Bedminster Family Practice 2017-05-23 Person 4 5 0

I think the practice is excellent - I have always been treated, by all members of staff, with courtesy, friendliness and professionalism. However, the new system of only being able to book GP appointments 48 hours in advance is almost unworkable for patients in my experience. I tried to make an appointment recently, started ringing at 8.30 promptly (8.29 actually!), tried 16 times to get through, but the line was permanently engaged. By the time I finally got through at 9.05 I was told that all the appointments had gone for the next day but one and I should 'call back tomorrow' to start the same struggle all over again for the Monday (I was ringing on a Wednesday). In the end I had to settle for a telephone conversation that day with a doctor I had never met, and who clearly had little idea of what was going on with me. I'm sure the new system has been thought up with care, to deal with a real problem, but I felt really let down by a practice that hitherto - on the rare occasions when I have needed to use it - I have had nothing but praise for.