My new doctors (they shut my old one down and transferred us) have a great system. You can't ring up and just make an appointment, they ask you what the problem is then book you in for a telephone appointment with a doctor or nurse who then decides if you need an appointment, just a prescription etc... The first time I rang in I was initially booked straight in for a blood test first then a GP appointment for when the tests would be back, all sorted in a quick phone call without having to take up an appointment to then be sent for a blood test. Another time they just wrote a prescription for me to collect later that day (previous problem so no need for an appointment). Must save them a lot of time dealing with some things quickly over the phone rather than allocating a set time appointment, especially with the amount of people who just don't turn up.
I'd seen the internet searching a few times. I did have to wonder at one male Dr who couldn't speak very good English at all (ended up having to write some stuff down for him) and had to look up PMT symptoms on the net which I didn't think was promising. This is the surgery they shut down though!