Aspen Medical Practice

I have never had a good or easy appointment/interaction with this Surgery. Constantly sat on the phone in 20+ queues that can take over an hour to get through. And this was long before Covid. And then when ou do get through you have to jump through hoops with a receptionist just to then be told to wait for a call back from the duty doctor. And that's if your lucky! I get the receptionist has to ask questions, but they are NOT doctors, and if I feel/know I need to see a doctor/nurse then I should be able to without hassle! If it were possible/easier to go register elsewhere then I would in a heartbeat. Poor service since the day Aspen took over the local surgeries, and I wish it would just go back to the way it was because it was so much easier for the general public back then.

Went for blood test which came back as high iron levels, they contacted me to take the test again and they would contact me further when results are back .....nothing for four weeks, unable to get through on the phone, filled out an online request. Response from surgery, iron levels still high contact surgery for further clarification. They were supposed to contact me, I'm left chasing the pathetic press one for etc etc and spending way too much time waiting. The nurses there are great, doctors non existent, follow up care well below par. Contact could be improved perhaps with a ouija board

It’s inconceivable that it became obvious, the only way I was actually going to get an appointment was a 20 minute car journey & then a 25 minute stand in the queue. All whilst feeling dreadful.
What I didn’t bank on was the lack of respect for us 10 person long queue of patients when three or four senior doctors stood laughing & chatting in the lobby, cooing over a staff member who had brought her baby in.
Neither did I feel it was necessary to build a desk to accommodate two receptionists…

Let them eat cake comes to mind!

The final insult?…the radio station on my way home tells me only 650 people had Covid on their death certificate last week…

Trying to get any level of support from this medical center is neigh on impossible!! The number of times medication is simply not issued, no notice from the practice, only to find out 2 weeks later when you try and pick up from a pharmacy. Phones go unanswered regularly. Opening times are woefully inadequate for the volume of patients. Accuracy of paperwork, repeat prescriptions is terrible. If I had an alternative I would use it.

Give the surgery a break! This practice is no different to many others in these testing times. Some surgeries open part-time due to lack of Drs, be grateful this one is open 6 days a week and late most days so those working can see a Dr after there work day. My 95yr old deaf father's surgery refuses to make any appointments when he visits (4 minute walk from his home) and insists he phones - he can't use a phone but I'm told it's policy - what about hard of hearing elderly who have no children to phone for them. His surgery is not open Saturdays and closes 5pm every day. My neice's surgery open 2 days 12-4pm, 2 days 10-6pm, 1 day 9-5pm and closed Sat and Sun!

Absolute nightmare getting to get through on the phone, not uncommon to be 20 in the que.
Long waits for appointments, and when you do actually get to see a doctor they don't really want to sort the actual issue.
I get the nhs Is stretched but this is pathetic.
The way this place is being ran is a long way away from when I was a patient at London Road medical practice (which was fantastic).
I have now moved doctors as I don't feel Aspen are an effective surgery, there is no sign of improvement what so ever.

I wanted to give Aspen Medical Centre 5 stars as I believe things have improved more recently. All of the receptionists and GP’s I have dealt with recently have been fantastic, understanding and sympathetic. Today I have had my flu and covid jab and the service was so efficient. I think the public don’t always consider how stretched the service is so well done Aspen.

I can only say good things about Aspen Medical centre as I have always had great service. The new call back system works brilliantly and I was able to have an appointment and have a prescription the same day. The NHS is under huge pressure at the moment, understandably, but l have found the staff really helpful and professional despite the stressful circumstances.