A North East woman has told of her plight over the "impossible task" of getting a GPs appointment - which led to her getting so run down she caught shingles. 

Corrine was prevented from seeing her GP for checkups and routine procedures - with untreated anaemia, and had to take time off of work for chronic pain issues. 

This comes as patients across the North East have struggled to secure appointments, leading to worries over ailments ranging from chronic pain to mental health woes.

Some have even said that it has worsened their conditions, or led to them developing different illnesses - leaving them unable to work, or having to fork out for private care.

Read more: Darlington's best and worst GP surgeries revealed

Corinne told The Northern Echo that a lack of GP appointments has had a huge impact on her quality of life.

She said: "I am in so much pain and am unable to work. I have had to go private to see a specialist and a physio."

"But, when I phone the GP, the receptionist tells me that I cannot speak to or see the doctor. She's told me on several occasions that I have to go to A&E, but when I go they're annoyed that I haven't seen a GP. 

Corinne also explained that she had faced difficulties receiving routine procedures at her GP practice, leading to declining health. 

She explained: "My injection for anaemia was cancelled, leading to me being so run down I got shingles.

"I spoke to a GP on the phone about my condition, and was told to go to the surgery straight away - but when I got there five minutes later, I was refused entry by the receptionist.

"After half an hour of waiting outside, I was let into the waiting room, only to be told that the doctor had already gone home."

Others have also expressed disappointment at their own experiences, with many having to phone day after day to try to secure an appointment. 

Many also complained to The Northern Echo that not seeing the GP has left people unable to go to work, pushed people into private medical care, or even put people in A&E with untreated conditions. 

Only a few weeks ago, Health and Social Care Secretary Therese Coffey set out the expectation that everyone needing an appointment will be seen within two weeks, with more urgent cases being seen on the same day. 

The recently published GP Patient Survey showed that only 53 per cent of those wanting a same-day appointment would get one, down from 60 per cent in 2021. 

Read more: Face-to-face GP appointments at highest level since start of pandemic

In response, a spokesperson for the North East and North Cumbria Integrated Care Board said: "The level of face-to-face appointments offered to patients across our region is now back at pre-pandemic levels.

"More patients than ever before can receive the advice and treatment they need in a timely manner.

"Across the region, we continue to work on increasing appointment availability through out-of-hours enhanced access appointments, and through providing a wide range of specialist staff roles, to ensure patients see the most appropriate person for their health needs."

A Department of Health and Social Care spokesperson said: "There are nearly 1,500 more full-time equivalent doctors working in general practice now than in 2019, and we are spending £1.5 billion to create 50 million more appointments by 2024 – alongside making changes to reduce the workload of GPs and free up appointments."

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