"Impossible to see a GP or even get an urgent call…"

I was suffering severe pain in my right leg and was unable to walk around the house properly. I rang 111 and was advised to see a GP. I rang the GP's surgery to be told I could only have a call back from the GP and that could be any time. I was in extreme pain and needed to see someone. I rang 111 again who said I should be contacted within 2hrs by the surgery. Rang the surgery again to be told no time could be given for the call back. During that conversation I was told the doctor was then just about to call me. I was prescribed painkillers. I took these but they had no effect, I was still in agony. My daughter took me to Corby Urgent Care Unit where they said they couldn't prescribe anything stronger I had to see a GP but they agreed I did need something stronger. After more phone calls to 111 then the surgery the next day I eventually got another call back from a doctor who prescribed the stronger painkillers.

I had pleaded with the receptionist to make me an appointment but she would only arrange the call back and said the doctor would call me in then if he thought it was needed. I am not young, I live on my own, I was in so much pain that I couldn't function properly but no one at the surgery seemed to care.

I rang the surgery again today as I was having adverse side effects to the drug I was given to check if it was ok to keep taking them. She didn't even ask my name, just told me to speak to a pharmacist, there were no more call backs today. The surgery is now closed for 4 days over Easter. Why is it so impossible to actually see a doctor? I am fortunate enough not to have needed a GP for many years but I am horrified at how the system has changed.