Ringmead Medical Practice - Birch Hill

I have spent three days trying to make an appointment for my child to see a Doctor. Tuesday I was 23 in the phone queue and the message was saying there were no appointments available today. I stopped waiting and did as it suggested and completed a E Consult, it time consuming but I felt hopeful it would work. I got an email reply saying a Dr will contact me by 6.30 pm on the following day. If by phone this was a problem due to always using my landline meaning having to stay at home (due to poor mobile reception). I waited in ALL Wednesday and had no miss calls or no email response. So Thursday I was on the phone again at 8am to beat the queue and was still number 11 ??,not good when you start work at 8.30. To be fair it only took 15 minutes to be spoken to. The receptionist put me on for a Doctors call for that day again I used my landline, waited all day but no call. At 5pm I ring again number 11 in the queue, 45 minutes waiting. To be told not sure why I hadn’t been phoned. I am calm but upset by this. I explain my three day attempt to get my child seen. The receptionist is apologetic and finally gets the out of hours Doctor to phone which happened at 7.30pm. My child has to go during school hours or I have to start the phone process all over again next week. So I now have to leave work and take my son out of school. Is this really the way appointments are going. I want to know who’s time this phone call routine is trying to save. Surely Doctors sat phoning patients then giving out time appointments to see another Doctor is not good time use and how many calls to waiting patients are never made or unfortunately missed? It’s like putting you life on hold waiting for a call in an 8 hour window. I have missed calls previously due to being in a meeting at work or driving. When you return the call you are told you missed it so you must start trying again tomorrow to make an appointment. I also feel now 40million people have been vaccinated, why are the Doctors doors still closed and the phone the only way to speak to a person. The surgery has glass screens, and staff will surely been vaccinated, COVID is now being used too much as an excuse for poor service.