GPs’ turmoil a backward step

Sir, – I refer to David Knight’s excellent article in The Press & Journal (June 28) on GP turmoil, eConsult and phone calls.

Following up a recent blood test, I made a call to the practice at 8am and whilst I was number 8 on the call I held on. I reached number 2 at 8.20am only to be cut off and told to call again. I started again, this time getting in at number 5 before reaching a human voice at about 8.35am.

I requested a doctor to call me back as I wished to discuss a possible linked health matter, as the previous day’s call to the receptionist did not clarify things, only to be informed I could have an appointment on July 12 for a doctor to call me back. In other words, in one month. I then decided to try eConsult to now find the practice is no longer doing this. Not to be deterred, I then decided to try to make contact via the video link (“video me”) only to find this is also not available as it is only instigated by the practice doctor (informed by a helpful receptionist).

So as David states “something strange is happening with our GPs” and clearly from a patient’s perspective there has been a very big backward step.

Our cat also required recent veterinary attention.

A call to the practice, spoke to a “human voice” straightaway and we were advised to bring her to the surgery later that day.

Seems pets can now get better health attention than their owners. Jim Bruce, Edinmore Drive, Daviot, Inverurie.