"Unprofessional, Poor and Dangerous"

After being unable to attend any slots due to there only being prebooked appointments, due to it being a Bank Holiday, I attended my local A&E dept. Symptoms included dizziness, stomach pain and swelling. I was told to visit my gp after being discharged to book an urgent follow up. I called the next day to book and after a 52 min wait on the phone, I was told there were no bookings this week and that I could try calling back at 2pm to see if I could get an appt later that day. I did this. After another lengthy queue wait, I was then told that a gp would call me back to make an appt to possibly come in later that day? I rec'd the call and after a brief description, she advised that they will need to take bloods again, even though they were taken less than 24hrs earlier at A&E. My details had been sent across on the system, as she already had all the info. I agreed to this and I then asked that she transferred me back to reception. She tried 4 times to do so, without success, at which point I was cut off!! Fuming and distressed! I called back and after a 3rd lengthy wait, I explained to the receptionist what had taken place and that I needed an appt later that day to have bloods taken. I was then informed that bloods can only be taken before 12 noon as that is when they are collected from the surgery and that the locum doctor was not aware of this! The only way to do it, is to book an appt to come in before 12, which I am unable to do, due to work commitments or to come to the surgery to get a form to take to the hospital I was at less than 24hrs prior and have bloods taken that were taken there less than 24hrs previously! I was not happy with this, so I asked to speak to the practice manager and was told they would call me back within 10 mins. It is 3 hrs later and no contact.

I too work for the NHS, so I am aware of the pressures that each and every one of us are under at present. But this is different. My experience with this surgery is incredibly unprofessional, bad management, poor customer focus and potentially not addressing what I feel is a serious health issue. I really feel so exhausted and exasperated by my experience with this surgery. I really don't know what else I can do to find out what is causing my symptoms