"Going down hill fast"

A practice I previously held in high esteem. Recent experiences have rapidly changed that opinion. Most recently needing to book an urgent appointment for pain relief I was unable to contact the surgery via the phone. I was directed to an online portal that repeatedly told me it was unavailable due to excess demand and that I should call the surgery ! When eventually the surgery did answer, they told me try the online portal the next day at 7am. Unbelievable.

My second experience. I used the surgery app to book a blood test, no questions about why I wanted a blood test, no reference to needing to be referred by a GP for the blood test. However, when I arrived for my appointment, having booked time off work, I was then told very bluntly by the HCA that I couldn't just turn up for a blood test without a GP referral. I pointed out that at no time did the app present such information, to which she said "well that's the way it works and there's nothing I can do". Patient care appears now to have no significance with this practice.

No doubt they will say "we are only following government guidance". Well, one look at the current government will tell you everything about failure.