Unbelievable: I've been trying to book a blood test appointment through my local Doctor's surgery.
The request was delivered by SMS while I was out of the country so I wasn't able to action it. By the time I returned home the SMS had expired. I contacted the surgery and asked they send me another SMS to request an appointement. What I got was a SMS engaging me in some sort of ongoing conversation.
I finally got a SMS requesting me to collect a blood test appointment form from the surgery. Prior to this I attempted to book an appointment using an online booking service (Sangix) but there's no appointments available upto 25/11/2024.
So, I had a look at the waiting list feature. To me, a waiting list is a list you can put yourself on and receive a booking on a first-come-first-served basis. No, the waiting list only allows you to book time slots within the booking availability period i.e. upto 25/11/2024. So, it's effectively a chance to grap a canellation, presumably with lots of others.
I was armed with this information before collecting the form at the surgery and I expressed my disappointment at the state-of-affairs. The receptionist suggested that if I'm really struggling to get an appointment they could maybe offer something at a hospital some 30 miles away.
When I asked how we'd got into such a state the receptionist responded "well, there's not many surgeries which offer blood tests these days!". Incredible. I had to respond "A blood test is the underpinning of modern diagnostic medicine and surgeries don't offer them!".
To say the NHS has problems is an understatement and I don't think the government throwing money at newer technology is going to solve this one.
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