'I only got in face-to-face because I broke down': Patients tell of struggle to see doctors
A report published by a health care watchdog has received more than 9,000 responses from patients voicing their frustration gaining access to see their GPs in the county.
Healthwatch Telford and Wrekin commissioned the research after receiving multiple negative stories about access to GP surgeries in the region.
The survey received more than 9,200 responses about GP Access with many people in the county voicing their frustration with getting appointments.
In their report, published today (Monday) Healthwatch Telford and Wrekin found that the biggest hurdle people had with GP services was getting through on the phone.
Only a quarter of people surveyed were able to get through to their GP surgery at the first attempt, with many having to try repeatedly to speak to a receptionist, some spending all day on the phone to get through to receptionists..
The report said: “Many people express frustration when it comes to their experiences of trying to access primary care … The results point to the majority of people spending considerable amounts of time to get through.”
One patient told the report authors: “It’s madness getting through on the phone. You start calling at 8:30am and select the option to hear that the queue is full, so hang up and just keep continuously trying until eventually you get in the queue. Guaranteed that by the time you get to speak to a receptionist all appointments have gone.”
