Clerklands Surgery

This surgery's 1st policy regarding getting a doctor's appointment for an everyday, non-emergency aliments, is to wait a minimum of 2 weeks. Never able to get a last-minute cancellation or any kind of exception. Even when you see the Dr after a 2 week wait, which means you’ve had the problem for 2 weeks already, I’ve so often been advised, “Hmm, let’s see how you get on. Come back if you still the problem in a fortnight or so!” What’s the point? The 2nd policy is for emergencies only, and therefore you have to wait for a call-back on the same day from the Duty Dr (no time given) who will then decide over the phone whether or not you need to see them in person, but you are seen and treated as an emergency. That is it!!! Far too binary. This surgery needs to have a 3rd system on managing non-emergency ailments or problems within a timelier & meaningful fashion of a day or two, NOT 2 weeks minimum, as the current system encourages people to trivialise their own ailment & problems and to push matters under the carpet. Current system makes patients feel like they are wasting Dr's time, so people put up with their problems, which in turn is dangerous and problems can get worse if not addressed early enough. IF you opt to use the 2nd policy, and say it's an emergency, you tend to get treated with slight air of disdain if you’re not on the verge of collapsing or having a physical breakdown. Also, because the Dr’s are on the rota to handle the so called ‘emergency only’ shift, they tend to give you the bear minimum in attention to the detail and you end feeling like you’re sitting on a convey belt. Without the ability to see a Dr within an appropriate day or two appointment structure, people’s health deteriorates. I myself delayed my need for treatment, and even then, when it was unbearable I went private. I prolonged the time to see the Dr as I felt I was going to be a nuisance or it will go away. Also, not catering for the modern working world, where people can't get time off work to see a Dr, or get home before 7pm, is impacting health of this area. Crawley walk in centre don't see people who arrive shortly after 7pm, even when they close at 8pm. Now I’ve ended up with a long-term condition that could have been avoided had it been diagnosed earlier & with more thoroughness. Other's in my family feel same. Interestingly, we find the temporary fill-in Dr’s far more accurate & attentive than the regular long-standing Dr’s of this surgery, who have misdiagnosed me & family members several times. I had a severe problem that took 3 weeks of me pestering before I could get a referral, when I should have been referred on the first visit. I appreciate the NHS is under tremendous pressure, but a better management of the current appointment system needs to be radically revised, as I see this current setup at this surgery creates more problems than good
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