"Trying to access GP services"

I tried to contact the Healthcare Surgery today - here is my story 

12:30 today started with bladder infection, something I have had many times, normally get a 3 day course of antibiotics. Rang GP thought if I got a prescription to the pharmacy 5 mins walk away it would straightforward, and save the surgery time since they are busy with the COVID vaccine.

13:30 put through to out of hours and then advised to phone GP after 14:30

14:30 phone GP advised a prescription would be sent through but check after 4

16:15 phone GP sorry hasn’t done it I will check and phone you back

16:45 receptionist phoned to say GP won’t do prescription I have to phone 111

16:53 phone 111 told I must phone my GP as it’s not out of hours

17:15 get through to GP, advised a doctor will phone you

17:45 Receptionist phones to say GP won’t speak to me or do a prescription and I have to phone 111

17:53 phone 111 It’s too early I have to phone after 18:00

During all this time I have been in a lot of pain, spent most of the afternoon on the loo and basically feel crap

18:05 finally someone takes my details, I have to wait now until an out of hours GP phones 

18:34 Out of hours GP just phoned and prescribed antibiotics. 

I now have to get a taxi to pharmacy to collect as my local one is now closed. 

What should have been a simple process has taken hours, caused me stress and upset and prolonged the pain. The amount of cost to the NHS with all these calls, 3 lots of screening with NHS 111 etc how is this helping. I rarely phone the practice because it’s so difficult to speak to anyone but today I knew what was wrong with me and a simple prescription was all that was required.

I must add that the reception staff are always brilliant, I can’t praise them enough but they are limited in what they can do.