The Slieve Surgery

Phone calls seeking consultations may be unaffordable.

service OK but v concerned that only way of securing a consultation unaffordable for many people

Concerned that the cost of securing a consultation is a major deterrent for poor people whose only acceptable contact route is a pay mobile. Can be lengthy 'on hold' times and maybe need to call next day if no consultations available that day. example cost - Vodaphone = £67 /hour. That's a big sum of UC, JSA or state pension. There must be a better way of doing it What follows refers to service experienced once past this stage.

Good outcomes far for me. HOWEVER, the only way of getting an appointment is by phone, which involves long waits and sometimes instruction to call again. For poor people with payg mobiles, the charges on Vodaphone (others similar) are £67/hour! Fortunately I'm 'comfortable' and have a real phone, but for poor people with poor credit ratings this must be a real deterrent.

My experience (over 4 years). GP appointments, average wait 6 weeks plus. GP's often belligerent (hostile, aggressive and/or insincere and poor communicators. GP's failing to monitor/read/acknowledge and/or respond to Consultant's Letters following Patient referrals and/or fail to chase up Consultants Letters or Test Results when asked to do so by this patient. GP's have both ignored and refused this patients requests (without explanation or valid reason) for annual Full Bloods Check; have consistently failed to accurately monitor and/or track my 'Women's Health Checks' (in accordance with Patients Charter and NICE guidelines) and failed to monitor and/or track requirement of regular (3 to 6 months) monitoring checks for diabetes, cholesterol etc. GP's appear not to recognise or accept existence of and/or diagnosed diseases such as fibromyalgia; chronic fatigue syndrome; celiac disease but do express inappropriate personal opinions .....I could go on.

had a nasty insect bite on arm where I have no lymph nodes, following breast cancer. Needed antibotics quickly to prevent lymphodema developing. Went in morning hoping to get an appointment that day. receptionist spoke to Dr Alonso, who saw me straight away.