Reviews
All appointments are ‘ book on the day ‘ appointments which actually means you have to call at 8am to get one ( 8:20 is too late etc and therefore have to repeat process following day). Additionally, most complaints ( in my instance) are not urgent and therefore would be more appropriate to agree an appointment for a future date /time. Appointments are then anytime call backs, and they might only call you once. This doesn’t work if you cannot be beside your phone/have your phone switched on or just generally where you are awaiting for a call back ‘ at any time’ that day. Again, miss it and the process starts again…. There is an option to send in a description of the complaint in online including photos and confirmation that it’s not urgent, tries this and the surgery text back saying that I need to call in to book an appointment, so the process mentioned above. This just doesn’t work as a process and ultimately ends up with an appointment at the emergency doctor despite it never being an emergency!
My entire family struggle to get an appointment. With the only possible option to call at 8am it makes the service impossible to access if you work. We are not the only people struggling with this issue. Call backs are also impossible. I teach so cannot take personal calls at random times. When I explain the situation to reception staff they are unhelpful and rude. The only option we have is to call out of hours who often divert you back to your surgery. My husband has been suffering from a chest infection and was refused an appointment due to not being able to sit on the phone, while at work, trying to call the surgery at 8am on hold for half an hour. Ended up having time off work and lost money visiting same day appointment centre in Doncaster! The surgery advertise late night appointment but this is not true. You can only get an appointment if you are retired or unemployed.
I have had 2 telephone appointments with Matthew Fletcher and what a kind and knowledgeable young man he made me feel at ease and gave me great advice he took time to explain things to me and I would like to thank him very much if possible please pass on my thanks.
All worked well, used the NHS App to get an appointment, wasn't sure how the telephone appointments worked so reception answered my questions.
During lockdown I fully understand the difficulties GPs have faced however same day call back appointments have been impossible for me to make. I am a teacher often with no one to cover while I take a call and cannot take an entire day of work in the hope that I may possibly get a call back on that day! The call backs need to at least be available after a certain time or even the option of a time slot system. A particular receptionist can be extremely rude with a huge lack of compassion or understanding. I literally have no way of accessing a gp appointment during term time and therefore have left several issues untreated.
Resources
Short link to review Dunsville Medical Centre: http://iwgc.net/eb9ee