AN EAST Swindon GP has said problems with patients getting appointments could continue unless more doctors are available.

Despite a number of positives being highlighted, Eldene Surgery was told it needed to make improvements following an inspection by the Care Quality Commission.

One of the problems highlighted was access for patients, with some people who needed urgent treatment having to be sent elsewhere.

Getting through over telephone was often difficult many patients found, while there were also potential issues over legionella in the building which have now been addressed.

But staff were praised for treating patients with ‘compassion, dignity and respect’ and information about services was easily accessible.

The report said: “The practice had good facilities and was well equipped to treat patients and meet their needs but did not provide access, except for emergencies, at lunchtimes.

“Emergency help was available via the phone answering system during the lunchtime period. On the day of the inspection it was not clear that a patient who arrived at the door when the practice was closed could get the appropriate help.

“Feedback from patients reported that access to a named GP and continuity of care was not always available, although urgent appointments were available the same day they were not always at the practice and some patients were seen at a nearby alternative medical practice.”

Doctor Eric Holliday, who works at the surgery, said while some of the concerns raised by inspectors had been addressed, there were problems which would be more difficult to deal with.

He said: “It would have been unrealistic to expect the CQC to have come in and say everything is perfect.

“The practice is under quite a bit of pressure and it sometimes feels we are hanging on by our fingertips.

“When the surgery on Marlborough Road closed we picked of their patients and Abbey Meads has recently redrawn its boundaries to exclude East Swindon so we had a sudden influx of patients then as well.”

The surgery requested permission to stop taking on new patients but this was only put in place for three months and they have had to re-start taking patients this year.

“We have got someone in to look at the legionella issue and they will come back every month,” said Dr Holliday.

“But the access is not something we are going to solve straightaway if the number of patients continues to rise but the number of doctors does not.

“It would be deceitful of me to say otherwise.”