Forestside Medical Practice

Impossible to get through on the phone queue

I have spent months attempting to secure an appointment. In previous locations where I have lived, accessing same-day appointments was straightforward—you could simply attend in person. Currently, the only option involves repeatedly calling until successfully reaching someone, with no walk-in availability or online booking facility. I suspect many patients like myself end up requiring more extensive care because issues are not addressed promptly. I have now stopped trying. My mother frequently encourages me to visit a doctor, not fully grasping how difficult the process has become, particularly as she still benefits from regular home visits and nurse calls from her long-standing practice. Having lived in multiple regions since leaving home, this current location appears to offer the poorest access to seeing a healthcare professional in person. When I eventually secured an actual appointment, it was scheduled two weeks ahead at a different location. I had transport at that time, so the distance was manageable, but the appointment was cancelled on the day it was due. I subsequently received a feedback request about the appointment with no option to indicate that it had been cancelled on the provider's side, so I was unable to provide accurate feedback. On another occasion, after four months of attempting to arrange an appointment, I attended in person out of desperation. I was unable to obtain an appointment and was instructed to phone instead. This creates a significant barrier for anyone without access to a phone or unable to make calls. Eventually, I managed to get an appointment at a hospital setting, though I am uncertain whether I saw the appropriate professional, as I was simply directed to return to my regular practice. This seemed contradictory given that I was already at a medical appointment. My longer-term undiagnosed health concern now feels beyond my control. Regarding a separate, more straightforward issue, I had been advised by multiple healthcare professionals that I required antibiotics. However, when I consulted about this, I was told antibiotics would not be provided and that they would monitor whether the problem worsened. I was shocked and said nothing in response. There seemed little point in pursuing further medical consultation. Weeks later, a significant deterioration occurred. Nearly two years on, I continue to experience this issue.