"A Difficult Start as a New Patient"

As part of a military family, we relocate often and regularly have to register with new GP surgeries. Being new to this area, I tried to register with Abbey Field Medical online, who display Armed Forces Veteran Friendly Accredited GP Practice online. Despite several attempts, it wasn’t clear if I had been accepted or able to book an appointment.

I called the practice to explain I have ongoing health conditions that require specialist referrals. I was redirected back to the online system and kept completing forms until I eventually received a text confirming I was registered and would receive a non-urgent appointment. In total, it took nine weeks from my initial registration attempt to get an appointment.

This delay caused real concern, as I rely on medications prescribed by my specialists—not my GP. The long wait risked interrupting this care, which is especially stressful when you have to move every year and can't afford gaps in treatment.

Unfortunately, the appointment I waited so long for was disappointing. I was seen by a nurse practitioner who seemed disinterested from the beginning. They were abrupt, and when I mentioned I had more than one issue to discuss, I was told they only had ten minutes, including note-taking time, and that I had to keep it brief. I completely understand time pressures, but as a new patient needing essential referrals—not just a chat—this response felt dismissive and uncaring.

When I raised how I felt about this interaction, they apologised, but by that point, I no longer felt comfortable discussing personal medical concerns with someone who didn’t seem to want to listen.

One of my previous specialists had advised me to speak with my GP about my current medications. After this experience, I don’t feel able to do that here. Now I’m stuck deciding whether to try registering with another GP (delaying my referrals again), wait and hope things improve, or try to manage my health on my own—none of which are good options.

This has been a very frustrating and disheartening start with a new practice, and I hope Abbey Field Medical can reflect on how they support new patients—especially those with ongoing medical needs who are trying to get the care they require in a new area.