"Very "Catch 22" to get somewhere here..."

- APPOINTMENTS, cannot always get through by phone, and although there is a handy online booking system, it doesn't necessarily include all the GPs at the Practice, and you are only able to book with the one GP with whom you are registered.

This often means waiting 2-3 weeks...

(On occasion, this system hasn't worked and has "cancelled" the appointment, too.)

- RECEPTION, mostly helpful and friendly, but there are days when their "stress" comes through, and you may need to just "take a deep breath".

- GPS, the best GP has just retired, very sadly.

He LISTENED, (something that seems to be lacking elsewhere,) and he was empathetic, and was also one of the few that genuinely understood matters of mental health.

Overheard many people sad to hear the retirement news, too.

Others can be okay with physical health issues, (but NOT with mental health issues).

Do not expect to be seen on time, (if you are booking in a lunch hour,) and do not expect to see a GP when you NEED them.

By the time I finally last saw a GP, I then had additional issues, but, of course, there was no time to discuss them (- and told to book for another appointment, in 2-3 weeks time).

It seems this is common practice.

Have, more than once, cancelled an approaching appointment due to not being able to face the alternative GP allocated, as often made to feel that their time has been wasted...