THE manager of an Abingdon doctors’ surgery has reassured patients there will be no more problems getting an appointment.

Patients at the Malthouse Surgery, in The Charter, were told they would have to wait up to three weeks to see a doctor after one of the surgery’s GPs resigned.

Dr Geoff Tipper left the surgery in September, a month earlier than expected, and his replacement worked only part-time.

Patients complained this meant they could not get appointments, but the practice manager has now apologised and said normal service would resume as a full-time locum had been hired until February, when Dr Tipper’s permanent replacement starts.

Brian Badcock, of John Morris Road, Abingdon, was one of the patients affected by delays.

The 55-year-old said: “I’ve been a patient here all my life and have never seen it so bad. I rang up for an appointment at 8.30am and was told I wouldn’t be seen for a week-and-a-half.

“I told them I will either be cured or dead by then – they didn’t even ask what was wrong with me.

“They lost personnel and you would’ve thought they would replace them as soon as possible with the flu season coming up.”

Fiona Green, 43, of Southmoor Way, said: “My 21-year-old daughter was feeling unwell at work and tried to make an appointment. She was told she couldn’t be seen for two weeks because her doctor was away and no-one else was available.”

The surgery has 20,120 patients and treats more than half the town’s over-65 population.

The practice is still minus one nurse specialising in chronic disease management.

Practice manager Peter Abery said: “I can understand people’’s frustration and it has been a bit of a trying time. I would like to apologise to anyone who has been delayed in receiving an appointment.

“We are looking to take on a locum nurse and are fully prepared for the flu season. We have just vaccinated our 3,200th patient this year.”