"The Doctor offered detailed advice"

I contacted the Lower Clapton Practice via Ask My GP and had a call from Dr Banna soon after the surgery opened. We discussed my symptoms and she offered me an appointment later in the morning.

When we met she was able to do more detailed investigation and to recommend medications and to give me detailed advice about what to do if my condition worsened. I had been very anxious about not over-loading the GP practice or the hospital during this very challenging time for the NHS, but Dr Banna reassured me that I was genuinely ill and that I should not hesitate to ask for help.

I have used the Ask my GP service on previous occasions and have always had successful experience either with the problem being dealt with on a phone consultation or with a Doctor asking me to visit the surgery for a face to face appointment. I've been around long enough to remember when the only way to speak to a clinician was to try and get through on the phone or even to queue at the surgery at 8 in the morning to try and get an appointment.

I know that Ask My GP is not available or suitable for every patient but if you can use it you should.