System is still being refined

The practice manager at the Fountain Medical Centre, Mr Alastair Wood, said they offered three types of appointment.

He said urgent appointments were assessed by a doctor who called patients back and decided when they needed to be seen.

He said this system had been in place for about six weeks and was still being refined, but seemed to be working.

He said some appointments were always kept available for every 48-hour period, which would explain the primary care trust’s results.

He said other appointments were beyond the 48-hour period.

Mr Wood said: “I am not sure there is a disparity but you can never please everyone all of the time, but we do try.

“We try to offer a wide variety of choice for patients. There are only seven doctors, so there is always going to be pressure on appointments when they are looking after 13,800 patients.

“The demand is quite high, and at this time of year, demand increases and that is consistently the case.

“We do not massage these results because that would not do anyone a favour, but if a doctor says they have to be seen within that time, we manage to fit them in.”

When the reporter asked Mr Wood why, if there were always appointments available, they were told the next appointment with any doctor was in 15 days, he could offer no explanation.

He said: “There will always be a difference in figures if a request is made to see a specific doctor, who may be on holiday.

“I cannot explain why this happened but I do not doubt it can happen sometimes.”