‘100s of calls’ to get appointment
PATIENTS have revealed they have been calling their doctors’ surgeries more than 100 times in a day just to get an appointment.
One patient claimed they once had to call 148 times to make an appointment to see a doctor.
More than 100 readers on the Burton Mail’s website told of their despair, with some claiming that despite calling their surgeries in the early morning, they were still forced to wait in a virtual queue for hours, only to be eventually told all the appointments had been taken that day.
It comes after Rosliston Parish Council claimed a woman, had to ring Stapenhill Surgery “36 times” in one morning to get through to make an appointment, only to be told there were none available that day.
The claim was made in a letter sent by the parish council to East Staffordshire Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) following concerns that promises to improve Stapenhill Surgery have not been kept.
In 2019, Rosliston Medical Centre was controversially closed, with its 2,000 patients moved to Stapenhill Surgery. However, readers have said it is not just Stapenhill Surgery which they have had trouble with.
Andy E Wright said: “That’s nothing, I rang Gordon Street Surgery 72 times in a morning to get in but engaged. I gave up.”
One reader, Sintija Lusa, commented on the story and said: “Thirty-six times? What you crying about? I tried about 80 times twice a day, five days in a row and didn’t get appointment.”
There were similar comments from other readers.
Will Griffiths wrote: “It takes 100s [of calls] to get through to Carlton Street Surgery; 36 is amazing.”
Leah Wilcox said: “Only 36? I’ve gone into the hundreds to get through to my doctors.”
Mamag Granger commented: “Thirty-six times? That’s better. I call sometimes 110 times.”
Robyn Leigh said: “I called my GP over 148 times once. Thirty-six times is nothing compared to that.”
Carol Dowson claimed it was not just Rosliston patients that were struggling with Stapenhill Surgery.
She said: “It’s just the same living in Stapenhill. I was waiting one hour and 15 minutes on hold this afternoon.”
However, a few patients also said they have had had no problems getting through to their doctors.
Sonia Mckay said: “I must have been lucky then, as I called at the beginning of the year for my young son. First call I was third in the queue so waited. Got through, got a call back and booked for that morning.”
Kevin Wainwright added: “At my surgery [Peel Croft] I get through first time every time and make an appointment the same day, no problem. I have been with them forever and they are by far the best surgery and doctors.”
When informed of the claims made by the patients and asked by Staffordshirelive what it would do to mitigate any issues, a spokesman for East Staffordshire CCG said: “We would like to thank everyone for their patience in contacting their GP surgery.
“Practices are extremely busy and during the pandemic have had to adapt the way they deal with patients, which includes offering more telephone or online appointments, as well as face to face appointments where appropriate.
“Help is always available and wherever possible you should try and use the most appropriate service for your health need. This could be your community pharmacy for minor illness or injury or NHS 111 if you have an urgent medical problem and you’re not sure what to do.”
PATIENTS SAY THEY ARE STRUGGLING TO SEE GPS
I tried about 80 times twice a day, five days in a row and didn’t get appointment.
Sintija Lusa