River Place Health Centre

Honestly. If you're thinking of registering here. Save your time and go somewhere else. Anywhere else.

The GP's are decent but they are let down massively by management and front of house staff. Those members of staff couldn't care less about the patients.

They have several reception staff but they don't bother even looking up, smiling or talking to you when you walk in for your appointment.

The booking an appointment process is... interesting. Every patient has to call at 8am to request an appointment so the phones are jammed from 8am.

It takes 40-70 calls to the surgery before you get through and then you're put on hold and in a queue. I once showed my GP my call log showing that I had called 60+ times that morning just to get through and she was very horrified.

Recently I had a vital smear test booked in. On the day of the appointment when I tried to find out how much longer I would have to wait (after 35 minutes of sitting in the dreary waiting room) the receptionist I asked was rude & abrupt (I've noticed she has trouble looking anyone in the eye at all times) and after my inquiry she said I'll put you down as you've left.. I hadn't left at all? I was standing in front of her.

I left a complaint via their online complaint system and the manager rang me and once I had explained everything all he could mutter was 'I apologise'.

Right, so me missing an important health check due to the incompetence of the staff and their lack of training is okay then? Maybe he doesn't understand how vital a smear test is to a woman's health?

It was the last straw in a catalogue of incompetence and I've now left the 'care' of this surgery. I'm just gutted I didn't do it years ago.

Appalling avoid at all costs.

This doctors practice is second to none. The doctors are thorough and always available and willing to help.
I have nothing but praise for all of them.
I’ve no idea why everyone isn’t giving them 5 stars - they should try Elizabeth Avenue practice then compare.

Been going to this GP since 2011, I have not needed to go as often in the past but ever since mental health detoriated in 2017 that is when I saw the true colours of this GP as I needed to go in more often & oh my god I get SO anxious when I attend because I know I will be rushed, not listened to or refused what I ask for! Not even gonna mention the receptionist ladies which are absolutely awful! Honestly what the hell do we pay our NI for?!!!

I have never seen such a bad gp in my life. They do not give an appointment on the same day for my diseases that I need to talk to the emergency gp and they put them on the call list 3-4 days later. I don't understand why this gp is still on duty if they can't give medicine to diseases the same day. I've been registered for 1 month and I'm going to find another gp and change it right away. The doctors are very uninterested and they direct them to other places to dismiss them and the places they direct say why you can't tell gp a constant vicious cycle 🙄 don't waste your time please. health is very important and should not be neglected.

Doctors are pleasant and helpful 5 starts. Receptionists on the other hand are awful 3 stars as it depends who you get some are amazing go above and beyond and others have a terrible attitude, don't like to help, those ones definitely need training also some lack on information as i was given the completely wrong information.

The GP is absolutely atrocious when it comes to dealing with their patients and it starts from their appointment system and mostly their rude receptionist who believe they know better than the doctors. They book appointments for patients through a 4-6 week course, meaning the likelihood of you being able to get an appointment is slim to none. On top of that, the receptionist are extremely difficult regardless of you being polite with them, they constantly will mistreat you. The first step to correcting this is to change the booking system; similar to my old GP, they should have a daily booking system. The system should be that patients will have to call at 8am for morning appointments or 2pm for afternoon appointments. That way it is first come, first served as well as leaving plenty of time for doctors to handle with any emergency patients, this can also be done by having a 'duty doctor' who is specifically assigned to handle all emergency patients on that specific day. Regardless of whether the receptionists are difficult or not, this would make service at the GP a lot better and it would mean that patients aren't constantly turned away.

So sad to hear some negative reviews about the GPs at River Place because that's been the opposite of my experience. My partner and I have had a very positive experience with Dr. Sophie Wollaston and Dr. Cristina Crunelli for nearly six years. They are both incredibly kind, patient, empathetic, and have gone out of their way to help us over the years. They are both wonderful GPs and would highly recommend them! Dr. Wollaston works very long hours and will do anything to make sure her patients are looked after.

This Doctor's surgery is pitiful. I only bare it as I've been a patient at the surgery since I was about 10 years old.

The front of house are rude, disrespectful, unprofessional and have absolutely no manners at all. They constantly gaslight their patients. Not only me, but I have witnessed the monstrosities others have had to endure.

Front of house, particularly, show no care for the ill. Their unprofessionalism, and their aggression is enough to make you wonder why they do the job in the first place. Do they not know that they're working with people who are potentially ill and in need of medical assistance.

Many of the doctors do somewhat of a decent job, bar a few. However, the group practice manager, evidently, and front of house, seriously let the NHS down as ultimately, he's responsible for the reception staff feeling ever so comfortable, in consistently disrespecting patients.

The NHS need to sack the group practice management and front of house. They're appalling.

If I continue to receive this abuse, I will take matters further and make a direct complaint to the NHS.