This is Care Opinion [siteRegion]. Did you want Care Opinion [usersRegionBasedOnIP]?
Care Opinion

They never want to give you an appointment

Story from nhs.uk

"They never want to give you an appointment"

About: Plas Meddyg Surgery

I registered here after moving from Hextable, where the doctor was superb, and this Plas Meddyn surgery is awfully in comparison. Today I phoned to see if I can see someone as a mole has changed shape on my face and it worries me. They said no appointments are available for a week. Ok , I said , I will book for next week. They said you can’t as we don’t like people to wait over a week for an appointment !!! . So this then means that there is some form of system or checks that they are trying to avoid by not having appointments in the future. This is 3 times on the trot now that I have been rebuffed by this surgery.

More about:
nhs.uk logo
Do you have a similar story to tell? Tell your story & make a difference ››

Responses

Response from Plas Meddyg Surgery 5 years ago
Plas Meddyg Surgery

Submitted on 11/02/2019 at 15:22
Published on nhs.uk at 16:06

Dear Anonymous

Thank you for your comments. I am sorry that you feel we do not compare favourably with your former practice.

I have spoken to the receptionist who took a call this morning that we believe was from yourself but unfortunately we do not know your personal details so that we can discuss further with you other than via this site.

She remembers the call and your concern over the mole on your face that has changed shape. She tried to take further details in case the Duty Doctor felt you should be seen today as an emergency but was told by you that that wouldn't be possible as you were abroad.

You then asked if you could have a routine appointment for the following Thursday (February 21st). We only release routine appointments one week in advance (at 2.30pm each weekday online and on the telephone) and have been using this system for over a year with reasonable success. There were a few appointments still available within the next 7 days when you rang but appointments for the actual 21st would not be released until the 14th. We do try and see patients within 7 days to offer a good service, rather than them have to book weeks in advance when the symptoms may have either gone away or worsened in the intervening period. I understand she tried to explain the system.

I am sorry you feel rebuffed - this is certainly not our intention. The receptionist didn't feel that there was anything in your conversation to suggest that you felt the need to write a comment on this site so was surprised when I said that you had..

I understand that she did not mention (the conversation didn't lend it itself to this) that we can offer GP appointments in the evenings and at the weekends at two special GP Hubs in the borough (one at Queen Mary's Hospital and one at Erith Hospital) and that there is usually good availability and they can, if desired by the patient, be booked further in advance than one week. These GP Hubs are manned by local GPs who, with your consent, have access to your medical records. I don't know if these appointments may be of interest in the future?

Please do not hesitate to contact me if you would like to discuss further.

Yours faithfully, Mark Burgess, Practice Manager

  • {{helpful}} {{helpful == 1 ? "person thinks" : "people think"}} this response is helpful
Opinions
Next Response j
Previous Response k