"Poor Access since merger"

I was previously registered at Tame Valley where I never struggled to get an appointment in a reasonable time. Since the merger I am always in a telephone queue of 8/9 waiting to get through to reception. People do not always have time to wait for such long times and you have to come to the surgery or call to access the online options initially.

I have just rang for an appointment, was not asked what the issue was and given an appointment for 3 weeks time.

Would it have even made a difference if I had insisted on telling the receptionist my symptoms??

To be clear, you can expect to wait less time than this to be seen for a cancer referral. This wait time would almost double the access to treatment for patients where a cancer was found.

The level of access to this practice is completely unacceptable. Constantly being told to go to the walk in centre does nothing but create pressure in a stretched system, this will be affecting all urgent care centres locally.

I would be very interested to see the outcome of a CQC inspection following this merger. This practice cannot guarantee it is safeguarding vulnerable patients or those at risk when it is offering no system to ensure those with alarming symptoms are seen.

The practice waiting rooms are now always very full with frustrated patients waiting to be seen at reception.

I will also be registering a complaint with NHS England and looking to move practices as I no longer feel this practice is safe.