Birchington Medical Centre

Actually very efficient.
I was booked in for a blood test.
Was able to book in quickly at reception and was immediately directed upstairs.
Was then called in by Leigh and I have to say she was brilliant!
I was in the middle of a fibromyalgia attack, so my body was hypersensitive, but she was so kind, understanding and gentle I didn't even feel the needle going in!
So different from others I've experienced.
Have to go again in May...... hope I get her again!

I’ve always had a pleasant experience since registering in 2017 but in the last year especially I’ve been able to experience how well things are managed behind the scenes. Whenever my daughters medical notes have been shared from urgent care or other providers, without me having to ask, the notes have been assessed and actioned for referrals and follow up appts. When I registered my daughters positive covid test on the government website, the surgery must have been informed as the GP called me a couple of weeks later to check that she had recovered ok and had no ongoing issues. The clinicians have always been lovely and the reception and admin team have been helpful, polite and really kind.

1 star is a compliment. How these GP practises are still open is beyond me, I am pregnant and needed an urgent medication review, I called the surgery 7:59 got a call back slot. They never called me back. I phoned at 9:20 asking what was going on to be told I did get a call back. I have checked my phone logs and there are zero missed calls and zero voicemails. Disgusting treatment towards patients, always get a moody, snappy, know it all receptionist too. Their response was I should go to urgent medical centre?? They are full because you won’t let patients be seen!!

My girlfriend went into the medical centre to have paperwork signed to confirm she is disabled. The staff were rude and insulting - implying that her disabilities were made up. Absolute joke that any medical practice would treat people in this way. Not all disabilities are visible and evidently the staff aren't trained to believe that.

Terrible I got miss diagnosed for a urine infection I went on anti biotics once I finished them I still didn’t feel right at all so I called up again and they said it’s still a urine infection at this point I was in so much pain couldn’t walk was being sick I told them this and they still put it down to urine infection even though I had no symptoms of this at all !! I went to hospital and it turns out it’s my appendix and it’s serious if I left it longer who knows what would have happened, absolutely terrible don’t trust it there they just want u in and out

If you want an apportionment go elsewhere phoned dead on 8am as instructed on previous phone call was number 17 in the queue, hung up what’s the point. You can never even get a phone appointment . Only good thing is the receptionist’s are polite

Old age inevitably brings its own physical problems ,and my wife and I are no exceptions. Recent experience with the Medical Centre has been excellent. A visit to the very helpful reception enabled me to get a same day appointment with Doctor Earl for my wife. The doctor was thorough and friendly , and arranged immediately for physiotherapy. For those of us whose age clock has already struck midnight such service is heartening. Thank you all , and a Happy New Year.

Mike O'Hara

I completed an online e-consult with the surgery on the 12th, the Dr tried to ring me on the 13th, however it apparently went straight to voicemail, but no voicemail was left nor was there a notification on my phone. I received a letter asking to book a non urgent appointment last Friday. I called the surgery on Tuesday they told me to ring back on Friday to book the face to face appointment. I rang the surgery again on the friday, however was told I needed to wait till August 4 to book a telephone appointment for the Dr to assess my foot then to potentially book a further face to face appointment. I informed the receptionist of banality of the situation, she told me that was the process and I can go to a different practice if I wanted. Which I will comply with at the earliest. The triage situation needs urgent review as people who will be in worse condition than myself would not get the care they require and could excassubate their symptoms unnesseserily. I hope they won't treat others like I have been dealt.