"The 111 service is abysmal"

I rang my surgery when it opened to hear a recorded message that the queue was closed. I kept getting the same message but after 45 mins I managed to get through. I were told no appointments available and would have to ring 111.

Once through to 111 I were asked various questions, none of which were relevant to why I were calling, the young lass on the phone said she had to tick all the boxes.  I were passed over to a nurse who asked exactly the same questions as before, I explained I had previously answered the questions but yet again she was insistent. I had now been on the phone some considerable time and were in pain.

I were told I would have to get back to my surgery and explain I had rang 111 because apparently surgeries hold slots for 111 patients. I got back through to my surgery to be told I would have to ring back the following morning or get back to 111. I rang 111 again to be yet again asked the same questions by somebody who did not appear to be medically trained, I were told somebody would ring me. I had been back and forth on the phone for hours.

Eventually I were told I would have to go to the walk in centre despite my explaining I were housebound. It was at that point I gave up and put the phone down. Had I have been suffering a stroke or heart attack I wouldn't have stood a chance of recovery with the amount of time wasted on the phone. I never experienced this years ago with the 999 service which acted promptly.