"Needs to sort out access for chronically ill"

I can completely understand that with the huge pressures on GP appointments currently, that getting an appointment for the same day or even a week's time is hugely challenging and I understand the need to phone at 8am and just try and get an appointment for that day, a bit of a lottery but I can understand it. What I do struggle with is booking a routine appointment. I have a chronic disease and when I need to see my doctor, I'm happy to wait 4-5 weeks if necessary but find that 9 times out of 10, when I ring up to book one, there are no slots and I am asked to phone back the following week [presumably for when more appointment slots have been released]. This is very inefficient as it is creating more telephone traffic to an already busy surgery for something that could have been booked that day had the appointment books been open for longer. I cannot book online as online booking services have been switched off since covid, and now it seems I cannot even use e-consult. I thought Practices were contracted to provide at least one form of 'online' access. The receptionist told me that e-consult is only switched on between 8am - 12 Monday to Friday but I have been onto the website several times over the past couple of weeks during these times to be told by the website that this service is currently switched off. I hate to be so negative as when I do speak to a doctor, I am always very satisfied and have been a patient at the practice for over 30-years but I feel that this whole question of access for chronically ill patients needs to be addressed by the Practice as patients, particularly those more vulnerable and frail may end up suffering through lack of being able to access timely medical care. I know no appointment system is ever going to be perfect but please please please look at this.