This is Care Opinion [siteRegion]. Did you want Care Opinion [usersRegionBasedOnIP]?
Care Opinion

Lack of Appointments

Posted By Panda24

"Lack of Appointments"

About: Bitterne Park Surgery

(as the patient),

Rang surgery last week to get appointment with a nurse. Was told prescribing nurse only available tues/wed, and to phone back monday morning. Did that to be told that I had miss the couple they had released for tuesday and to phone back tomorrow (tues am) when they release the rest. Phone again to ask about a non-prescribing nurse appointment but after speaking to receptionist she was reluctant as I may need a prescription, was advised I could use the 'hub' service, fine but since the surgery became part of a wider group this meant it could be miles away and I couldn't cancel it if I couldn't get there. Phone a third times in the hope of a doctors appointment to be told there was nothing as appointments are released two weeks ahead and had gone, asked for one after mid May but they are not released until 2 weeks before. I'm struggling to understand and remember all these instructions and changes. I tried pharmacists without much luck so need to see someone else. I don't mind waiting for my GP but as someone with congnitive issues trying to get to grips with a new (unhelpful) system is challenging, becoming part of partnership should have made things easier, but from the experience that is definitely not the case.

Do you have a similar story to tell? Tell your story & make a difference ››

Responses

Response from Patient Services, Patient Services Manager, Bitterne Park Surgery 5 years ago
Patient Services
Patient Services Manager,
Bitterne Park Surgery

Submitted on 04/05/2018 at 14:36
Published on Care Opinion at 16:31

I am very sorry to learn of your dissatisfaction with the service that we are providing and to learn of the conflicting and difficult to understand / follow advice being provided. Without full details it is difficult to advise specifically but I would confirm that for those conditions/ symptoms unable to await a routine appointment, our Bitterne Park Surgery continues to offer a same day / urgent care service, which you should access to avoid further delays if you feel this appropriate.

Like all surgeries and as reported widely in both national and local media we are struggling to recruit and retain clinical resource and this does affect our capacity to meet patient demand and expectations. As a group we are constantly looking to review the management of our appointments and endeavour to offer as wide a patient choice as possible, given our available resource.

We have recently changed the way that our GP appointments are offered at Bitterne Park and I appreciate that for long standing patients this does take getting used to. We continue to offer the same volume of appointments overall but we now offer for just 2 weeks in advance as opposed to the longer appointment lead time, previously provided.

It would be great if you could contact me so that I can look into your specific circumstances. You can do this by e-mailing me at whccg.stlukessurgery@nhs.net

  • {{helpful}} {{helpful == 1 ? "person thinks" : "people think"}} this response is helpful
Opinions
Next Response j
Previous Response k