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

Handsworth Wood Medical Centre


GPS refuse to offer face to face appointments

Osteoarthritis in knees and lower spine. Progressively worsening over past 5 years. Numerous 'telephone' appointments as GPS refuse face to face. Now GPS avoiding telephone appointments. Takes between 30 minutes to 1 hour 20 minutes, constantly pressing redial from 0800 hrs to speak to a receptionist. You may then be offered a same day telephone appointment being stage 1 of the sifting system seemingly now in place. GPS do everything to avoid offering a face to face which is the next stage. I have had numerous xrays and MRIs over recent years that had identified substantial wear and tear in my right knee. Unable to bear weight on this knee the other knee has been overcompensating, resulting in the same in the left knee. I completed an, 'E Consult form, detailing my inability to stand without experiencing such severe pain that I am drenched in sweat, feel nauseous and faint. I requested: a call back/ phone consultation with a GP; referral to orthopaedic surgeon; and wheelchair assessment. A GP responded via email: instructing me to contact the hospital to chase my rheumatologist referral which is nothing to do with my arthritic knees. That was the GP response.