"Where have all the GP's gone."

My partner visited the surgery at opening time today, rather than using the telephone as he needed to see a doctor quickly with an ongoing problem that seeing the practise nurses twice had not resolved.

The receptionist told him it would be ages before he could see a doctor but would not specify how long a wait he would have.

When he asked to see a practise nurse he was told she had phoned in to say she would not be in today.

He asked what else could she recommend she spoke of a place in Bridgwater but offered no information as to where it was.

He came home and decided to phone the NHS helpline.

The lady he spoke to was extremely helpful and after many questions advised him to go to A&E in Weston.

Fortunately the problem does not seem to be serious but to an already heavily burdened A&E more help could have been more forthcoming from the local surgery.

Whilst we appreciate the surgery is at the sharp end it would be nice to know there were sufficient doctors to see patients within a decent timeline.

So - where have all the doctors gone?