THIS IS WRONG

I feel for you Fran.  Same thing happened to me.  My GP who is excellent and I'm sure doesn't know what happens at the front desk, is impossible to see.  Same thing, you have to book weeks in advance.  Bloody hell,  I always know that I will need her that far in advance!!!!!.  I had a problem so rang the oncology nurses who said it needed GP intervention.  Of course I couldn't see my GP (she wasn't working that day) so next best I rang her other local practice which is closer to home to see if I could get an appointment with her practice partner whom I had seen in the past.  I spoke with a "new" receptionist and explained that I was a cancer patient on chemo with a problem and needed an appointment.  This went straight over her thick head and she told me that there weren't any appointments for days.  I gave up.  I had an appointment  booked with another GP today who does acupuncture for me prior to chemo.  (the practice is over an hour away from home)  I just told him what the problem was which by now had just about rectified itself so he put a couple more needles into me to help "fix me".  God it is not easy.  I still have extensive bruising across my chest from the surgery I had to insert my portocath - more than six weeks ago.  I showed this GP who was horrified.  I feel in limbo.  I don't see my surgeon until after chemo finishes but I feel he needs to look at this problem.  The oncology nurses are wonderful - but their job is to only administer the chemo.  The Physician who is attached to me for chemo is now away for 6 weeks.  His replacement who looked after me when I went into hospital due to my first chemo treatment problems is also on holidays.  So when I go on Friday for my 3rd chemo I will see another Physician.  He is apparently very good but does not know me from Adam.  It is so frustrating.  Apparently my GP is mostly pre-booked by oldies who have ongoing appointments booked.  Hell!!!!!  Doesn't leave much scope for others.  Anyway lucky I can look after myself pretty well and if anything becomes serious I will go straight to hospital!!!.  This is all through private medical.  My friend who is having chemo in the public system says she is seen immediately she has a problem.  Mind you she is a nurse at that hospital when she is well.  What is happening to the health system for private patients?  XLeonie