A PATIENT of a doctors’ surgery in South Ham has voiced her concern over waiting times to see her local GP.

Last week The Gazette revealed that NHS England were “concerned” with appointment waiting times at Beggarwood Surgery and since then Jo Jenkins has raised a similar issue with her practice Camrose Medical Partnership. 

Jo told The Gazette that waiting times at her surgery have got worse over the 17 years she has used the service.

She even feared for her nine-year-old child’s life last year because of the lengthy waiting times to see a GP.

“My daughter was really ill and had a burst appendix but they couldn’t see her – she could have died,” Jo said.

“Every time I go to get an appointment I am waiting more than a month.

“When I call through to the reception and speak to the receptionist they try to ask what my problem is, but it’s none of their business.”

Many patients at CMP believe the problems with the surgery began when South Ham Surgery “merged” with Hatch Warren Surgery.

Michelle Harvey wrote on Facebook: “I’m at Camrose, and it’s a total nightmare.

“Can’t even book a phone appointment. They only have their appointments open for three weeks at a time apparently, so no wonder there’s a problem.

“It was fine in Hatch Warren – merging with South Ham was the biggest mistake they ever made.”

Jen Stimpson agreed, writing: “We moved from CMP to Beggarwood, as the service was so bad. When it was just Hatch Warren surgery, never a problem. When it merged with South Ham, problems began.”

Claire Shelbourn, CMP business manager, said the two surgeries had always been linked as they were run by the partnership Dr Hudson and Partners.

When the two centralised and moved to the centre in Western Way, CMP took over the surgery in 2012.

“There has been a lot of talk about this being a merger of surgeries but this is not correct,” Claire said. “There has been a lot of problems nationally in terms of medical care and everyone understands the general pressures associated with surgeries.

“We take all feedback from our patients and listen to how we can help them.”

Earlier this year The Gazette published the results of the GP Patient Survey which revealed that only 72 per cent of patients using the surgery were happy with their overall experience – the lowest figure in Basingstoke.

Since the data was produced CMP has installed a new appointment booking system. 

“Patients can now call from 8am and either see the duty doctor or if they wish to see their usual GP that they are used to they can book an appointment with them,” Claire added. “Since we have changed the appointment system, we have had some very good feedback."

“The main change is that we have less telephone triage appointments and more face to face appointments as this is what our patients prefer when looking at the feedback.”

The new system came into action on February 29.