The Harlequin Surgery

I can get appointments and it's easy to get them. I see my midwife there and it's all well organised.

They're alright, to see a doctor takes forever, you can make an appointment and it could be 2 or 3 weeks later, you could be dead before they see you. I had chest pains and they sent me away. The next day I called back and they sent for an ambulance.

Don't try to use them too much if I can help it. Takes a while to get through. I may need to use the service in the future.

I was having a mental crisis and my wife rang to get an appointment. The receptionist was told how I wasn't coping but insisted there were no appointments left. Luckily, my wife is extremely persistent and would not be fobbed off and eventually after 5 minutes explaining how serious the situation was, I was given an emergency appointment. The consultation was very good and very helpful.
I have been a patient with this practice for well over 30 years but it feels like they have taken on too many new patients and now cannot offer the service which we are all entitled to.
This morning I tried to book a telephone consultation to discuss my diabetes (which I have been asked to do by a doctor via an SMS message) and despite ringing at exactly 8:30am as I was advised to do yesterday by a receptionist, I simply got a recorded message saying that due to the volume of calls waiting to be dealt with I could not join the queue...try again later. I tried 6 times and got the same message. Eventually at 9:15 I got through to reception to be told that all of the appointments had gone for today. Try again tomorrow.
I won't bother because I know it will be exactly the same again. This is worrying because I am pretty sure the doctor will tell me that my last blood tests showed that I am now classed as "diabetic" and require medication. I assume that at some point the doctor will follow it up by telephoning me and then hopefully I will be able to get the medication I need.
NOT ACCEPTABLE!!!!!!!!!

My GP has been very helpful with me having mental health issues. Although I find the receptionists have no idea about mental health and are unhelpful.

Takes me a long time to get through to them. They are a pain. I thought maybe one of the nurses would call me but no.

They are good they deliver my medication, new eye drops for my eyes that I have to take at night. They are good.

They can squeeze me in. when I go there physically you stand a better chance to get an afternoon appointment. The phone is inundated but they offer a call back service for an appointment.

Still awaiting to see someone about my feet. I have little feeling in them.
The last check up was in April with the doctor. There is an issue of there not being many chiropodist. I am still awaiting for a treatment. I used to go every 3-6 weeks before and not getting to a private chiropodist is an issue for me especially with me being diagnosed with disability.
Would like to see more Chiropodist on NHS like before as it is not always possible to pay privately especially if you are on low income.
I have had to go to the GP 5 times to see if the doctors who I have been advised to see is available, only to be denied access to see him.
Instead a receptionist came out to visit me and provided the medications. I later complained to the practice manager but not heard anything of it.

Over the years they have been so nice & helpful. Its so clean and staff so kind.