10 minutes = 1 problem Policy
Why appointments can run late ⏱️
Nobody likes to be kept waiting… and we completely understand that.
We always aim to see everyone on time, in the slot they’ve booked — but sometimes delays do happen.
Our clinical team don’t like running late either. In fact, it’s one of the most stressful parts of their day. GPs and ANPs deliver back-to-back face-to-face appointments, often with very limited time at the end for admin (letters, results, referrals). Falling behind can be really challenging for them too.
Some patients need a little extra time — for example:
- Elderly or less mobile patients
- Patients with complex needs
- Those receiving serious diagnoses
Occasionally, delays are unavoidable due to:
- Emergency home visits
- IT / computer problems
However, the main cause of delays is when multiple problems are brought to a single 10-minute appointment.
Each appointment is booked for one issue only. We find that patients try to discuss several unrelated concerns in one visit it often causes delays for everyone else waiting.
Bringing multiple problems to one appointment may also mean:
- Not all concerns can be safely or thoroughly addressed
- You may need to book another slot
Please don’t be offended if your time runs out and there are still more things to discuss — your clinician is doing their best to keep everyone safe and on time.
Top tip: If you have more than one concern, please consider your most urgent problem first, and follow up with a separate request at a later date for routine concerns so we can give each issue the time it deserves.
Thank you for your understanding and support