CONCERNS over the time it takes to get a doctor’s appointment in Pewsey were raised at the Area Board meeting on Monday.

Representatives from Great Western Hospital, the Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) and Health Watch Wiltshire were there to answer questions.

Jerry Kunkler, Wiltshire councillor for Pewsey, said that many residents struggled to get appointments with some waiting up to nine days to see their GP and asked if this had a knock-on effect at A&E departments.

He said: “One of the most common complaints I get is that they can’t get an appointment at the Pewsey Surgery.”

Kevin McNamara, from Great Western Hospital, said: “Over the last ten years there has been a preserved reduction in the provision of out of hours GP care and we’ve seen an explosion in A&E attendances. There is something we need to do about simplifying the service and signposting the service better. That means giving people viable alternatives which isn’t nine days or ten days but something reasonable.”

James Slater, of the CCG, said that Great Western Hospital has a new initiative directing people who are going to A&E for minor ailments to an urgent GP and nurse service.