Very hard to get past their gatekeepers
I tried for 2 weeks to get an appointment for UTI with kidney pain. The appointment system is not fit for purpose. It takes ages to get to the front of the queue. Only to get cutoff or when you finally get an answer theres no appointments left as "over 200 people managed to get through just fine". Of course I must be lying. Was even offered physio referral by the "expertly trained" navigator/gatekeeper ...how did the expertly trained gatekeeper manage to determine that physio will fix kidney pain...I work within the same sector but this fact didnt help them to understand why I was refusing physio referral and desperately asking to be booked in within the next few days if there was nothing for that day To cut a long story short. I tried every day for 10 days managed to get a sample tested, managed to get through after the appointments had gone the next day to be told I ad an infection and needed antibiotics, some one will be in touch. Called the surgery several times that day was told I'd receive a call back which never happened by close of business on a friday. So went to a and e in desperation as I was in compete agony by this point and feared consequences of lifelong kidney damage Was seen promptly and given the required prescription. I have now recovered. I suffered for 2 weeks because appointments can only be booked on the day, via a not fit for purpose booming system, gatekeepers who have no empathy, knowledge or willingness to listen to callers in distress, and a practice that had decided not to book appointments for following day. If they had I would have received treatment in good time before getting so ill that I had no choice but turn to emergency services when in fact it should have been the gp treating me so that emergency services can treat emergency cases The doctors and allied HCP are good if you manage to get past reception to see them