Seeing a GP is like winning the Lottery – your views
■ ALL communication with doctors or pharmacists at my surgery is via telephone, text message or eConsult. Its policy is that patients must be ‘invited’ to the practice for an appointment.
Albert Baxter, Suffolk
■ I’VE been suffering terrible pain in my back, knees and hips – I can’t sit or sleep comfortably. Yet my GP won’t see me face to face. I understand that telephone appointments suit younger people but they’re not suitable for everyone. I don’t see how I can be diagnosed properly this way.
Robin Patterson, Essex
■ MY GP has arranged two different prescriptions for my dizziness and nausea via text message. I’ve tried to explain that my heart rate and blood pressure are high, yet it’s impossible to speak to a GP.
Ruth Bamford, Kent
■ I BEGAN losing my hair and suffering swollen, painful hands – complications related to the autoimmune condition lupus, which I’ve suffered for years. It took weeks to get through to a GP on the phone, who then referred me for physiotherapy, which was pointless.
Ann Eatwell, Kent
■ I NOTICED blood in the toilet, but my GP won’t even speak to me on the telephone about it. Instead, I have to contact the practice via email and later on a receptionist will call to tell me the GP’s response. Why won’t she see me?
Patricia Hull, South East England
■ I EMAILED my surgery to ask for an appointment but didn’t get a reply. So I called and was told I was number nine in the queue, before the phone cut off. I then went into the practice but they told me I had to book in over the phone. Seeing a doctor is like winning the Lottery.
Liz Vernon, Hampshire
■ THE doors of my surgery are locked to patients. Last week I waited 40 minutes on the phone to get an appointment before being told to call back at 9am the following day. When I did, they were too busy to take my call, so I rang later and was number 33 in the queue. I am retired so I have the time to be able to wait on hold, but what about people who work full-time?
Allan Winning, Bothwell
■ PEOPLE have been queuing outside our GP practice from 8am for an appointment. I did so recently – arriving at 7.45am – and was seventh in line. I was then told all appointments were taken and I’d have to call back the following day.
Jackie Underwood, London
■ MY DAUGHTER has been struggling to arrange an appointment for my autistic grandson for a month. Her GP clinic allows only emergency appointments to be booked on the day, but the lines open when she takes her children to school and by the time she gets back, all the appointments are gone. The saga continues the following day. Phone appointments won’t do as my grandson can’t communicate well over the telephone.
Name and address withheld
■ IN FEBRUARY my husband had a heart attack and was treated with multiple operations to fit stents. He was put on medication which caused side effects, but we had to wait five weeks for a phone appointment with the GP to sort it out.
Name and address withheld
■ ABOUT 18 months ago a GP diagnosed me – over the phone – with polymyalgia and prescribed a steroid treatment to reduce inflammation in my muscles.
I’ve since developed acid reflux as a result of the medication. No one explained this to me, or even referred me for tests to confirm the diagnosis. I’ve come to rely on social media for advice.
Name and address withheld
■ I’VE become concerned about a raised rash on my face. The GP’s receptionist asked me to send a photo, which I did, but then called to say it was a matter for a dentist. I saw my dentist, who told me to go back to the GP. Eventually the surgery booked me in with the nurse, but I’d like to see a doctor. I’ve been treated like a neurotic time-waster.
Jan McNulty, Lanarkshire
■ MY GP prescribed me statins, despite the fact that he hasn’t seen me in years. My cholesterol is high, but it could very well be something to do with the hypothyroidism I’ve suffered for a decade, or the drugs I take to treat it. No one has investigated this or bothered to meet me.
Marcia Peel, Dorset
■ I BADLY injured my elbow and was given a scan to check everything. But my GP surgery is making me wait two weeks for a phone appointment to tell me the results. I asked if they could quickly consult me when I go in for my flu jab, but was told no. Why is it so difficult?
Andrew Charity, Wimbledon
■ THERE are ten doctors at my GP practice, yet since the start of the pandemic I’ve managed to get only one face-to-face appointment – the rest have been over the phone. When I go there for blood tests, the waiting room is completely empty and the GPs are nowhere to be seen.