THE majority of people have probably experienced this on at least one occasion. You phone your local clinic to book an appointment, but unfortunately there happens to be no room at the inn.
If you are lucky, you may be seen by your doctor on the same week or the following week.
The most frustrating occurrence is when one receives an unexpected call that their appointment has been cancelled.
And the postcode lottery that allows some areas to receive four times more cash for mental, health and cancer related illnesses has to be scrapped.
So is the National Health Service not working?
Personally, I have encountered no bad experiences with the service, but I am only sixteen and eligible to receive free National Health Service treatment.
I contacted the Pennine Acute Trust, which runs North Manchester General Hospital to find out whether the National Health Service is delivering for its patients.
Dr Ruth Jameson, medical director for Pennine Acute Trust, said: "Everyone in the NHS, whether they are doctors, nurses, allied health professionals or play a support role, are very aware of the significance of the service marking its 60th anniversary.
"Over the decades, we have seen enormous advances. We can do things now which clinicians of the past could only have dreamed about – some of the developments in clinical practice and technology would have been almost unimaginable. Who would have believed then that a surgeon in North Manchester General Hospital could share an X-ray image with a specialist colleague in London with a few clicks of a mouse to enable a second opinion? Yet we can now do this.
"The future holds challenge – types of illness which were very common in the past have now been substantially reduced. Vaccinations and public health developments have made a massive difference. However, in their place we have seen a rise in chronic ‘lifestyle’ conditions – so many problems are caused by too much alcohol, obesity and smoking.
"I certainly believe that the NHS has a bright future – at North Manchester General Hospital we have already started work on a new £30 million maternity and children’s centre of excellence, and we have just seen our new diabetes centre, created as part of a £1 million investment, officially opened by health minister and local MP Ivan Lewis. It’s been a great way to mark the 60th anniversary, and points the way to a very bright future."
Minister of State for Public Health, Dawn Primarolo said: "We’ve got more doctors and nurses, and waiting lists are down.
"Patients now have more choice than ever before, and the establishment of an NHS Constitution will let us all know exactly what we should expect when we use the health service.
"Of course, we still have challenges to tackle, particularly in continuing to reduce inequalities. Thanks to the dedication of a million NHS workers, and the continuing support of the British people, I am sure we will succeed."
