The Royal College of GPs accepts there are problems, but says the system is best way to meet demand.
Since the start of the pandemic most GP surgeries have operated a phone first system limiting the numbers of patients attending face-to-face appointments
"There will be some changes to upgrade it, but it will form a significant part of how we manage demand."Dr Mason said GP practices are upgrading their phone systems to ensure people can contact them more easilyWhile waiting areas are sparsely populated, inside the individual surgeries doctors take call after call.
While they are now with a GP practice they are happy with - they said that in the past they have struggled with access."Being number 29 in the queue on the phone and then it would be about 4 o'clockish, knowing that they would close at 17:00 and you go right down to position three, two and then back to three and then it cuts off - gone for the day.
"It's not working and we are trying to fix it by upgrading phone systems and by changing how we work. But it is hugely difficult."Dr Frances O'Hagan's practice triage more than 1,000 patients over the phone and saw 645 face-to-face
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