[peanut]

Bear with me as I'm sure this will affect you too.

My GP which I considered quite good. If I need an appointment I'd call up at 8am and if I'm lucky I'll speak to someone within around 10-20min and will get an appointment that day. Could be a telephone call or in person. And if you didn't want to wait, they had a call back system where you will be held in the queue and they'll call you back when you're next in line.

Now there's a 'NEW' system. I did not know about this, so yesterday I had a problem with by B12. I ordered it and they future dated it to when I could collect it. As it can be hard to get hold of, it meant that the timing of ordering and actually collecting it could mean I won't get it in time for the healthcare assistant (home visit) to administer it.

So I called the GP up to see if I can get it earlier....

You are Number 16 in the queue... -Eh? This is a Thursday 12.30pm where normally it's quiet and you'd get through within around 5-10mins.

1 hour 5 mins later I get through, I explained my query and they sorted it out there and then. I was told I will also need to send an email to stop the issue from happening in future.

I asked why it has taken 1hr 5min to get through, they told me they have a 'NEW' system that you can now book online. And this system will free up the telephone lines... I replied 'I've been waiting for 65 minutes, so how is that working out for you'?? - The response was if you have a complaint take it up with the practice manager....

I asked if you're still using the 'Call back' feature and they said 'No'. I asked if it will be back and I got a straight 'No idea'... So I said I'd have to wait then obviously.

After the call I went online to check out this new system using SystemOnline...

I clicked on Appointments - Book appointments - and a drop down menu of dates came up. I chose every date right up to November and it just comes up with 'There are no sessions that meet the search criteria'.

So the only option I have is to call them up....

I also need to make an appointment as requested. They can sod off if I have to go through all that crap. And if I only had the use of a landline the cost of the call would certainly stop me from from calling. Don't get me started on all the bumph before you even get to making your choice, this can take 2-3 minutes alone and if it's on a landline that's costly even before you get to be in the queue.

Today on GMTV, the ticker tape says 'GPs in England have voted to challenge plans to allow patients to request appointments online rather than having to call'

As soon as you hear upgrade, new system, new recipe, new this or that, updated, upgraded you just know things are now going or have gone to shit.

Edit....

It's now 8.10am and I'm calling to see if I can now make a new appointment.... Again usually takes 10-20 mins to get through and speak to someone and usually in queue of around 4-5 people. Otherwise you'd get the engaged tone...(no charge)... After waiting 2.5min of 'if you're coughing up blood' etc etc blah blah blah, I am now in the queue and No 18 !. This is to the actually surgery and not a call center that triage. So 'freeing' up the telephone lines etc and a new system, just isn't working.