"Room for improvement"

Whilst I appreciate that the latest on-line booking system is a great improvement on the incredibly poor appointment system that existed in the past - it still isn't good.

If you fill in the on-line form you may be told that someone will ring you - no time is given. Many patients have jobs that do not allow them to answer the phone during working hours. You may be given an appointment time - without any choice , many people have jobs that do not allow them to take time off during working hours or at very short notice. If you ring the praccice trying to find a date or time that work will allow it is very, very, difficult and sometimes impossible. Many employers do not accept that is impossible to get a dr's appt before or after work - and it shouldn't be so difficult. Talking to work colleagues who attend other surgeries their experiences seem to be more positive.

If you are told by text that a routine appt is all that is necessary and that you will be contacted when anappointment becomes available, my experience is that you are not contacted.

The system at the surgery may have improved, but it is still extremely challenging for those of us who can't answer the phone at any time, or attend the surgery at any time, if we wish to keep our jobs!