PATIENTS at an Amman Valley ‘super surgery’ are outraged at the waiting times for appointments.

A number of patients have voiced their anger at the lack of GP appointments available at the Amman Tawe Partnership.

Patient Sian Lane said: “On several occasions I’ve tried to make a doctors appointment for my baby, disabled husband and myself only to be told by the Amman Tawe Partnership there are no pre-bookable appointments.

“This is the case even when you phone up at 8am.

“If you are lucky enough to be given an appointment you don’t even get to see an actual GP.

“It goes through a telephone triage where it’s decided if you’re sick enough to be seen by a GP or if you can be seen by a pharmacist, paramedic, nurse or a PA instead.

“My husband’s chest infection went undiagnosed for so long - because I couldn’t get him a GP appointment - that he was hospitalised for two weeks.

“His lung capacity dropped massively because of the infection. It was very scary and I was heavily pregnant at the time.

“Since it’s become this ‘super-surgery’, it’s impossible to get an appointment.”

Another patient, who did not wish to be named, explained how her daughter ended up in intensive care after she was unable to get a GP appointment at the surgery.

“My daughter has a very rare kidney condition and cannot be seen by anyone but a GP or a specialist.

“The receptionist ignored all of this and proceeded to give me an appointment with a pharmacist.

“He failed to diagnose her massive kidney infection, despite all the information needed about testing her being on her notes.

“I phoned at 8am, when the symptoms had started, got to see the pharmacist at 5pm and she was in intensive care very very ill by 11pm that night.

“It’s just not acceptable.

“They are neglecting their patients by not letting them be see by the GPs.

“Everything is an issue for them. We’re pushed from pillar to post.

“I’ve filed official complaints with them and still nothing has changed.”

Residents in the Amman Valley previously expressed their concern over the difficulty accessing GP services if the ‘super surgery’ went ahead in June 2015.

The Amman Tawe partnership is responsible for around 12,000 people; accountable to Abertawe Bro Morgannwg University Health Board for approximately 8,000 Neath Port Talbot residents and to Hywel Dda Health Board for approximately 4,000 Carmarthenshire residents.

The Amman Tawe Partnership, Hywel Dda and Abertawe Bro Morgannwg health boards have been approached for a comment.