MADEIRA MEDICAL 2017-01-11 Person 4 5 0

I called the surgery today (January 11th) hoping to make an appointment to see one of the doctors (not a specific doctor) sometime in the next couple of weeks. I need to see a doctor about a knee issue that I have, but it's not an emergency. The receptionist asked me if I was wanting an appointment for today and I said that it's not an emergency but that I need to see a doctor. The receptionist then said that the first open appointment she had would be on February 6th (i.e. more than 3 weeks away. Alternatively I should call first thing in the morning and ask for an appointment on that day. Whilst I understand the constraints that the surgery has to operate within, I don't understand why, for non urgent conditions, it's not possible to get a planned appointment, with any of the doctors, with less than three and a half weeks notice. My place of work and work commitments mean that it's very helpful to plan an appointment rather than take pot luck each day. However, to wait more than three weeks for a doctor to see me about an uncomfortable, but non emergency condition is disappointing. The service provided by the surgery, the reception and the doctors is great, but it seems unexpectedly difficult to get to see a doctor for conditions other than emergencies...