"Unhappy with care when my own GP was on maternity leave"

When my GP went on maternity leave last year the surgery was unable to find a replacement. For 12 months the post was covered by a series of locum doctors, most stayed at the surgery for a few weeks.

I was diagnosed with Rheumatoid Arthritis three years ago, a chronic health condition, and am still "learning" about the condition and the implications. When I started suffering from severe hip pain, I saw four different doctors over a three month period; each doctor suggested a different reason.

When I saw the fourth doctor after having had a hip x-ray, he immediately diagnosed bursitis telling me that it is quite common in patients with RA. I felt that I had suffered unnecessarily because none of the doctors I had seen really knew my medical history or me as a patient.

When I had a telephone appointment later for a different matter with a senior practice doctor he immediately said that I should be on the list of a permanent GP because of my condition. When I contacted the reception, I was told however that this was not possible as the other two permanent doctors did not have room for more patients.

I felt that the surgery let down patients like me with chronic conditions.