"Why have a local GP? "

A recent gout flareup has caused some quite considerable pain over the last day or so, and with me running short on my prescribed naproxen to help manage with the pain I called my local GP for help.

After calling at 08:00 sharp, to the greeting of the phone lines are full, I tried the online enquiry form of which this has "hit its maximum number of entries for the day". It was 10 past 8 in the am. Persistence meant I finally got through to the telephone queue, position 14 and a nice 28 minute wait, to get through to the reception. To then be told I couldn't get a repeat prescription due to time, understandable, and would need to see a doctor again understandable. But what I don't understand is, how there are no foreseeable appointments at my local GP never mind seeing someone that day, and I am asked to go to the walk in center in Derby, where they may have an appointment for me later that week. This is all well and good but I work 8-6, we're a one car household and my partner needed the car that week, and to be told their is public transport is great but I cannot walk because I'm having a severe gout outbreak. Really not impressed, I've been with Mickleover medical center for my entire life and they seem to be getting worse, I suspect the vast increase in new houses hasn't helped but to anyone considering moving here (if they are taking new people) my advice would be don't, certainly if you are looking for a local GP, because for me it's basically a call center.