A waste of time at GP service (From Winsford Guardian)

A waste of time at GP service

3:33pm Thursday 12th July 2012 in Letters

I READ with interest the article regarding the campaign to maintain the out of hours GP Service at the VIN.

My two-year-old daughter was taken ill on a Saturday evening and although I had not used the service before, I was aware that the infirmary offered an out of hours service so I took her there.

We were quickly seen by a triage nurse, who said it would be advisable for her to see the doctor, but I would need to first call the out of hours service at Leighton Hospital so that they could book the appointment officially.

I was advised to stay at the infirmary while I did this.

I waited an hour for a nurse to call me back – in which time, the GP was wandering around the waiting area, and there was no-one else waiting to be seen – and after answering many questions I was told there was no need for my child to see the doctor.

When I questioned the difference in opinion between a physical consultation and a telephone one, I was abruptly told it was my own fault for not following the correct procedure to begin with.

I have since spoken to many other parents who have found themselves in the same situation and in most cases, the children have subsequently been provided necessary medication by their own GPs during normal surgery hours.

It would be interesting to find out how many people would make use of this service but have been denied the opportunity by someone who cannot physically assess them.

RACHEL WHITTAKER