"No appointments at GP surgery until February!"

I decided to visit the walk in centre today because I felt I'd developed a chest infection and needed to be seen. I heard two days ago that at both my usual surgeries there were no appointments until February and as I had been ill for more than 24 hours didn't qualify for the same day service via the triage nurse. This is despite the fact our surgery has ten partners and five salaried GPs.

Within around an hour and a half I was seen by the Nurse Practitoner, who prescribed a course of antibiotics and gave general advice and reassurance..

Apparently I was patient number 105 today with several more to be seen.

Perhaps the usual practices of the patients seen should have to reimburse the Walk in Centre.