"Why can't see a GP?"

What has happened to this surgery and the change in appointments is really not good. I have a long term condition and yet have not been able to see a GP for more than a year.

The process that is needed now to even try and get an appointment is farcical.

Firstly you have to ring up ASAP in the morning when the surgery opens at 0830. Of course the phones are never answered promptly.

Then you have serious of questions ( which you may not want to divulge) from the receptionist. You are then told that a GP will call you back ( no estimation of time given). Or the Nurse Practitioner may call you back (again no time).

Once you have then eventually spoken with either GP or nurse, you may then attend for final appointment at the surgery. And then that may now be with your nearest surgery as Beggarwood and Rooksdown have merged.

I then received a letter asking me to contact them for a medicine review and when I tried to book an appointment as per their letter, I'm told the Dr will call me back. Subsequently when he called me back, I had a telephone consultation whilst I was at work.

And apparently each patient has been given a nominated named Dr but patients have not been advised of who who their registered Dr is and good luck to anyone wishing to meet their Dr face to face for a review for long term conditions. I don't want to have to see a different member of staff each time I need to attend. Especially if they are locum who doesn't have time to read through your medical history or you are left trying to explain your medical history in two seconds flat even though it relates to your visit.

I wonder if GP surgeries have now changed from being places where you go to see a Doc for a non-emergency health appointment to only seeing patience who are acutely ill.

I know and I am not alone in feeling that some patients feel they are on a conveyor belt and not given quality time or service from the Nurse practioners I've met have been quite curt and uncaring.

After having my rant, I can say that the reception staff have had a really difficult time with everything that has gone and they do a sterling job.