"Impossible To Get Appointment! "

I have no idea what has happened in the last couple of months, but it is impossible to get an appointment. My wife, myself and my Mother have all been unable to get an appointment, and when I asked the receptionist about this they said that demand is outstripping supply and that they even have virtually no appointments available at 8. 30 in the morning for that day. I asked if I could pre book ahead, and was told there was nothing available. I had injured my back at work, so was forced to plod on in great pain with help from my pharmacist instead. Seemingly they are now 'telephone triaging' patients now due to lack of appointment spaces and offer you a 'ring back'.

My mother waited in all day for a doctor to ring her as promised, and never received a call at all. I am very concerned by this deterioration in services and feel that dealing with patients primarily over the phone could potentially put patient's at risk - how can you diagnose properly if you can't see or examine the patient? As a family, we are seriously thinking of moving to another practice. I am wondering if this is the outcome the Barony Practice are hoping for from fed up patients so that they can ease their workload (call me cynical).