The biggest frustration is that if the reception had taken a second to check my file, she'd had seen that my last appointment was three years ago, for a persistant phlegmy cough and I was prescribed antibiotics and steroids. So when I ring up with almost identical symptoms (a six week phlegmy cough - we teachers do tend to pick up lots of this stuff from the kids) the doctor could probably have prescibed similar with a 30 second phone consult and saved a lot of hassle.....
I've managed to wangle some 'non contact' time Friday, so will attempt a call then, otherwise it'll be 111 or a walk-in clinic
Do you not have a computer contact sytem? Our GP used to be exactly as you described but changed this year to a computer system. It took alot to get me to use it but once I overcame my inertia I found it does work well. Basically, lots of pages of form filling but quick appointment made from it. I don't know what to think about the GP system....my gp tells me that the number of patients has trebled (big housing estates all round the town, no new facilities to match the new population) and the number of doctors has reduced as all the ladies only work part time. He's quite depressed about the future of it. He thinks we won't have personalised gp's at all soon. I was in Winchester hospital lately and they said that massive new housing all round the area, no new facilities, no extra staff, gradually being overwhelmed.
Similarly, the schools around here forced to pay teachers extra but no extra funding to cover the new costs so have to reduce staff....leading to more unhappy staff, more pressurised.... Nick
