"Shocking service by ‘professional’ doctor"

After trying for many days ringing the surgery early morning and waiting for 40 minutes plus, To be told to ring again tomorrow etc etc I finally managed to secure a telephone call back for a suspect varicose vein to the calf. The vein had been bleeding on and off forming a crusty scab. The doctor was very polite and said It could possibly be a blood clot or something else but nevertheless to take a photo and email It to the surgery and he would ring back after looking at it. I did Exactly as he asked straight away and heard nothing back at all that day.

The following morning I rang the doctors surgery to ask the receptionist if the doctor in question had left a message on my notes about the outcome of the photo. She told me there was no comment whatsoever and to ring back again tomorrow to secure another telephone call back. Basically to start the whole process again.

My partner Who works in a surgery took the phone and spoke to the receptionist and said this was NOT Acceptable and not the Correct procedure and that somebody should have called me, either the doctor in question or a member of the admin team. Just to put the patient in the picture if nothing else. All the receptionist could do was book in another call back but told us it would be 10 days time. Although very unhappy we took this as we had no choice.

My partner rang the surgery back A short time later to complain and the receptionist kindly agreed that she would ask a different doctor to look at the photo that day as apparently the original doctor was a locum Had no more clinics to book and they didn’t know When/if he would be coming back. I was told The alternative doctor would call me back by the end of surgery today after looking at the photo - Again nothing!!!!

I Think this is a disgusting way to treat patients. We are not constantly asking the surgery for call backs or appointments. We are genuine people who hardly ever use the doctors.

No wonder the surgery is in special measures. This is an appalling service or lack of service !!!!

I want to say I think the receptionists/admin are trying their best but the doctors there seem to have a couldn’t care less attitude.