"Problems getting a GP appointment"

This story has been posted by Healthwatch Tameside on behalf of a member of the public. We have their details and will forward any comments to them. They said…

I am a patient at Hattersley Group Practice and I do have to say that the doctors are fantastic up there. They have looked after both me and my mum (in the past) very well. However, I do have to complain about the system for getting appointments.

You can’t book appointments in advance – you have to ring up at 8am in the morning. I feel the system is weighted against people who work. To ring up at that time I have to weigh up whether to be late for work, particularly as what I was making an appointment for was non-urgent. I could have seen a nurse but wasn’t given that option.

They should consider those who work & have an open surgery on a first come first served basis. Also, to be offered a telephone consultation is not relevant for some conditions.