MORE patients are calling for urgent action by a Greenock GP practice to address ‘chaos’ surrounding their appointments system.

The Tele reported last week about concerns with Greenock Health Centre’s Lochview Practice over the way they manage their diary.

One man said changes meant people were being forced to take part in a ‘telephone lottery’ every day just to try and see a doctor.

Since then more patients have contacted our newsroom to express their anger — and they have demanded answers from the practice.

But senior management at Lochview have snubbed those calls.

A Greenock patient, who asked not to be named, said: “I am so pleased the Tele has highlighted this.

“Now I want to know what the practice are going to do about it. 

“We had a wonderful service before when it was based in Burns Road — you could just go in and get an appointment.

“Now you have to phone up at 8am and you can’t get through.

“Everyone is talking about it and people are very unhappy.

“People have complained but nothing is done about it.”

Lochview was created following a merger of practices.

Patients say they cannot book appointments in advance and have to phone up every day from 8am onwards to get to see a doctor.

One elderly woman said: “I want to thank the Tele for reporting this.

“I don’t keep well at all but now if I want to see a doctor I have to get up and get ready for 8am, then start phoning.

“The line is engaged constantly then when I eventually get through by nearly nine o clock the appointments are all gone.

“I have to do it all over again the next day — I did this for a full week at a time.

“I just want an appointment at the surgery.”

Lochview Practice refused to comment when we contacted them again and asked about the latest complaints about their booking procedures.