"Never Any Appointments!"

Two weeks ago I phoned the surgery at 8am to try and get an urgent appointment due to having severe stomach pains, I got through at 8.03am and was told that every appointment had already gone for that day. I tried to explain that I was in a lot of pain, was worried I may have Appendicitis and was told there was nothing she could do. I then had no choice other than to go to hospital. Two days later I had my appendix removed.

I have just phoned for an other appointment because I have been diagnosed with Gallstones and have been told that unless I want to drive a 20 mile round trip to Waltham Abbey (even though I am still recovering from the appendectomy surgery, I can't have an appointment for 20 days time because 'all the appointments before Christmas have been snapped up'!!

This is completely unacceptable!

It is said that patients unnecessarily attend A & E departments of hospitals, but what choice is there when it is impossible to make an appointment at the GP surgery when you need to attend!