"I struggle to have routine care for my diabetes"

I have diabetes and I feel I struggle to have routine care. I ring my medical centre and cannot get an appointment unless I book 2 weeks in advance. The practice expect you to take time off work which I think is not acceptable for routine appointments, cervical smears, blood tests, flu jabs etc. If I don’t do this then I cannot get things done. I was given a flu jab date but by then I was already ill. I felt the practice manager was off hand with me and I was told by this person that they felt the elderly were at more risk than a diabetic.

If there was an alternative I would change practice. But some of the doctors at the surgery are good. I have also had appointments with the nurse for a smear test cancelled twice; I’m now four months overdue. The practice phone number was then changed and notices were put up in the surgery. I found this was not a lot of use as I often only attend once or twice a year. The repeat prescription service was then changed and I had to go in to get my log on details as they would not give them to me over the phone or post them out. I had to wait two months to get in and get them. The log on then didn’t work so I had to wait another 6 weeks until I could get in again.

I think the previous on-line system worked well. Due to the nature of my job, I find it infuriating that I am given little thought when I am chronically ill and work long hours and generally only need flu jabs. I feel vulnerable by the very nature of my job as I have contact with many people on a daily basis.