A woman from Manchester recently shared her experience when trying to book a face-to-face GP appointment, saying she called over 600 times to be told to ‘try again tomorrow’.
Francine Jury, a health researcher, took to Twitter to explain how difficult it was to get an appointment via the telephone at her local GP surgery.
She wrote: “Just Dialled GP 673 times over 28 minutes to get into phone queue at position 9. Waited further 20 minutes to speak to receptionist to be told there are no appointments left and try again tomorrow #primarycare is broken. #NHS”.
Just Dialled GP 673 times over 28 minutes to get into phone queue at position 9. Waited further 20 minutes to speak to receptionist to be told there are no appointments left and try again tomorrow #primarycare is broken. #NHS
Francine later followed up her tweet by explaining that her frustration wasn’t with the NHS staff themselves, but with the ‘broken’ system that manages appointments.
She wrote: “The incredible NHS primary care staff are working in a completely broken system. Needs better funding and GPs need more flexibility… GP practices know their patients and communities best and how best to serve them.
“Give them the support they need to make the system work for everyone. Founding principle of NHS- healthcare free at point of NEED, needs better support at primary care level.”
Councillor Alan Neal said that patients are visiting NHS walk-in centres and accident and emergency departments as an alternative to the lengthy waiting times to see their own doctors.
@nci / Unsplash
He said: “This is not a criticism of the medical profession. It is a criticism of the organisational system. A few years ago, CCGs [clinical commissioning group] were were set up across the country but, sadly, that system is not fit for purpose.”
Health secretary Sajid Javid recently urged GPs to scale down phone consultations now the height of the crisis is ‘way past’.
He told MPs last week that the government ‘intends to do a lot more’ to ensure in-person consultations go ahead, but did not reveal what specific actions ministers would take.
A driver was caught doing 104 mph through a 30 mph zone in a vintage sports car.
The speed camera flashed the white Ford Sierra Cosworth on Albert Royds Street, Rochdale, on Sunday afternoon, March 19th. GMP Traffic posted a picture on their Twitter page with the caption: “Words Fail!”
Responding to the GMP tweet, Councillor Daniel Meredith replied: “Hopefully gets the book thrown at them! Words fail! This is a residential area with children playing. Not Silverstone!”
The driver could now face a hefty fine and lengthy ban. Motorists caught doing high speeds can be hit with a ‘Band C’ offence — the most serious category of driving offence which can lead to driving bans of up to 120 days. Police also have the power to seize the vintage motor.
But the owner will be desperately hoping that doesn’t happen, as last month a rare Sierra Cosworth sold for almost £600,000 at auction.
Below the GMP post, tweeters filled the comments, with one saying: “Regular occurrence on that road. It’s a race track.” And a second typing: “Horrendous. Let’s hope courts back you up and get this clown off the road for a long scratch.”
Though some commenters, with knowledge of the car, jumped in with something less serious to say, as one put: “Probably trying to time travel back to the 1980s.” Another chimed in: “No wonder police couldn’t keep up with these years ago!”
McDonald’s is launching a new promotional game this month with millions of prizes up for grabs — including cash prizes and the iconic Coke glasses.
The brand new fun promotion is called Winning Sips — where customers can peel back stickers on their McDonald’s packaging and be in with a chance to win prizes including £10,000 in cash, menu favourites, bucket hats, towels, and plenty more.
Launching on March 29th Maccies fans will be familiar with the peel-to-win format. But, as the name suggests, you can only play by purchasing medium or large soft drinks and milkshakes. All you have to do is peel back the sticker to reveal an Instant Win prize, or App Play game piece.
With the App Play game piece, customers will need to use the McDonald’s App — which is free to download from the Google Android or iPhone app stores — to scan the code to be in with a chance of winning.
These will be up for grabs as part of our Winning Sips promotion, starting next Wednesday 😎
Play your game piece code via the McDonald’s App to see if you’re a proud owner of the most iconic glasses around 👀
Those who do this will be automatically entered into a prize draw for the opportunity to receive one of 10 cash prizes of a whopping £10,000. Fans are incredibly excited, especially about potentially winning themselves a new set of Coca-Cola glassware.
One said: “Omg wow remember these.” A second put: “Nostalgia. Reminds me of the ones from when we were younger.” A third joined in saying: “The glasses are back. Brings back memories, this.” While another wrote: “We’re going just to get these. So nostalgic.”
Of course it’s not exactly the same as Monopoly. You won’t be collecting game pieces the same way, and you won’t find any stickers on food items. The competition will be running from 5am on March 29th until 11.59pm on April 25th.
To enter, simply purchase any medium or large soft drink. These include:
Coca-Cola Zero Sugar
Diet Coke
Sprite Zero
Coca-Cola Classic
Fanta Orange
Oasis
Chocolate milkshake
Strawberry milkshake
Banana milkshake
Vanilla milkshake
There’s a limit of eight-game entries into the McDonald’s app, so don’t waste your money by trying more than that. You also have to be aged 18 or above to play. Customers have until May 9th, 2023 to claim their free prizes.
Maccies fans worried this is replacing the popular Monopoly promotion don’t need to worry, as it’s still coming ‘later in the year’, although a date has not yet been confirmed.
Noel Gallagher responds to fresh Oasis reunion rumours after his brother Liam suggests ‘it’s happening’.
Noel Gallagher has dropped the hint he could be up for a reunion after his brother Liam Gallagher made claims the band could be getting back together.
The brothers, who hail from Burnage, had a public fall-out in 2009 which saw Noel quit the band following a backstage argument. At the time, Noel said he ‘could not go on working with Liam a day longer’, later claiming he had been subjected to ‘verbal and violent intimidation’.
Over the weekend, Liam was asked by a fan on social media if there was a ‘small percentage that Oasis get back together’, to which he responded with: “It’s happening”. This led to speculation over social media that the brothers had made up with each other and could reform Oasis.
Here’s how I see it the little fella aka potato has done a lot of damage to Oasis as a band / brand he’s got a lot of making up to do not just to me but to you the fans the people that put us where we are tday as you were LG x
Noel implied the ball was in Liam’s court about getting the indie-rock group back together, and that he was waiting on his brother to get in touch with him about a potential reunion.
“There’s something in the papers back in England today,” he told France Inter. “He should get his people to call my people; they know who they are, they know where we are. Stop talking on the f*****g internet, and let’s see what you’ve got to say.”
Noel added that he felt it was up to his brother to make the first move, telling the French radio station: “He’s got my number, he’s got my manager’s number, call us. But you know what? He won’t call.”
His comments have led fans to message Liam on social media to encourage him to reach out to his brother. One fan tweeted the frontman: “C’mon then LG, Noel has challenged ‘your people’ to pick up the phone… is your bag still packed?”
Stefan Brending / Wikimedia
In response, Liam said: “All he got is yes men I don’t deal with yes men,” before adding: “He ain’t got no people.” Another fan asked: “You called ‘Noel’s people’ yet”, to which Liam replied: “Cowboys more like.”
In another tweet on Wednesday March 22nd, Liam said the two had a lot of making up to do before any reunion could happen. The comment led fans to believe any sign of a reunion could be further away than first hoped for.
Liam tweeted: “Here’s how I see it the little fella aka potato has done a lot of damage to Oasis as a band / brand he’s got a lot of making up to do not just to me but to you the fans the people that put us where we are today as you were LG x”.
Raph_PH / Wikimedia
One fan replied: “Yeap, but nevertheless, call him and put your conditions on the table.”
Another commented: “Now or never for Oasis, he’s never been that open in an interview until now. No need for other people just need to sort it between yourselves and the band. Arrange the meet and call!”
Formed in 1991, Oasis have sold more than 70 million records worldwide, with eight UK number one albums and singles. The band were recognised at the 2007 Brit Awards for their ‘Outstanding Contribution to Music’.