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
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