Help get a Doctors Appointment in Haverhill

Sometimes I have been told there are no appointments to be be booked at all.

I sign this petition not to complain and moan (because I know everyone is under a lot of pressure), but in the hope that this enables people to come together to thrash out a well supported plan to improve things. I think we all have the same good intentions, I just feel that it's often not put across in the best way and appearing to just complain isn't going to help anyone. I would happily offer my own time to help with feedback/suggestions for a new easily accessible system.

It's so hard to get an appointment in Haverhill, most of the time if I'm unwell I do my best to either self medicate, or persevere, when I could have something that is part of an underlying condition. If by some miracle you do get an appointment, it's so far in the future that whatever was wrong with you has probably either cleared up or killed you off! The staff and the doctors are definitely not to blame here, we just need more!

I was ill with an infection recently and couldn't get an appointment to see a doctor so gad a phone conversation and was issued antibiotics. I had an allergic reaction to them and tried to see a doctor but couldn't nor get a phone appointment so I ended up having to stay on the antiobiotics as the infection had gone into my lymph nodes and subsequently I was very ill and had to have a week off work with it all. Not impressed. So many times ive rung up at 8am and been told there is nothing so basically tough :o(

I am so demoralised by the system that I do not even try to get an appointment despite having symptoms that might have been related to my skin cancer.

It's physically impossible to book an appointment by telephone. By the time you get through there's literally nothing available (own experience). Solution to this is to take one day off to queue in the morning to get an appointment and then another one to visit a doctor. All that to book a visit in following week, not surprised that so many people ends up in the A&E.

Very difficult to get an appointment, unless you can predict your illness 2 weeks in advance.

There are times when I should go the docs but am inhibited because of the appointment process. I feel really sorry for the receptionists - they are just the messengers.

it is shocking to have to phone one a monday at a preset time for an appointment. If you had an ailment that required prescribed pain relief and were unable to get an appointment within a day or two it would almost force you to visit A&E

I fortunately haven't had to use the Haverhill GP service too much, but when I have, there has been great difficulty in getting an appointment.

I hate needing to see the doctor as there is no change for 4 to 6 weeks. Used to be able to get appointment within th eweek but not since the merger.

4,500 patients per GP is too many. It should be 2,500 as is the average.

When I rang for an appointment I was told nothing for 4 weeks I fear someone will lose there life.

Something needs to be done.

Need more doctors and appointments on the day not weeks later!

Something needs to be done ASAP

The situation is so serious that I feel people could die.

I totally agree, I had been trying to get an appointment every morning for the last week, only to be told that 'all appointments have gone' - the only way you can get an appointment is to say it is an emergency, which is not right! And you cannot make an advanced appointment either. I think when I go next, i will just 'book an appointment' just in case I need it (easier to cancel rather than try to book) - bring back the walk in clinic please

Andy Eley of the West Suffolk Clinical Commissioning Group said: "Haverhill is not alone. Nationally and locally there are more demands on all public and voluntary services." (Haverhill News April 14). I say: in spite of this, people living in places other than Haverhill are still able to book appointments to see their GPs. So with my due respect to Mr Eley, I'm afraid Haverhill is alone in this.

I am shocked people have to queue to get an appointment and it frustrating to get through on the phone. Stourview offered a good service before it merged to make the Haverhill Family Practice. This town needs the walk in centre back.