Right to Respond

As part of our commitment to providing an honest and transparent view of health and social care services, Healthwatch Birmingham encourages providers to respond to comments the public have left.

Alongside ensuring providers can have a fair say in discussions about their services, replying to reviews demonstrates evidence of responding to patient feedback for the CQC, who regularly monitor our Feedback Centre. It is also an effective way to recruit service users for any wider engagement work at your organisation.

Guidelines for provider responses:

  • Keep language appropriate and civil
  • Remain professional and treat people’s comments fairly
  • Engage with the content of the review by addressing specific points and avoid cut and pasting a standard response
  • Don’t disclose the service user’s personal details or any potentially identifying information
  • Where appropriate leave organisational contact details e.g PALS or patient engagement teams for people to get further information

Remember: your response will be seen by everyone who uses the Feedback Centre, not just the original reviewer. All responses are moderated in accordance with our moderation policy.

For full terms and conditions, including a guide to how right to reply works for service providers download this guide.

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Original feedback for

Ashfield Surgery


Terrible booking process and reception

Terrible reception and appointment booking process. You have to call to make an appointment at either 08:30 or 14:00, at which time it will take multiple attempts to be connected because the line will be busy. When you do get through to the line you will be the 9th in the queue. The last time I called to make an appointment, I called, as requested at 08:30 and I was told that they only had emergency appointments left. I complained about this and it very much fell on deaf ears, the receptionist couldn't have cared less. Today I called again to make an appointment and the receptionist said to a colleague in the background (while I was still on the phone! ) "I've got him again". Highly unprofessional and rude reception with a very old fashioned booking process. If you're lucky enough to get an appointment with a doctor, I have been satisfied with the service, however, I cannot recommend this surgery because of the rude reception and terrible booking procedures.