GPS Healthcare - Village Surgery

We regularly have to try and book appointments for elderly relatives and it takes an absolute age. Booking Service for the vulnerable not all acceptable. Some of the GPS are very rude and too quick to share their personal opinions rather than being professional and are very dismissive of those they supposedly serve. Family members don’t want to complain for fear of being struck off. Errors in medication as well. Staff at Tanworth Lane surgery can also be rude and dismissive.

I have to move to Tanworth lane surgery. Staff were horrible to me here.

Waiting weeks for referral to be competed
Unable to make a timed appointment
Waiting lists for contraception
Lack of compassion

Even though it was decided it should be an urgent appointment was told I would need to ring daily to see if there was an appointment. Phones ring out for ages/ left on hold and difficult to speak to someone about test results. Overall poor. Receptionists are gatekeepers of medical appointments they have no training to triage.

Prescriptions always wrong, missing items or just not ready on time meaning i miss doses of anti depressants. Telephone line pointless, literally takes nearly an hour to get an answer, no face to face appointments, wrong blood tests taken some how, poor communication on medication reviews

Waiting to long on the phone

Sadly it has recently been impossible to get even a telephone appointment at this GP practice. Working as a clinician in the NHS myself, I know how stretched and pressured our services are. However, my job also means it’s almost impossible for me to be able to phone the surgery at 8am each morning to book an appointment, especially as you’re on hold in a queue for almost 30 minutes. The surgery are offering no alternative way of obtaining an appointment as they’ve removed access to online bookings. When I’ve communicated this to the receptionist I’m met with very little compassion and no solution.

When I was fortunate to book a telephone appointment at the start of the year I was told that I needed to be available all day to answer my phone. Again, having patients of my own meant that this was again impossible. It’s so frustrating and ultimately puts me off even trying to phone for an appointment, which will subsequently impact my health. It’s unfair and something needs to change.