"Everything is a battle "

I have been a patient at Birtley Medical Group for many years. Unfortunately the service provided has deteriorated to such an extent that I am about to transfer to another GP practice. This is not a decision I have taken lightly, but is formed after a number of dissatisfactory experiences with the practice.

The biggest problem is access to GP appointments. The practice operates a ‘same day’ appointment process requiring patients to telephone at 7am for an appointment later that same day. Whilst this is fine for emergency situations, it is no good for those who work full time and wish to pre book an GP appointment to discuss an ongoing health issue. I find the process of accessing help through my GP practice extremely difficult. The practice always used to have a family, friendly feel, now it is a battle to access the help required. I appreciate all surgeries are facing increasing demand, but other surgeries in the area don’t seem to operate the inflexible approach that Birtley Medical Group do.

Two weeks ago I attended an appointment with a locum doctor at my GP surgery. I had been unwell for over two weeks at that point, yet I was made to feel I was wasting precious GP time as it was ‘just a virus’. Two days later I was admitted to hospital with pneumonia and pleurisy. I feel that my condition was not taken seriously by the locum GP.