

To be fair to the other surgery i wasnt exactly unhappy with them as such.Going to the doctors is going to be extremely hard for me wherever i go [its something i struggle with] but their appointments system wasnt helping me - thats not their fault but i just have to remove what obstacles i can to even give myself a fighting chance of doing this.And im not even sure i can do it now.

But i have to remove the obstacles i can.i will probably die but i have to know ive tried for the sake of others.If it isnt good enough in the end and i die then ok i will have failed them and i will know that but i had to do something.

Regarding mental health support at present i still have my student mental health social worker for now for support but he is hoping to discharge me before mid June when he leaves the service.im not sure what to make of that.Maybe its an ok thing.Not much they can do for me anymore - think im slightly past it - though given im overdosing frequently im still not sure he should have be solely looking after my care but never mind getting off the point and he is ok really!!

im hoping the notes wont take long to get to the new GP surgery.After all my old surgery is on the same road - ok its a long road but its the same one!!Thats partly why i felt such a prat for changing.I was lucky the new surgery were nice to me when i explained i was registered er literally up the same road but felt i needed a surgery with a more flexible appointment system right now.They must think im completely barmy.i was scared they wouldnt do it cos i was already registered so close by and also i know a lot of surgeries in the area arent accepting new patients right now with their patient lists being full.Think i was just lucky!But i struggle to allow myself anywhere near medical help anyway cos of feeling its a contradiction to me constantly hurting myself and planning to die and i also suffer with chronic anxiety and couldnt cope with making an appointment and then having to worry hours each day until it got to the time two weeks later.i still dont know if i will get there but at least it takes that element away slightly.The prolonged distressing [sorry that probably sounds pathetic and exagerated but i get worked up] wait i mean.Still worried what they will think of me though.My situation and notes are very complex and theres lots of 'bad' stuff about me in there.i have been obssessed with suicide etc and made numerous attempts including having the police involved on occasion.

I will see what happens.i have achieved my target for today and that doesnt happen very often with me.Small steps so i should be pleased!But still so so scared.

[Sleepless123]

i could still do with replies to this please if that is at all possible.Thanks

[Bleeding Angel]

If you are worried then writing a simple note to your doctor saying your situation might help.

I can understand with the appointments, when i changed citys the new docs i went to was pretty good for that as my friend has the same two weeks later thing. But if you are unhappy with the treatment or how things are then there is no point feeling bad about changing.

[Sleepless123]

Thanks.i have changed now so i guess my decision is made there.And i dont regret it yet.But i am trying to wait to get an updated medical card from the health authority and my records transferred to the surgery before i decide where an earth i go from here.My situation is very complex.

There has also been a lot of other things going on though and i still really dont feel good.

[XxXflowerfairyXxX]

Sounds like the change was a positive step and hopefully it will lead to an easing of your anxiety and a brighter outlook.
x