"Long wait for services"

To whom it may concern:-

My feedback in relation to the South Eastern Health and Social Care Trust is as follows:-

1. Recently I rang Donaghadee Health Centre seeking an appointment. I started phoning from 8:30am and immediately heard the recorded message which indicated that all telephone appointments for that day were taken and to phone back tomorrow. I initially thought that someone had left the recorded message on from the day before and that the telephone lines for that particular day were not yet opened. However, after phoning for 15 minutes and listening to the same message, it became clear that in fact no telephone appointments were available for that day and the lines had not opened at all because of that. I then went on-line and managed to make an appointment for 3 weeks later – i.e. a telephone appointment!

2. Prior to the above, on another occasion , I walked over to the surgery to make an appointment and was told by the receptionist that I wasn’t allowed to do that anymore, but that on this occasion they would in fact make a telephone appointment for me. This was after our surgeries had opened again and not during the pandemic!

3. I think it is unacceptable that Bangor Minor Injuries Unit is closed and that there is now a telephone triage appointment system to access  Newtownards Minor Injuries Unit.

4. I shudder to think how elderly/unwell patients navigate this nightmare system in order to be seen by a GP and I am quite sure that serious illnesses are being missed. It is unrealistic to expect a correct diagnosis to be made on the basis of a telephone call and a photograph.

5.Also I have had to use private care on a few occasions as the waiting lists for a first appointment with a consultant are far too long -on one occasion the waiting list to see a consultant urgently about a painful face swelling was 18 months!

On those occasions that I have managed to access a GP and services, I am satisfied with the treatment/service I have received. The problem lies with the initial access and waiting lists.

Many thanks