HEALTH chiefs have pledged to investigate the appointments system at Colburn doctors' surgery following complaints from residents.

Ill people say getting an appointment at the surgery, a satellite of the Catterick Village practice, is almost impossible.

They often telephone at 9am to be told the appointments book is already full for the day and they are not allowed to book a slot for the following day or week.

"They say we have to phone the following day for another appointment, and it is the same story all over again," said Anne French, a Colburn resident.

She told a meeting of Richmond Central parish forum that people who worked full time stood no chance of an appointment, as the surgery operated on a part-time basis and there were no evening hours.

Coun Helen Grant, who represents Colburn on Richmondshire district council, said it was impossible to book an appointment ahead.

"If you do manage to see a doctor and he wants to see you in a fortnight, you can't go to the receptionist and book for two weeks' time. You have to ring on the day and then you find it's full. It is hopeless."

She stressed she was not criticising the doctors, but branded the appointments system archaic.

The meeting at Richmond town hall on Wednesday also heard that the emergency appointments system was unsatisfactory. Patients were invited to sit and wait but there was no guarantee they would be seen.

Some residents who moved to the area recently had registered with the Catterick Garrison medical centre because they had heard of the problems at Colburn.

Paul Farrimond, director of primary care development at Hambleton and Richmondshire primary care trust, said the Colburn surgery was a branch of the Catterick Village practice and was open for five morning and two afternoon sessions.

Targets set by the Government, which included being able to see a practice nurse within 24 hours and a GP within 48 hours, were met.

However, he promised to take the comments back to the PCT and to the surgery.