Months of waiting for a doctor’s telephone call

sir – The Government tell us the NHS is open and trusts are getting back to normal. As a patient with continuing health issues, I will have to wait 14

months for a phone call from the consultant or junior.

This follows the cancellation on Friday of another “telephone consultation” from another consultant (who is monitoring my steroid medication for giant-cell arteritis) with no alternative date given. “We will contact you to offer you a new appointment when the situation allows,” the letter says.

On Saturday came another letter cancelling a general surgery phone consultation on September 9, adding: “We have booked another general surgery telephone consultation on: Wednesday January 26 2022.”

I suspect a percentage of us who receive a similar communication will not be around to take the call.

Martyn Lincoln

Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire

sir – I can confirm the distressing trend of GPS refusing to see patients and referring them to the 111 service (Letters, August 29).

My partner was dying at home in late May after contracting a non-covid hospital infection. Our GP refused to come out to see him in his last hours, citing the threat of Covid infection. This caused anguish for our family.

A 111 doctor (masked) did come to see my partner on his last night and early next morning after his death, and was very caring. He put our own GP, whom we have known for years, to shame.

Sue Kemble

London SW10