I think it depends where you live and the quality of the GP surgery.
I can only type about my experiences as a long term disabled person.
I'm not able to get in to the surgery to meet the doctor so if I call up in the morning before surgery starts then its possible to book a home visit. It's a random doctor from the surgery but they usually arrive between 10am and 1pm.
I think for a regular person making an appointment it can take up to 4 weeks.
I agree about the reception staff. Most of them seem to be turning people away or delaying them with appointments or going to see other services if they don't think your condition is serious. The problem is that some of them aren't familiar with the most severely long term disabled people so they end up not taking it seriously. There are a couple like that at my GP surgery, but then also a couple that know me by name so put me through.
As for medication, I have regular medication and use the online services of their website to order repeat perscriptions. As long as I'm not re-ordering excessively i.e. more than once a month then everything seems to work out fine most of the time.
I agree about the good long term experience GP's seem to not last long because they become so popular. One Dr here, from the moment he came to the surgery everyone in the town was talking about him and recommending him to each other. In the end he ended up retiring and moving to new zealand, as for the amount of money he was making here was low for the amount of people he was seeing. Apparently he could make a lot more money abroad.
My main Dr now is the head of the surgery. I haven't always had the best relationship with him as he used to be known to be stand-off'ish. But he's mellowed over the years and now takes more of an interest.
I think there is a problem with too few GP's around and the quality as dropped over the years. There is another surgery in town that is about to close due to it being rated inadequate. It has 6000+ patients, and there is a long waiting list to join my surgery. The other nearest surgery for them is now 2 bus rides away, or a taxi ride to the next town. The thing about that surgery is its out of the way and its in a residential area so most of the 6000+ live within walking distance, so it was great for elderly and vulnerable people to get to.
In my town there are too many houses for the amount of services required, including GP surgeries and schools for the kids.