Bring back ‘caring’ service

What has happened to our GP ‘services’? Will they ever get back to being how they used to be? It is almost impossible now to see a GP face to face unless it is an emergency and, if you are lucky, you are offered a telephone call at least three days hence. For me it was five.

This arrangement only adds anxiety to the existing problem and you are left wondering how to deal with your medical problem until a doctor rings you several days later. What the doctors do now is not a ‘health service’.

The good old days of ringing up, making an appointment and being seen within a day or two seem to be gone forever and it is causing huge stress to a lot of people. And where is the feeling of confidentiality now that the receptionist has to ask you what you’re calling about? That puts people off calling.

I know Covid has had a lot to do with the faceto-face appointments but surely we could get quicker return telephone calls and a chance of a personal appointment if we want one.

Come on GPs, give us back the caring ‘health service’ we need. The present arrangement is nothing but a giant step backwards. Perhaps this is a situation that could be taken up after 5 May by our newly elected councillors.

G G MacDonald, Connel.