IT MUST be obvious to everyone the elderly, frail and infirm need easy access to a doctor.

It now seems the over 65s have become a sector of society which can be ignored or given the shoddiest of service by NHS GPs.

Time was when an early morning call could be relied upon to secure an appointment to see a physician of one’s choice within 24 hours.

This arrangement is now held in contempt.

With the advent of the computer and the internet it is now deemed to be a much easier, quicker and certain way to attend a surgery for whatever medical reason one has.

Old and older people by and large do not have computer access, especially those on basic state pension who simply cannot afford either the equipment or the running costs of such things.

The contempt for their impoverishment is made apparent when a call to the surgery to see a doctor is made.

A receptionist will inform callers no appointments made by phone can be entertained until those who book online have been dealt with.

However, if you care to go to the surgery on the following day at 1.30pm there could be a vacant appointment on that day, or, the next, or, on the following Monday, if your call is made on a Friday.

Waiting is the only way to access a doctor, irrespective of whatever conditions you may have, simply because you are not online.

This cannot possibly be a fair and considerate way to treat the aged who have paid a lifetime’s dues into the NHS system.

NAME AND ADDRESS SUPPLIED