Sir – Regarding Peartree (Mal) Practice; or how not to get an appointment with your doctor. 1. You are either sick, elderly, infirm or all of those, so you decide not to queue on the pavement outside the surgery at 8am in whatever the British weather

Sir - Regarding Peartree (Mal) Practice; or how not to get an appointment with your doctor.

1. You are either sick, elderly, infirm or all of those, so you decide not to queue on the pavement outside the surgery at 8am in whatever the British weather throws at you (are there other surgeries in the town as barbaric as this?).

2. The telephone operates from 8.30am so you make at least 10 unsuccessful attempts to get through (there is no 'ring back' on the surgery number).

3. Eventually you get through and are told you are in a queue. This can be for as long as 15 minutes. By now you are running out of time, money and patience.

4. At last you speak to a receptionist who tells you that all appointments are booked - great!

5. You cannot book in advance (what an old-fashioned idea!) because 'we are short of doctors'.

6. You ask what to do next and are told to 'try again tomorrow'.

No thanks!

Mr V Lindsey,

Attimore Close, WGC.