SHP - Shirley Medical Centre

My elderly parents have to take a taxi to see the GP at the surgery because no one answers the phone, when they get there, they are told to wait for appointment. They are frustrated because they have a past medical history which the GPs don't put into consideration

Terrible services, no phones answered, on hold for 50 minutes at a time- Appointments only given within 3-4 weeks wait. No response on high blood pressure readings or test results (for at least 3 months)

The service for children is great especially as my son has special needs. I am able to get appointments for my son when I personally go into the surgery for an appointment.
I normally call in the noon, they complete triage and based on that advice to come in. Generally get appointments on the same day for my son.

For adults the appointments service and booking is poor. Not able to get into see a GP face to face and after a triage signposted to advice line 111

Getting to the GP is an issue especially when I don't drive and the time the appointments are provided are not always applicable due to work commitments.

I’m not seeing a change from SHP only a couple of weeks ago I spent 45 mins to get to speak to someone and then they cut me off. I then spent another 45 minutes getting though again. The difficulty with making appointments has prevented me from taking to drs about issues both for me and my children because I can’t face the challenge of getting an appointment. In the instances I have got an appointment I have been happy with the service. They simply need more people on the phones as simply as that, or perhaps online booking would help.

First time trying to book in approx 2 years and disappointed with first hand experience. Call answered after 30 minutes call handler stated no appointment until 14 June over a month away. I said I’ll take that then I was advised to stand outside Blossomfield Surgery before half 8am and I may be lucky to get an appointment on the day. I was outside today with one man in front. The notice on the door stated they opened at 8.30. At 8.32 we rang the bell no reply. Eventually the blind was raised the door opened and a lady said ‘you have an appointment’ three of us said no that is why we are here to book one. She stated there are none left and you should not be here. I said your care navigator told me to come, she again said we should not be there, but as we were on this occasion she would look what could be done and she would take it up with management. In summary the patient should be the customer here and treated with respect. The basic incompetence and lack of clear pathways is upsetting to see when the community it serves is so dependent upon. Blood tests seem to be the obvious bottleneck, you have to see a doctor to arrange for a test, then you have to make an appointment to get results, fast track this procedure and it will ease the pressure on other urgent health care. Why can we not book on line? Where is the communication from SHP to the community I have never received any communication except reminders of vaccination which I chose to have elsewhere. Please help!!

To be told you’re 37 in the queue at 2pm, then it go down each number incredibly slowly is very disheartening. I understand it being super busy at 8am but at least with more staff on then, it goes down quickly. Once I finally got to 1 in the queue it went to dialling tone and just rang and rang and no one answered, I was worried I had lost my place, then it went back to the hold music/info, then ringing again!

Can not get an appiontment have been trying for over 5 weeks. How can a doctor see your knee injury over the phone. This surgery has gone to the dogs.

Increase medication but don't implement it, don't refer when they say they have, don't provide correct amount of medication then refuse to represcribe before the end of the month even tho the prescription runs out after 28days on medication you can't stop taking. Don't review prescriptions, don't follow up as per the hospital after operations or admittance, don't allow online appointments yet no chance of getting an appointment any other time unless you can predict a month in advance when your going to be ill. Poor service hoping to move drs soon

Every time I have called phone line's are full. Not taking anymore calls call back later, called all different times of the day same thing.

Need to see a doctor about my asthma which has been out of control lately, next available appointment is in 4 weeks! Can’t even get some inhalers before then. I had a chest X-ray back in Aug and still no results?!