"Access to results"

I am writing to express my concerns about the effect on patients of the lack of doctor appointments available to patients in the Lerwick Health Centre. NHS Shetland has spent approximately £140 thousand on Advanced Nurse Practitioners who have improved patient access to acute assessment appointments but have done nothing to address access to GPs for return assessment appointments.

I have currently been undergoing investigations and had been sent for an urgent CT scan by a locum GP within a 2 week timescale. After having my CT scan I was advised by the X- ray staff to make a GP appointment for 8-10 days to receive the results. On phoning the health centre I was advised the soonest I could see a GP was in the middle of November- 4- 6 weeks hence. I am due to go away abroad in 2 weeks time and feel that I need to be aware of any medical condition in case I require treatment when I am away.

I have contacted the complaints team who suggested I could make an ANP appointment for my results but I am aware that this is not an appropriate route for me to access my results. I also do not feel it is appropriate for a duty doctor to deliver CT results via a phone appointment. If there was an issue with my CT results I am aware I would be called into the health centre to see a doctor- therefore this appointment must already exist but for some reason patients cannot access these appointments.

I have the right to know what is wrong with me given that a locum GP has sent me for a urgent CT but it seems impossible to access this information. I do not feel that this is appropriate care for patients to be left in this position- I currently have no appointment for my results as I could not get any appointment from the receptionist