"Choice given in GP first phone appointment system"

Since the new GP telephone call back system was introduced it has had teething issues.

I have acute depression and anxiety and to actually call the GP for an appointment is very stressful.

I don't leave the house appart from medical apointments so even when I am very ill, anything being different to what I expect makes the experience unbearable.

Today I have had a wonderful experience with the new system.

I rang as normal and asked for a call back. I was then asked if I would like a male or female GP to call me back (I haven't been asked this before) I asked who they were and was able to make the appointment to speak to the GP I have met before. This obviously reduced the stress of waiting for the call.

Whilst on with the receptionist I asked if there was always 2 GP's and was told there are 2 or 3 at each time, they do try to balance out the lists but you can ask who is working and request to be called back by a specific one and this will be done if possible. Which I wasn't aware of.

My understanding of what they also explained is that you can ask for a call back from any GP to allow continuity of treatment that I need (and felt had been lost). You may not be called that day if that GP is not working but you don't have to keep speaking to different GP's.

For me this is fantastic as it means if I don't need urgent treatment I can just speak to the GP I am comfortable with.

A lovely receptionist who understood my specific anxiety needs and explained that the system is actually not as arbitrary as it seems, it does allow continuity of care, if only all patients were aware of this simple additional information.