A NEW appointment booking system is causing frustration for residents in a Wrexham village needing to see a Doctor.

Since the beginning of 2019, the system for booking appointments at Alyn Family Doctors in Llay has changed. Previously, people had to queue outside at the Health Centre at 7.45am and make an appointment in person, but now, the building doesn’t open until 8.30am, with appointments being made between 8-8.30am by telephone, a situation which has led to many people missing out.

Llay Cllr Rob Walsh said he had heard stories of people who had not been able to get through at all during the first half an hour and when they do, have been told there are no more appointments available for the day.

He said: “I needed to book an appointment myself earlier this week. It took me 4 attempts to get through, but when I did I was fortunate enough to get an appointment.

“Not only are my sympathies with the patients, but with the staff at Alyn Family Doctors. They do a brilliant job in very difficult circumstances. The problem they have is that they don`t have the staffing provision for the population levels we currently have and that will get worse with future housing developments being planned.

With the issues highlighting the lack of infrastructure in the village for its current residents, Cllr Walsh went on to say that he would personally like to see all major building projects in the area put on hold until extra funding and investment is provided for Alyn Family Doctors.

The issue was also raised at the last meeting of Llay Community Council when Cllr John O’Keefe told of similar problems when trying to book an appointment for his wife and an additional issue when he discovered an ear syringing service once provided at the centre, was no longer available and had to be carried out at a private clinic.

He said: “The telephone was constantly engaged from eight in the morning when I first rang so my wife ended up just going around there in person and was told there were no appointments available that day.

“When she told them she was only wanting to book in to have her ears syringed, they told her they no longer provide that service and she would have to go and have them done privately. She was then told that the cost for having them done privately was £35 for one ear and £58 for them both, which I think is just ridiculous.”

Although Alyn Family Doctors have been approached for comment on these issues, none has so far been received.