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Unable to get an appointment

Story from nhs.uk

"Unable to get an appointment"

About: Spring Hall Group Practice

Since the merger it has been near impossible to either gain an appointment, or see/speak to the same doctor. I appreciate the current situation is challenging, but other normal yet still important medical issues are being sidelined. I have not been able to address personal medical issues for months. I feel this is not good enough and is placing more people at risk. Disappointing. When we have had contact by phone the appointments seem rushed as if you are taking up valuable time unnecessarily. It does not make you feel welcome or like your issues or you matter. I am part of Southowram surgery and can honestly say that it is not the service or care it used to be.

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Responses

Response from Spring Hall Group Practice 3 years ago
Spring Hall Group Practice

Submitted on 08/11/2020 at 19:50
Published on nhs.uk on 09/11/2020 at 10:59

We are very sorry to hear that you feel this way. During Covid, the team at Spring Hall Group Practice have been trying incredibly hard to continue to provide medical care, medications, advice and support to our patients whilst working within the confines of government guidance and restrictions imposed on us, as we work our way through the pandemic.

Our ‘normal’ way of working has been turned on its head and we have all had to adapt very quickly to accessing care in a very different way, despite this we are continuing to see patients face to face where necessary:

As you know, Calderdale is not COVID-free and we must continue to ask that patients access help and advice remotely in the first instance.

If the GP feels that the patient needs to be seen, they will book them a face-to-face appointment. The receptionist cannot bypass this system – to do so, would put everyone at the surgery, including patients who are already vulnerable, at risk from the virus.

We do not need patients just turning up at the surgery thinking they will be seen. It is only by taking these measures that we can try and keep the virus at bay and protect each other.

We have found over the past few weeks that tolerances have now become very low. People are really tired of the ever changing regulations that we all have to adhere to and the restrictions that the pandemic is putting us all under. We do understand this and we apologise for any distress caused. If you would like to discuss this further please contact the practice manager Tracy Worrall

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