My experience of visiting my surgery about two months ago, I might add for the first time in about 15/20 years.
Had to book an appointment on line. That's when all the hassle began, emails back and forth, to long to go into, in the end I had to insist on a face to face appointment, why because I considered that the skin disorder developing on one area of my body needed a visual look, touch, and close examination.
I also offered during the back and forth emails at the time to remain on the car park, stop in the car for the doctor to look in the open air if he/ she was that concerned, in other words stick my ruddy leg out the car door.
Any how finally got to the surgery door, after a two three mins on the intercom, explaining yet again who I am what I want, and what time was my appointment, was let in. The inside looked like a outside coal house.
When I was called in, the first question put to me was, why didn't I send a photo of what I was concerned about, my answer was I've already looked at 100s of photos over the last 5/6 weeks on the internet as to try not to bother you, plus I've been to chemists for advice, and what I may treat it with, all medication that's been advised to use over the counter has failed to make any difference.
So has you can see from the above I didn't just go to the doctors at the first sign of a problem.
After looking at the problem for about 30 seconds informed me that he didn't know what it was, but try this medication. My answer to him, well you would have had even less chance of knowing with a photo.
After not attending that surgery for 15/20 years, you would have thought that a quicky examination would have not gone a miss while there, but oh no. Just out the door, and still not knowing to this day what the problem is, and given no follow up appointment. Just left in cookoo land. But according to government the NHS is open if your concerned about anything.