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"I just want them to improve their system"

About: Adult community health services / Musculoskeletal physiotherapy service

(as a service user),

I've been trying all morning to get through to the Somerset Partnership physiotherapy/podiatry office, and I just cannot get through. I waited for a call back and didn't receive any phone call, then I rang through to be told by a machine that I was 10th in the queue, then waited ages til I was 9th, and so on and I just never got through. It's ridiculous.

I wanted to find out whether I actually need my appointment, I have just had a hip operation but it doesn't seem like I need the physio and there is no point wasting everyone's time on something totally unnecessary. Unfortunately, seeing as I can't get through to the phones, I'm just going to have to go along, potentially wasting my time, the time of the doctors and staff there, as well as my husband's time when he has to take the day off work to drive me.

I don't know if they need a new booking system, or to hire more staff to answer the phones or what. I don't want an apology or a reassuring response, I just want them to improve their system so patients can like me can get the services we need without wasting everybody's time.

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Responses

Response from Emma Davey, Director of Patient Experience and Engagement, Somerset NHS Foundation Trust 5 years ago
We are preparing to make a change
Emma Davey
Director of Patient Experience and Engagement,
Somerset NHS Foundation Trust
Submitted on 16/12/2018 at 17:03
Published on Care Opinion at 19:58


picture of Emma Davey

Hi there,

Thanks for getting in touch with us to share your difficulties getting in touch with our Physiotherapy team and I am really sorry that this has caused you upset and frustration.

We are really aware of the challenges trying to access our booking lines at present and completely agree that this is not good enough - as such, the service manager has been working hard to source additional support for the booking office team and has also asked for support from our IT colleagues with regards to the many reported concerns about the telephone queue system.

I hope you will be reassured that we are taking these issues seriously and are determined to ensure we have an efficient booking system back in place very soon. In the meantime, please do get in touch with our PALS team on 01278 432022 if you would like to chat this through further.

Hope you continue to recover well from your hip operation.

All the best,

Emma

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