"Could I have an appointment?... We don't give..."

On telephoning the practice yesterday with a suspected ear and nose infection, after waiting on hold for well over 10 minutes (and noting that the recorded message mentions how reception staff are "fully trained in dealing with certain medical issues") I was finally advised that all appointments had gone for the day!

Requested an appointment date and was told they don't give appointments anymore??

Explained to the "fully trained" staff i had a suspected ear and nose infection, what did they suggest?... that i should see a Dr was the first response followed with a suggestion that i should call back at 2pm to see if anyone had cancelled.

Called back at 2pm - No, no appointments available so I should just call back again tomorrow!

Telephoned again today and was again advised that they don't have any appointments and again they are unable to offer me an appointment.

I again advised them that i had a suspected ear and nose infection. After explaining why i needed an appointment (work commitments, unable to sit in the practice all day and basically going into far more detail that I personally felt that I should have had to with a receptionist) an appointment was arranged for 3 weeks later.

It is clearly a "surprise" that the "highly trained" staff failed to realise that an untreated ear infections alone can lead to more serious complications - including mastoiditis (a rare inflammation of a bone adjacent to the ear), hearing loss, perforation of the eardrum, meningitis, facial nerve paralysis, and possibly -- in adults -- Meniere's disease.

However as it stands I am now waiting for my appointment MID September, with a suspected ear and nose infection clearly untreated!!

It is absolutely disgraceful how this practice which use to be brilliant prior to the merging, has ended up with unhelpful and clearly untrained staff (contrary to the phone recorded message stating otherwise) and how a serious condition is just disregarded!

Would I recommend the practice for new patients who actually want an appointment to see a Dr? .... what do you think?!