"Trying to get GP appointment."

BHWBC web site . . . . dead.

SystmOnline website for appointments . . . . dead.

SystmOnline website for prescriptions . . . . dead.

BHWBC reception phone . . . . might as well be dead!

I am 68 years old, crippled with OA, pointless telling me to queue at surgery to get an appointment at 0800hrs, I cannot get out of bed for that time with the amount of pain that I endure.

My wife tries to phone, at 0800hrs or indeed ANY TIME OF DAY, . . . . 'you are 3rd in Q, then you are cut off, then line engaged, redial, then you are 1st in Q, then you wait and wait and wait and wait, then line drops out again, redial, engaged, redial you are 3rd in Q, etc.'

Today, my wife had to endure this shocking scenario from 0800hrs till 0825hrs, only to be told that there were no appointments. They put us down for a cancellation.

Centre left a message at 1538hrs, we responded at 1545hrs and at 1600hrs we were cut off. My wife then re-dialled and had to wait for 45 minutes, during which she was 1st in Q for a MASSIVE 37 minutes! She had to hang up due to stress, pain and tiredness, not to mention frothing at the mouth!! Finally got through at 1715hrs and spoke to staff about missed message.

Please answer this enigma:-

Why, when I am sat in the waiting room for some 15-20 minutes, do I not hear receptionists rushed off their feet answering continuous calls? I have monitored this and they seem to have the situation well under control, taking calls every 5-7 minutes. Then when I get home and ring the Centre we revert to the above scenario.

There is something dreadfully askew with the phone system.

Who has taken over the Centre? Are they from this planet?

We patients get NO INFO whatsoever as to what is going on.

Seems they are bent on destroying our Centre.

For example, how many GP's do we now have full time at the Centre?

Now we are informed that everyone may have to re-register to use SystmOnline website facilities! What a joke!!!

Finally, these calls cost us an absolute fortune, so I put it to them in the politest of terms:- PLEASE, PLEASE, GET ME AN APPOINTMENT WITH A GP ASAP.

Been with surgery for over 4 years. Now this!!!