I WAS not a bit surprised to read about the dire shortage of doctors in Halton on your front page last week.

I have great difficulty trying to make an appointment. I know from talking to my friends and family, this is a common problem.

I can’t ring my surgery until 8am on the day I want to see a doctor. The line is constantly engaged and it is no comfort to be told you are ‘ninth in the queue’ when you are rushing out to work.

I hang on as long as I can and breathe a huge sigh of relief when a voice finally answers, only to be told there are no appointments left.

I only ever ring the doctors if I am very worried about something. Why can’t we simply make an appointment in advance?

Imagine the anxiety when you can’t get to see a doctor. On the telly this morning there was a story about some GP practices being given money to introduce out of hours’ appointments for people who work.

It would be great if you could see a doctor early in the morning, in the evening or on a Saturday.

WIDNES PATIENT