"Phoning the surgery is so stressful"

Phoning the surgery is so stressful. Dialling at 8.00am, one can ring continuously for half an hour or longer. An automated response can state that there are no appointments available within minutes of the surgery opening and yet one cannot book appointments in advance. How can that happen, realistically? Seeing a doctor face to face seems almost an impossibility. Cannot speak with a doctor who actually knows you and requesting a specific GP is impossible. I cannot remember when I was last able to see or speak with my named GP. When a doctor phones you back, it’s quite obvious that they know little about you and in some cases have not really read what you have written when completing a brief summary of your condition online. This is evidenced by the questions that they ask. (Some of the online questions are not always fit for purpose either).

I do not feel that I could now contact my GP about non urgent concerns and as a result, health issues could now easily go undetected.

One is requested not to attend AnE unless in an emergency but the GP appointment situation is often forcing people to attend AnE. 

I was always happy with this surgery pre Covid times but since then, the efficiency of the practice has plummeted. 

I was given a face to face appointment some time ago at the branch surgery at Messingham. As I do not drive, this was not easy to get to. I had to catch a bus an hour before my appointment time, as the closer bus time would have made me late for my appointment by 5 minutes. As it happened, I waited for my appointment for 40 minutes past the appointed time! 

I was never contacted by the practice to have my first Covid booster, despite being told by phone, that I would be, once the new batch of vaccines, that were awaited, arrived. I sourced my vaccines myself elsewhere. 

There is a huge assumption that patients have internet access and a degree of computer expertise, which is not necessarily the case, especially with the more mature person.

I now feel that trying to contact my GP practice with any general concerns, is a complete waste of time and unnecessary stress. 

I cannot understand why the situation is as it is, now that we are informed by government that face to face consultations should be taking place. 

I would like to point out on a side note that the practice has had building extension work recently completed and I cannot help but wonder why? There must be the room to see patients, so why can’t we be given appointments. 

Sadly I find this to be shambolic. I am bitterly disappointed, after having researched the practice initially when moving to the area in 2005 and having had some positive recommendations at that time.