I wanted to ask generally what kind of delays are people experiencing when try to book an appointment with GPs (General Practioner - Doctor) in their area.
I find that it's usually a delay of two days regardless of the problem...and this results that in the case of an emergency going to an already overloaded A&E.
If you ring in the morning, GP's secretaries in my area laugh at the thought of getting an appointment on the same dayn and emit an attitude of take it or leave it.
When I am given appointment I then turn up punctually at the given time only to wait at the very least for an hour to be seen, and often two hours or more.
For the money we pay our GPs I think this is extremely poor-service, and I feel in general as if the whole GP system treats it's patients with a lack of respect. With all the media attention focused on hospital/consultant problems, I don't hear anything negative about, what is the first port of call for many, the GP system.
Is there a shortage of GPs in the country or is it only in certain areas? What's your experience?
I find that it's usually a delay of two days regardless of the problem...and this results that in the case of an emergency going to an already overloaded A&E.
If you ring in the morning, GP's secretaries in my area laugh at the thought of getting an appointment on the same dayn and emit an attitude of take it or leave it.
When I am given appointment I then turn up punctually at the given time only to wait at the very least for an hour to be seen, and often two hours or more.
For the money we pay our GPs I think this is extremely poor-service, and I feel in general as if the whole GP system treats it's patients with a lack of respect. With all the media attention focused on hospital/consultant problems, I don't hear anything negative about, what is the first port of call for many, the GP system.
Is there a shortage of GPs in the country or is it only in certain areas? What's your experience?