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"Lengthy amount of time to try to get an appointment"

About: General practices in Lanarkshire

(as a service user),

This is the 3rd week I have been trying to get an appointment with my GP.  I have called on 5 different days, waited over half an hour on the phone each time, ranging from being no 50 in the queue to no 43 each time and eventually after getting through the 'Care Navigator' tells me there are no appointments left and to call back again tomorrow.

My symptoms remain as severe pack pain, abdomen pain, arm weakness, memory loss, crashing tiredness, leg pain, pins and needles, shoulder pain, neck and jaw pain and for the past couple of days now dark coloured urine also. I also had issues with swallowing that I've had in the past and thankfully a nurse practitioner arranged blood tests and a referral to Hairmyres for this. She said I really needed to see a doctor for all of the other issues, as did the consultant I then saw at Hairmyres. How can I see a doctor when each time I call I am told all of the appointments are gone. Why can't an appointment then be made for the next day since it's obvious I need an appointment.

Each phone call, the Care Navigator is told all of my symptoms. On one of the calls last week I was told if it was any consolation it sounded like what they had last October and it was so bad they had to set an alarm to remember to let my dog out. But there was still no appointments available today and that I needed to call back tomorrow. This is not acceptable behaviour. I'm clearly worried about my health and do not feel well one bit that's why I'm trying to get a doctor's appointment. It seems next to impossible.

The whole process is inhumane and devoid of any compassion towards people trying to 'win the lottery' of getting an appointment. In my opinion it's awful and leaves me feeling very low and demoralised. I now have to wait in pain to go through the same process again tomorrow.

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Responses

Response from Lesley Mallon, Risk Management Facilitator, University Hospital Hairmyres, NHS Lanarkshire 3 years ago
Lesley Mallon
Risk Management Facilitator, University Hospital Hairmyres,
NHS Lanarkshire
Submitted on 07/04/2021 at 14:43
Published on Care Opinion at 14:43


picture of Lesley Mallon

Dear Mothernature44

Many thanks for posting on Care Opinion. I was very sorry to read of the delays and difficulties you have experienced in trying to obtain an appointment with your GP.

Please be advised that GP’s are independent contractors and are responsible for investigating and responding to any concerns a person may have about their service; they are not registered to respond directly to feedback through Care Opinion. I would therefore invite you to contact the Practice Manager if you would like a direct response about the service you experienced.

Kind regards.

Lesley

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