"Getting face to face appointment with doctor"

It took me three months to pluck up courage to phone for a face to face appointment with a doctor and have only done so now because the situation has become urgent.

I was told there were no appointments left, I would have been happy with an appointment in a week/fortnights time. The only options were to accept either a phone call from a pharmacist or fill in an e-form, whatever that is - I’m in my 70’s so wouldn’t have a clue where to start with that.

It was only when I confided in the receptionist the real reason why I definitely needed a face to face (which I really hated doing) that she/he agreed that the two options I was given weren’t appropriate.

This receptionist actually then became very caring and compassionate and used their initiative to solve the problem.

I know receptionists are trained to deal with patients in a certain way so it’s not their fault but this whole getting an appointment system is a nightmare.

What has happened to the pre-Covid days when you would phone for an appointment and would only be asked if it was urgent and be given a suitable date and time.

Why is it that now you only have a few non-urgent appointments “dropped” into the system each day and these are snapped up so quickly.

Change does not always mean progress, sometimes you have to admit that the old ways are the best.

In my defence I would like you to know that normally I am a very positive and happy old biddy who thinks the world of the NHS so I apologise for having to get all this off my chest, it wasn’t easy.