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Byfield Medical Centre 2023-06-27 Person 3 5 0

With all the recent changes about booking appointments I just find it confusing not just during the covid era, but since I've lived in the area a total of 9 years, I don't understand the calling at 8am queuing to get an appointment, is this only for appointments that day? When sometimes I don't need an appointment that day, but feel that's the only way to get an appointment and then I lose work hours, how else do you get an appointment? Can you actually call anytime of day for future appointments? Or do you have to call into the surgery for an appointment in a few days time? My confusion stems from the ease of booking a recent appointment after seeing the GP, but could I have done that by phone at home at anytime other than 8am in the morning, nowhere have I seen it stated future appointments can be booked anytime of day by phone or in person, so to not trouble a shortage of gp's I tend to wait then get worse then need to queue at 8am for an appointment that same day, this has never been made clear, until recently I believed an appointment was only available at 8am for a same day appointment.

I've had a few recent appointments each time I've waited 20-40 minutes past my appointment time, not a problem occasionally but every time isn't ideal, call me overly cautious but considering what the world has been through lately I would have thought it more important for services to remain on time as much as possible to prevent too many ill people together in the choice of 2 small airless waiting rooms, I understand it's the only building you have, but find it disturbing in 30 degree heat or anytime there's not a window to open, an air conditioner unit not working in the corner, and one faulty squeaky fan at every turn, and no working toilet for months still blocked it says, unbelievable really with medical conditions like utis bowel & vomiting illnesses, whilst also being kept waiting 40 minutes longer than necessary, not forgetting all the extra people walking in making appointments I didn't know this service was available, and the ones constantly collecting prescriptions queuing amongst people trying to leave or waiting for their appointment, in short it feels disgustingly cramped like an animal travelling to the cattle market or worse, I feel the need to shower afterwards, if people can pick up prescriptions there, why not keep the inadequate building clearer of unnecessary extra people and get them to drive 1 mile more to popsons pharmacy? Or surely the front porch with no windows could easily be fitted with some windows, a new door layout front and or back with a small office to give out prescriptions through a hatch as this service is constant, and it would limit staff crammed into one room with only one hatch to deal with queries, preventing too many people staff or patients cramped together, obviously a purpose built building would be perfect but if not allowed a new small extension or refiguration for a better entrance and windows should be allowed, the front porch is a total waste of airless space, and the well wouldn't have to mix with the sick.