MP says lack of appointments ‘not acceptable’

Constituents currently have to call Swallownest Health Centre at 8am to book an appointment but some have complained of being put in a phone queue behind 60 other people or being refused a consultation time.

Mr Stafford raised the issue in Parliament with health ministers and said he was thrilled the government would work and provide support to GP surgeries, despite not stating the specific changes that would be made.

“Several GP practices in Rother Valley such as Swallownest Health Centre operate a policy of having to ring the doctor for appointments at 8am,” he said.

“Residents find themselves being placed 50th or 60th in the queue, and then finding that there are no appointments available are told to call back the next day.

“This is clearly not an acceptable way to offer appointments.

“What steps will my right honourable friend (Health Secretary Steve Barclay) take to stop the current failed booking system and instead guarantee a system of pre-booked appointments at all GP surgeries?

“I am pleased that the government is offering financial support to GP surgeries to enable them to improve their appointment booking system and is actively working alongside GPs and their practices to solve this problem.

“We know that the NHS is under pressure at this time of year, and GPs and their staff work incredibly hard, but we need to move to a system of pre-booked appointments at all GP surgeries.”

In response, Neil O’Brien, the parliamentary under-secretary for health and social care, said: “That is something that we are working on very actively.

“As well as financially supporting GPs to roll out new and better ways of managing their appointments, we are looking at what criteria we expect from GPs.

“We already set out some moves in our summer action plan, but we will be looking further at preventing the lamentable situation my honourable friend has described.

“Mr Stafford describes people being asked to ring back or being held in long phone queues.

“That is not acceptable.”

South Yorkshire Integrated Care Board were approached for a response by the Advertiser but did not wish to comment.