Rishi, I wish I had a doctor like yours
I UnDeRSTanD that Rishi Sunak is registered with a private GP practice that sees patients on the same day. He, therefore, has no idea what happens when nHS users attempt to obtain GP appointments. My experience may hopefully enlighten him.
Having a skin lesion that has failed to heal for 12 months and worried that it may be cancerous, I followed the procedures as laid down and began ringing the GP surgery at exactly 8am. To increase my chances of getting through I had a mobile in each hand and simply continued calling until reception answered at around 9am, by which time no appointments were available that day.
I was advised to try again the next day, which I did, and thankfully got through after 25 minutes.
The receptionist asked about my reasons for needing to see a GP but would only allow me an appointment to see a nurse. as expected, the nurse later explained that I needed to see a doctor and that I would have to ring the surgery to make an appointment with their doctor who specialises in skin problems. as I was already at the surgery, I approached the reception desk and asked if I could make the appointment, but was told I would have to make the request by telephone. I took the few paces to the waiting room and telephoned the reception to make the appointment. as this was past the early morning mad rush for appointments the call was answered quite quickly, but I was, of course, informed that I should call back at 8am the next day…except that the doctor I needed to see was on vacation for the next seven days. In seven days at 8am I will once again be holding a mobile in each hand and hoping that the appointment doom loop isn’t repeated
PeTeR TAPPeR, Blunham, Beds. LaST Thursday I was told I had a suspected deep vein thrombosis in my leg. a phone call to the GP resulted in a face-to-face appointment at 10.30am on Friday. The doctor phoned the local hospital where I had an ultrasound scan at 1pm the same day which showed no thrombosis, but on Friday next I’m booked for have another scan just to make sure.
Who said the nHS is finished?
BRiAn WilliAMS, Prescot, Merseyside.