Bridgewater Surgeries

I moved to Watford 5 years ago and registered with the surgery and have had a good experience. Appointments have been accessible and have been seen and referred appropriately. The staff have been personable and thorough. Thank you for all your hard work

To whoever was there on the 9th of September 2022 at 9pm, shame on you!
I have been sent to see a GP after calling 111 because I was very ill. Of course when I arrived in the dark it says press the buzz on the left side (no buzz there) so had to wait until some came to open the door who. Was no one waiting of something just me. The doctor there was in a rush, don’t know why he bothered to go to work that day! In two minutes I was out. Didn’t look at me at all. He said I am perfectly fine, must have a virus which will go away within 2-3 weeks 🙄. “If you want you can buy some paracetamol “ he said!
Ridiculous!!! Why would you think an adult would go to see a GP on a Friday night? Because he’s very unwell, that’s why!

I moved to Watford and registered to Bridgewater Surgeries since 2012, and my overall experience has been brilliant. Good availability of GP appointments both for routine and urgent, the practice really try hard to accommodate urgent appointment. During and after COVID, their hybrid approach of using phone and F2F appointments strike the right balance, sometime we just want a quick consultation, check test result and reassurance over the phone, and if the triaging doctor feel the need for F2F they provide it immediately. Well done and keep up the good work.

Bridgewater surgeries is an outstanding practice, the best UK practice I’ve ever been registered at and a shining example of the NHS at its best.

All the GPs, nurses and receptionists I’ve experienced at Bridgewater are highly competent, helpful and caring; never judgemental.

My GP, Dr Arrif Amin deserves special praise ; simply the best clinician I’ve ever experienced. A true gentleman and hugely knowledgeable and experienced.

The whole place has a good teamwork vibe unlike other GPS surgeries I’ve been registered at in other parts of the UK . I’ve lived and worked in the US and been a patient of primary care physicians, the equivalent of our GP’s, and it made me realise how lucky we are with the NHS, despite its faults. Staff need to be properly paid or we’ll lose the precious NHS.
Good job on managing through the pandemic.

Many thanks to all at Bridgewater for your help.

My family has been using this surgery for years, and lots of people have had very good experiences, but personally i have had more good than bad.

For general appointments they made me feel very uncomfortable and were very stern and not thoughtful to my anxiety, similarly on the phone they were quite judgemental of me. However not all doctors were like this however more training is needed to ensure patients feel safe.

But worst of all my most recent appointment when i was at my lowest mental health and was crying out for help, was with a woman GP (will not name here) she told me i don't need to diagnose you because no job will want you otherwise and "I always tell everyone who comes here they dont need a diagnosis". (I didnt only go there for a diagnosis) I am a firm believer you need to understand yourself by getting a diagnosis, of course its not the most pivotal thing, but important to understand how to go about things, just like a physical diagnosis as not every mental illness should be treated the same. It was important for me as to get a job that will be understanding of me is very helpful to me, but then i was told a job wouldn't want me, made me spiral again (in the middle of the session having a panic attack and crying hysterically and she gave no care) This is why many people are without any proper diagnosis when they are older and don't understand themselves properly. This women wasnt even a mental health specialist just a GP, but she told me i had nothing wrong with me even though therapists (who i have talked to for a long time, not just 5 minutes) disagree completely.

Just be careful of who you see for mental health, make sure you get a specialist or at least someone understanding.

I wish everyone well <3

This is a fantastic surgery medically however I do have to question the administration. Not that they are doing anything different from any other surgery, however I think all have lost sight of the fact that not everyone (especially the eldery) is conversant with our modern technology age.
I live some distance from my eldery parents and struggle getting data easily to the correct medical staff required. My parents do not understand apps / web sites / browsers / online consultation / online appointments. I do wonder how many elderly or less competant people cope and how many slip through the net and do not get the attention they need due to the being scared of the technology.
I myself live in an area with no phone signal and very sketchy internet signal which is prone to constant drop out (Welsh mountain area) this makes your technology systems for assistance almost impossible for me to access on my parents behalf.
I know the modern world and technology is changing constantly in the hope to make everyone's lives easier but I think something as basic as healthcare should acknowledge that some people cannot access or understand. Is it a way of denying service to the most vulnerable because they have more healthcare issues than the young trendies.
Start thinking if the elderly.

This surgery does not deserve any stars!
Their gynaecologist is great though, very professional, she really listens and she will follow-up.
However, I cannot say the same for the rest of the gps. I empathetic, they don’t listen to you. They tell you something and then prescribe something else.
I have been a patient at this surgery for over a year with many health issues and the service is just appalling, very unprofessional and at times patronising. Their receptionist are horrible to you and being the first point of contact they take the decision to give u an appointment or not. They get very passive aggressive over the phone if you insist.
They have most of my prescriptions wrong. I have to keep on emailing them to rectify!
Without telling me, they changed the inhaler I have been using for a couple of years and I can control my asthma now. However in summer, without telling me they change the inhaler. I emailed them several times raising the issue and asking them to prescribe the right inhaler but they refuse. My asthma is now out of control. I am very worried.

Registered for last 5 plus years. Nothing to fault to date, logical system to get appointments, recently econsult option is fantastic for enquiring with surgery and not waste their time on phonecall when it's not urgent, got to be referred even by locum drs for investigation (chest), spacious clean surgery over 3 floors with lift, good waiting areas, adequate parking, accessible location.

Recently had the good fortune to even be supported by practice director on a non medical issue.

Listening to some family and friends' experience, I am even more appreciative of being registered at this branch of Bridgewater Surgeries. I really hope they keep standards high with reliable knowledgeable professional and fair staff.