Whittle Surgery

Some weeks ago I went in early to ask for an appointment.
The surgery had no patients: the waiting room stood empty. The receptionist told me I'd have to come back before two pm to make an appointment.

I had an appointment to make an appointment!

Delights me to see so many good reviews. To me, the qualities or skills of the physicians aren't worth a grunt if you need to make an appointment to make an appointment to see one.

No stars, Docs. (Google forces one or it won't post the comment!-)

But then, you're all well-paid whether the patients live or die, so no worries. But there might be another reason why the waiting-room stood empty: 5-minutes by bus to A & E.

Going to start with the pros on my local GP surgery.
Pros are good professional doctors and good nurses and efficient staff. Recently seen to and was sorted out no problems.
Cons are getting an appointment is a real pain in the arse and if wasn't for my persistence I would not have got one.
All good other than the way you make appointments.
But nothing but prase for the professionals when you get one. Big Thank you from me.

No appointments, 45 minutes wait on the phone, unhelpful reception, no proper consultation, rude doctors, the offices are dirty and neglected. I've lived in 5 countries and visited doctors there. This place is the worst!

An all-round improvement to the previous location. Much bigger surgery with its own decent sized car park and bike rack - better then sneaking into the pub parking 😆. Bear in mind if you're walking in from street level that the surgery proper is on the 1st floor (level with car park) not the ground floor, but there is a lift if you go in the street entrance if stairs aren't for you.

Whole place feels much cleaner, more clinical. Airier waiting room with proper light and ventilation (1.5x height room), and reception staff seem better and happier - though that could obviously be situational.

You now book all appointments for the day at 8am which feels much more sensible. Plus with the choice to book ahead or use the app it's easier (though still difficult, not unexpected for the suffering nhs) to get an appointment.

The touchscreen check-in wasn't working when I went, but it looks similar to the old one and the reception was right there for check in anyway.

The wait was as expected, roughly 30mins after my appointment time I saw a doctor. Quiet radio was playing and temperature was kept good as it was a decently warm day outside.

Doctor was very friendly and thorough, again seems much happier and you can get your prescription sent electronically to Whittle Pharmacy or get the old paper copy to pick it up anywhere.

Toilet was clean, two regular and a disabled available as well as a breastfeeding and a nappy changing room.

Overall better experience and I feel less dread about going back then I ever did at the old place.

Reception is utterley dismal. Uninterested, unhelpful and sometimes rude reception staff.
256 calls to get through is the record. Can stay in position 1, 2 or 3 for 30 min plus, to then be told no appoints call back in afternoon. Repeat.... Miserable staff in reception. Wants a complete rethink! Doctors are fine it's just reception. Has been last few years, it's not a covid thing.
If you go in the receptionists have masks on but under their chins???
Fresh start with reception required!

Edit. Since my previous good review the trend Seems to have shifted toward trying 100+ calls to a busy line around 8am before actually getting through to the switchboard and being told no appointments left. At this stage the appointment system seems broken

Only good experiences so far. Staff very friendly and practitioners professional. I much prefer the system of ringing early on the day and being seen within a few hours to the broken alternative of calling anytime to book an appointment for 2 weeks ahead as is becoming more common in other surgeries.

Doctors ok, admin and back office poor. Email for repeat prescription not acknowledged, after 3 days visited surgery - phone constantly engaged, automated answering system not operating! Advised by receptionist that a doctors appointment would be required due to date of previous medication issue . Told to ring surgery the following day at 08.00am ! Office management at this surgery needs a complete overhaul.

Good Doctors but the worst ever appointment system, on day booking is only any use to those people who don't work or can't work. 5 mins of a call most of which tells me things I'm not interested in and then keeps me waiting, again not exactly sparkiling performance when you are ill or need help.