"Getting an appointment on the day when you are ill"

I joined

Westgate Practice in 2016 as it was close to my home.

At first the surgery was friendly and responsive and the GP I saw was professional and thorough.

The practice nurse was readily available

In December 2017

I became ill with a fever and diarrhoea

I self treated for a week and used standard remedies rehydration salts and immodium.

I lived on toast and the occasional egg and kept up my fluids

After a week there was little improvement and after one night of disturbed sleep and a return to the diarrhoea,

I phoned the surgery and got through at 08.30.

I explained my situation that I was 71, lived alone and my neighbour was 98 years old .

I didn't want to attend the surgery to keep infection away from the elderly, pregnant women and young children.

I would like either a telephone consultation or a home visit ( 200 yards on foot)

The answer i received was robotic; there is no appointment available .

I asked if I was to receive any help

I was not rude

I had silence and the phone went dead.

I felt rejected and unwelcome

It was a frustrating I lost confidence in the first line staff

Eventually I phoned 111 and received help from a paramedic and a doctor

Westgate appeared to have no triage system

The receptionist seemed to be concentrating on making the appointment system work and not assessing patient needs.

I was unaware of a list of patients receiving similar treatment until another patient spoke with me and I looked on this web site..

I suspect part of the current pressures on A and E in hospitals may be explained by the wider implementation of a business model which appears to have been adopted by West gate