Phone appointment system not fit for purpose
Been calling from the beginning of this week to book an appointment with my GP, to find the appointment system has changed without any notification to patients. You have to wait for the automated message to finish, which takes over a minute. Then once you get through you’re in the 20-30+ in the queue, to be told once you get through there are no appointments. They don’t have access to next day appointments but can book you one for the following week. The receptionists are not empathetic at all and very abrasive, they rush your call and more time cut you off before you’ve finished what you we’re calling about. Makes you feel you’re not valid, causing unnecessary anxiety because you can’t get an appointment and the way you are spoken to. I have suspected heart issues and need appointment with my GP, I can’t even get an emergency appointment either. The system for appointments before was fine, you call (1) and could request a call back from your GP and you can discuss your needs or an follow up on a previous appointment. Your GP decides if they want you to see you face to face. Or you can request a face to face if you need. You had 2 options. All appointments are face to face now regardless of your needs. Some things can be resolved over the phone and don’t require a face to face appointment. The call back system helped with this. There is no call (1) to put you through to appointment straight away, you have an automated message to listen to that takes up your waiting time, which leaves you far down in the queue and if you end up in the 20-30+ you can guarantee there will be no appointments on the day. I think it’s a waste of resources and needs to go back to how it was, because it was working perfectly fine.