Ash Vale Health Centre

I have had to phone the surgery first thing on two occasions recently in respect of my mother. On both occasions, the Receptionist was extremely helpful and arranged for a GP to contact my mother, and the GP arranged for a paramedic to attend to my mother later the same day. Thank you!

I have just collected my monthly prescription from the dispensary at the Ash Vale surgery and wanted to give a special mention to Natalie who always provides an efficient and friendly service.
She is very professional and you can see she is totally devoted to what she does .

staff are nice most of the time but the system is absolutely appalling, no fault of the staff, but i’ve been using this gp my whole life and i’ve seen it turn from good to absolutely awful. you have to wait f-ckin days just to be seen or even spoken to. if you come in they tell you there’s nothing they can do for you and to ring up, but if you ring up it’s always busy. there is no winning. they won’t even let you book an appointment ahead of time. honestly it’s a joke.

Can't make non emergency appointments ahead of time like other practices do, up to 3 weeks ahead of time (they allocate time for emergency appointments daily). Tried to call today to make a non emergency appointment only being told I need to call on the day, which is ludicrous as I start work at 6 and don't take my break until 9. I get a half hour break. When I have called for an emergency appointment in the past, I can be on hold sometimes for up to 45 minutes. The receptionists are always great and understanding, however this system has always been in place pre-covid apparently, its not a covid thing. I am shopping around for a new place.
Also I just want to say the interior of feels.like an old hospital. Absolutely the worst looking/feeling doctors I have ever been in. There is nothing comfortable or welcoming what so ever. I have also had a bad experience with one of the male doctors last year on the phone (when moved over to the practice after I moved to the area.) who wanted to put me on antidepressants instead of HRT. He obviously doesn't look at the NICE guidelines for 1st recommendation for perimenopause. It isn't antidepressants. Young unsympathetic doctors not up on the latest guidelines doesn't leave a great taste in the mouth. Another time I had a procedure done and the doctor didn't tell me I could have really bad painful side effects for up to six months, ibky told me to read the pamphlets on it, after she had done it.
My least liked doctor surgery I have ever belonged to

Lovely doctors, receptionists and nurses. I echo the sentiments about Natalie in the pharmacy. She is so efficient, she should be running the country!
Nurses have gone above and beyond so many times for my children, and the doctors are thorough and kind.
Waiting times when you call can be long but I use the call back feature or e-consult which is very efficient.
Thank you for all you are doing, in difficult times for the NHS.

Tried all day to book an appointment with no success. Decided to walk in to request an appointment. Was told that all appointments are blocked and you need to call in
Now we are going around in circles. The receptionist just shrugged her shoulders at me which said it all

Called right at 8am and waited about 17 mins in the queue. Receptionist was really helpful and lovely to speak with!

I can imagine with the current state of the NHS they must deal with a lot of angry public and obviously have no way of magically making more appointments appear out of thin air when they're fully booked, something a lot of people don't seem to understand. I've been with this place since about August 2022 and this is the 2nd appointment I've needed to book, personally I've never had any issues. I've also not had any issues with rude receptionists, not that I'd blame them with the amount of abuse they probably have to take from people...🙄

Good doctors, poor systems and very rude receptionists.

Maybe this applies to most gp surgeries. However the pharmacist in particular obsteuctive, rude and uncompassionate unhelpful in getting medicine.

Not everyone is a robot you know.