A MEDICAL centre has changed the way patients can make appointments following feedback from residents.

In recent months, Launceston Medical Centre has been subject to criticism surrounding the ability to make appointments at the site. Residents have expressed their frustration at the system used to organise medical consultations.

One resident commented: “You hang on in the queue for sometimes 30 minutes, then to be told the appointments are all gone for the day except emergency only (emergency to me would be if you’re having a heart attack or something as serious as this). So, then you would ring 999 not the surgery.  

“Then they say please ring back tomorrow and then you have to go through the whole process again. Frustrating!”  

However, the centre has recently announced that it will be moving to a new system which seeks to make it easier for patients to make an appointment.

In the announcement a spokesperson for the medical centre explained: “From Wednesday, April 10, 2024, we will be moving to a total triage service. We are asking patients with internet access to contact us by completing the online form on our website.   

“If you are unable to go online, our team of patient advisors will guide you through the form over the phone.  

“Keeping your contact information up to date (landline, mobile, email) is really important.”  

In response to the change, some residents have already praised the move. 

One resident commented: “Sounds much better than ringing at 8.30am to then be told no more appointments available, ring back tomorrow. 

“Hopefully this will ease the amount of patients that don’t necessarily need to have a face to face appointment, but would benefit from advice from another healthcare professional i.e. pharmacist and probably quicker.  

“If most people can use their phones for online shopping and social media, then they will have internet signal for this system.”  

Another added: “I think the online triage is brilliant [...] So much easier than hanging on the phone for hours on end trying to get through.”

For more information, ask a member of the team or visit the website www.launcestonmedicalcentre.co.uk