I tried our new computerised system today. To begin with I went online around 10.00am to find that when I pressed 'appointments' I got a message saying 'sorry, no appointments available today'. Nothing anywhere about the new systeme that says a GP will ring me.
So I ring the surgery. The phone is answered and I ask the receptionist how I make an appointment using the new computerised sysytem. She says that only so many appointments are available through the online system so once they have been allocatted I will get the message I got and I have to ring anyway
I then have to give the receptionist a summary of my problem
again. To be fair I get a call from the GP within minutes and I am offered an appoinment for this afternoon, which I understand is with the GP.
I turn up, sign in through the automated system which logs me as having a GP appointment. but when I get to the consultation room, I am met by a nurse practioner. I have no objection to that but, why did the GP and the system not tell me that?
I must say that she was very good, very thorough and had plenty of time to check everything. No prescription but she diagnosed the problem and at least I now know what it is, that I needn't worry that it could be something more serious, and that at the end of the day, one half should resolve itself eventually and the other half I just have to live with.
Overall a B+ experience. Satisfactory outcome but the process was rather laboured and at times as clear as mud and I felt like I was walking through it as well, slow and labourious.