THE Press revealed at the end of May how patients had been left hanging on the phone for hours while trying to make appointments at Unity Health’s £2.5 million new Kimberlow Hill medical centre in Heslington.

One patient said they ended up having to get a taxi to the surgery just to make an appointment in person, while another said she had to go to York Hospital and queue for a blood test because she couldn’t make an appointment for one at Kimberlow Hill.

When The Press rang the surgery for a comment, we waited 60 minutes for an answer on one occasion before eventually giving up.

The practice’s managing partner Louise Johnston said the problems appeared to relate entirely to a new telephone system at the centre.

It emerged the system was set to be used by other practices across the Vale of York area but health bosses pledged there would be no further roll-out to other practices until appropriate assurances had been put in place.

York Central MP Rachael Maskell subsequently asked the CQC to intervene and tackle the “completely unacceptable” telephone problems.

Louise Johnston said yesterday that four more call handlers had already been taken on, with another two to be employed, and calls were now answered much more quickly. Patients can discuss concerns at drop-ins being held from 9am-10.30am tomorrow and the following two Saturdays.